One of the resources I use to check nonprofits is Guidestar. They were useful in checking the IRS filings of the ROOT program for my latest GUNS Magazine article, and a while back some of you may remember this shot across the bow of Freedom States Alliance, just to convince them that two can play their little "outing" game.
What I found when I looked up AHSA was the American Rifle Association Foundation, and opening up their 2006 Form 990 shows the name of their organization is American Hunters and Shooters Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Public Charity. Why they are listed under a different name is anybody's guess, but here is their "mission":
TO SUPPORT, PROMOTE, AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE U.S.A. TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS FOR ALL LAWFUL PURPOSES.Right.
Bottom line for the foundation: gross receipts just under $250K, and all the principles (Rosenthal, Vince, Shoenke, Hickok) say they work 5 hours or less per week for no compensation. But bear in mind this is the foundation, because Part VI, "Other Information," asks if they are related to any other organization, to which they check "Yes," and type in "See Statement 2."
The name of that organization is American Hunters and Shooters Association, Inc., and they, too, are "exempt," but to date no 990 has been posted (unless, as with the foundation, it is listed under another name?).
I leave it to people skilled in such matters to see what conclusions can be drawn--for instance, why is there no Form 990 for AHSA-proper? Do they take in under $25K annually, and are not required to file a form? Is the foundation all there is? Do they rely almost entirely on free publicity from a supportive media? Or hasn't their filing been posted yet?
Beats me. I'm hoping more people looking into this will help bring the information to light. As I understand it, someone ought to be able to just write them and and ask?
UPDATE: While we're at it, here's Freedom States Alliance. $408K in, practically nothing out. Doesn't say much, does it? Particularly about any money being spent. Who pays for "Gun Guys"? Oh, I see--they need an extension...
Another question to ask is how a (501) C(3) can endorse a candidate and not lose it's C(3) non-profit status.
ReplyDeleteI am wandering if we all ban together under one title could we claim income from donations as a 501c sense we would be a nonprofit group dead set on protecting the Second Amendment rights for all Americans and exposing frauds such as the American Rifle Association Foundation
ReplyDeleteThe C3 is tax deductible--but the C4 is not, which is what they probably are--akin to NRA/NRA Foundation. Both are nonprofits, but one can endorse with no deductibility for donors, the other cannot and is deductible.
ReplyDeleteOpaww, anyone can form a nonprofit, but it takes several hundred bucks to get the 501c3 status recorded, and then you need effective dedicated people to run it. And a ton of money to make it all work.
This Shoenke?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/events/summit_ahsa-speech.shtml
A "reasonable restrictions" kinda guy. As long as you're "law-abiding," you have nothing to fear. Today. Check the laws again tomorrow.
I think I found AHSA, Inc.'s [501(c)(4)] form 990. They apparently only had $183 at the end of 2005 and $1770 in 2006.
ReplyDeleteI can't directly link to the search page unfortunately.
2005: Form 990-EZ
2006: Form 990-Ez
(Hopefully the spam filter won't stop this comment.)
Section 6401(d) of the Internal Revenue Code requires most tax exempt entities to make available for public inspection their application for tax-exempt status (usually on Form 1023) along with their three most recent years information returns (typically on Form 990). This does not mean they have to post these items on Guidestar, although many do. (If you're a legitimate charity, you're usually trying to raise funds, and sophisticated donors typically like a high level of transparency with respect to this sort of thing.)
ReplyDeleteIn any event, if someone wants to look at the original application for tax exempt status or current Forms 990 for either entity, all they need to do is call the entity and ask for them. In my experience, fwiw, there's usually not very much of interest in these sorts of materials.