[MassHistPres] MA Association of Historic PreservationCommissions

Tue May 17 11:52:41 EDT 2011

An organization can exist as a not-for-profit institution and hire an outside fiscal agent for a set fee that ranges between 7% (a bargain) and 35% (outrageous) of funds raised/maintained by the agent.  The fiscal agent is a 501C3 and compiles the taxes for you under its tax ID#.

Any consultants/employees paid by the organization receive no benefits, nothing.  In our case this would be a minimal stipend for the person who organized and maintained our group.  

I work for the Mass Farm to School Project as a paid consultant, and the 501C3 branch of the Mass Farm Bureau Federation is our fiscal agent, maintaining the books and records of the Project.  This arrangement works for smaller, start-up organizations very well.  

Anne Cody
Oakham

From: djd184 at verizon.net
Date: Tue, 17 May 2011 11:28:49 -0400
To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MA Association of Historic PreservationCommissions

Stephen raises more specifically a point that I only left implied.  The Waterworks Museum benefitted from the great gift of being able assume a pre-existing 501(c) 3 non-profit corporate entity dedicated to the preservation of the building and site.  That saved an enormous amount of time and money.

Dennis

On May 17, 2011, at 11:13 AM, Stefan Nagel wrote:

As someone who has incorporated and helped to form a number of non-profit organizations, I agree with Dennis’ observations.  Incorporating and qualifying a new organization with the IRS - particularly one without a previous track record as a program - is a labor intensive exercise.  Once a program has become established within an existing umbrella or parent organization, consideration could be given to spinning it off as a separate organization.  In effect, this is what the Massachusetts land trust community did with its re-structured Mass. Land Trust Coalition.

Merely a point of view, and of course not the only approach to follow, but perhaps these thoughts might offer some help in your deliberations.

Stefan

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From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Dennis De Witt
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 10:05 AM
To: MHC MHC listserve
Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] MA Association of Historic PreservationCommissions

Chris et al

I have spent the last several years as part of a dedicated group that has invested thousands of hours in starting up a new non-profit organization and facing all of the issues Chris has listed below.  

I would strongly suggest that starting a sperate, free standing entity might be considered only after having explored the possibility of establishing something under the umbrella of an existing organization.  

The most obvious such organization that immediately comes to my mind would be Preservation Mass, altho there might well be others worth considering.

Best regards,

Dennis J De Witt, Vice-Chairman
Metropolitan Waterworks Museum, Inc.
2450 Beacon St.

Boston, Massachusetts 02467 

Overlooking the Chestnut Hill Reservoir

dennis.dewitt at waterworksmuseum.org
phone 617-566-3196
cell 617-620-9776

On May 17, 2011, at 9:12 AM, Chris Skelly wrote:

Hi all,

I’ve appreciated seeing the responses to Brian Lever’s posting regarding the formation of statewide association of historical commissions and historic district commissions.  If there is a critical mass of people around the state interested in forming a statewide association, then I think we should all get together for a brainstorming session.  The interest on the listserve for this concept was there but so far not hugely so.  Right now, I think we need more people to express their support and energy for this idea. 

If we could get 20-30 people in a room (or online actually), with various backgrounds such as:

1.       Experience forming a non-profit organization

2.       Website Development

3.       Fundraising (although I think a low budgeted organization could do a lot)

4.       Grant Writing

5.       Education

6.       Marketing

7.       Public Relations

8.       Academia

9.       Not sure what else but I’m sure you can think of others

Then, I think this could take off really fast.  I fully believe that for historic preservation to move forward some kind of association is essential.  Maybe we at least need to keep this conversation active on the listserve to draw out more people.  Chris.

Christopher C. Skelly

Director of Local Government Programs

Massachusetts Historical Commission

220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125

Christopher.Skelly at state.ma.us

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcidx.htm

*******Stay Informed on Historic Preservation Topics by joining the MassHistPres Email List. Visithttp://mailman.cs.umb.edu/mailman/listinfo/masshistpres for more information. ******Contact MHC for more information on regional training workshops and educational DVDs for Local Historical Commissions and Historic District Commissions. ******The Local Preservation Update is MHC's bi-weekly e-newsletter.  For more information on any of the above, please contact me. 

From: liv1946 at gmail.com
To: blever3043 at aol.com
Sent: 5/14/2011 9:44:36 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time
Subj: Re: [MassHistPres] Historical / District Commission member group

great idea....what can we do to help?
Olivia Mausel
for the Holyoke Historical Commission

On Thu, May 12, 2011 at 10:28 AM, Blever3043 <blever3043 at aol.com> wrote:
Hi All, 

I’m wondering if there is interest in forming an association of local historic preservation commissions.  Lots of other boards, committees and commissions such as conservation commissions, zoning boards of appeal, planning boards, health boards, school committees and so on have organized themselves into statewide associations.   As statewide non-profit organizations, they have a strong voice, educate their members on various topics, hold annual conferences and advocate for their cause.  This listserve is a great forum for discussion, but local commissions need a stronger collective voice.  Its been a while since the last state-wide conference and I think it would be good to have a venue that those of us in preservation can get together and learn from each other.  Even a one day conference like VAF or New England Archaeology has would be good.  With all of the Local Historical Commissions and Historic District Commissions around the state, a Massachusetts Association of Historic Preservation Commissions could help our cause and organize us.  What do you think?  Is this a good idea?  If so, what should be some next steps.

Brian Lever  

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