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Why can't EC apply to be a charity?

Discussion in 'Empty Closets Help and Feedback' started by Ty, Jan 18, 2008.

  1. Ty

    Ty Guest

    I was just thinking about this, since EC is kinda like a big supporting community, could it not be considered a chairty?
     
  2. beckyg

    beckyg Guest

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    I would think EC could become a non-profit. Although that would require that we have a board of directors. We would have to track expenses and income and show we were putting money to good use. It would require face to face meetings by the board so it might be more trouble than its worth. I'm a moderator here and I'm still not sure who pays the money for EC to be up and running? Paul?????
     
  3. AzThRg0

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    I think ### pays for EC, I remember it being said once. They pay for EC so that they can keep people to young for ### out.
     
  4. Jeimuzu

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    I thought it was JD and Seth. I'm pretty sure they own the domain, or at least did when it began. They mentioned owning emptyclosets.com before starting this website, and then I think handed complete control to Paul. I think, therefore, they're the official owners of the site.

    While ### is much more of a business than EC, it's a pornographic one. That probably wouldn't sound good. Also, as stated, there's a lot of bureaucracy involved, a lot of specific details required, and to be honest you need a purpose to be registered as a charity. This one doesn't really have a purpose that it can't already fulfill, charity or not.
     
  5. joeyconnick

    joeyconnick Guest

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    I think the only reason for EC to become an official charity would be to issue tax receipts for donations, and those would only be for the country in which it was registered as a charity.

    I can never remember: is ### Montreal-based? UK-based? US-based? And the EC servers... where do they sit?

    I guess the other reason to have it as a charity would be if you felt the mods weren't doing their jobs properly and wanted some kind of "authority" to go to about that. Doesn't seem like there's a huge need for that, though.
     
  6. Miaplacidus

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    I think that the owners of ### live in Los Angeles, CA, USA. A traceroute to www.emptyclosets.com ends in Atlanta, GA, USA.
     
  7. Paul_UK

    Paul_UK Guest

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    Yes, that is correct. ### pay for the hosting, server and advertising etc. The main cost is probably the Google AdWords advertising as the rest of it they have anyway (EC shares the server with JUBsupport and a couple of internal use sites). I'm sure because it is not run for profit they are able to offset costs against tax somehow. Also it means that if challenged they can demonstrate that they are being proactive in not only keeping minors off of ### but also providing an alternative and more suitable site.

    I have paid for a few bits and pieces, such as the chatroom software.

    I was indirectly involved with the registered charity application for the "British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum" in London a couple of years ago. Their case for charitable status was much clearer than ECs would be and it still took over two years and a lot of legal expense (it was funded mainly by the "British Vintage Wireless Society"). It is not something to undertake lightly, and it is certainly not just a case of sending off a couple of forms. The fact that EC is operated by ### (which is a business that makes a profit) would add further complications.

    For as long as ### are happy to pay for the running of EC, which will probably be as long as ### remain in business, we have no problems. And should there ever be a problem there I will endeavour to take it over as I have the facilities to host it at no cost.
     
  8. Paul_UK

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    Yes, it's hosted by NationalNet who are in Atlanta.
     
  9. beckyg

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    Thank you for explaining all that Paul.
     
  10. tehnathan

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    If ever something drastic were to happen (probably no chance), I'd help too. :slight_smile:

    There are benefits to working at a hosting provider.