The Bartlesville Community Foundation is a resource for all nonprofits. Below are some quick links to information your organization needs to remain compliant with state or federal laws as well as general resources.

 

Registering with the Secretary of State as a Solicitor – ANNUAL/RENEWAL

Nonprofits soliciting donations in the state of Oklahoma are required to register as a solicitor with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office. If your organization is located in Oklahoma and actively solicits donations in other states, your organization might need to register as a solicitor in those states. Each state has different registration requirements. If your group is a component fund of the Bartlesville Community Foundation, call the BCF office for more information about how your group might be included int he BCF”s registration documents.

 

IRS Website – Confirm Your 501(c)3 is Up to Date

Nonprofits are required to complete a 990 every year. This is your tax return. It may be completed by someone within your organization or by a paid professional (your accountant or auditor). There are a few different types of 990’s including 990-N, 990 EZ, or a full form 990. Please contact your accountant with questions about which filing method is best for your organization. If your group is a component fund of the Bartlesville Community Foundation, call the BCF office for more information about how your group might be included in the BCF’s filing documents. 

• 990-N is the Electronic Notice or e-postcard. This form is submitted electronically, there are no paper forms. Small tax-exempt organizations generally are eligible to file Form 990-N to satisfy their annual reporting requirement if their annual grow receipts are normally $50,000 or less. Read more about this here.
• 990 – EZ is the Short Form Return of Organization’s Exempt From Income Tax. Form 990-EZ can be filed by organizations with gross receipts of less than $200,000 and total assets of less than $500,000 at the end of their tax year. Read more about this here 
• Form 990 – is the Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax used by tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts (that are not treated as private foundations), and section 527 political organizations to provide the IRS with information required by section 6033. Read more here.

 

ABLE Commission 

Does your group host an event where alcohol is served, sold, or auctioned? You will likely need to register your event or fundraising activity with the ABLE commission. Click here to visit the Oklahoma ABLE Commission’s website for more information about these requirements.

This is also a great resource published by the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits – ABLE Commission Flier

 

Special Event Insurance

Events come in all shapes and sizes and are usually outside the bounds of the activities your organization is covered for on a day-to-day basis. If your annual activities calendar is well established and you have communication about these activities with your insurance provider, your event activities could be covered. But, if they aren’t and something happens, your organization could be liable. Call us to talk more about whether you need additional coverage.

Interested in Starting a Nonprofit? 

First, we encourage you to connect with the Bartlesville Community Foundation or the Bartlesville Regional United Way to share your goals. Bartlesville is a very generous community with so many services and organizations benefiting the citizens in our area. It is possible there might be ways to connect you with a group that has similar ideas and through collaboration, the goal you hope to achieve could be accomplished through collaboration.

Second, start a fund with the Bartlesville Community Foundation. One of the ways the BCF can help is by serving as a fiscal sponsor for the project or group. This relationship provides structure, resources, and fulfills compliance requirements so you can focus on the mission of the organization. As the organization grows, the day might come where it makes sense to establish a stand alone organization. The BCF wants to make sure you have access to the tools you need to take this step with confidence.

Is a Planned Giving Program Worth it? 

The Bartlesville Community Foundation is the areas planned giving office. We know this is a critical tool to the sustainability of our community and the organizations that serve our citizens. We also know not every organization has the resources to retain a planned giving professional on staff. The BCF is here to partner with your organization to build a pipeline of planned gifts that will ensure and bolster your organizations success for generations to come. Call our office to learn more about the ways BCF join your organization, board, and donors in conversations about leaving a legacy through planned giving.

Acknowledging Gifts to Your Organization

A written acknowledgement is required to substantiate a charitable contribution of $250 or more and must contain specific information. Click here to read about these IRS requirements.