Q: If I am making masks for small donations, do I need to have a business or 501c license?
I am making masks for first responders and other essential personnel. We are taking small donations just to purchase more materials to continue making them. We have made hundreds of masks with around 400 dollars in donations. More orders are beginning to come in as the media picked up our story. Do we need to apply for a business license or 501c? Or can we continue doing this without legal ramifications?
A: A person or business/nonprofit organization must have a solicitation license before engaging in the solicitation of donations in the state of Florida. If you are soliciting donations/money, you should speak with an attorney for assistance in obtaining this license and to discuss if you would benefit from formally incorporating as a nonprofit and filing for (501c3) tax exempt status.
A: It is not illegal to accept donation but if you want to receive tax exemption, you will need file 501C tax exemption application. On the other hand, Any charitable organization that intends to solicit contributions in Florida by any means must register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services unless it falls within an exemption. The initial registration must be completed before any solicitation is made.
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