Can my non profit website accept monetary donations to be used towards the site?

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I am preparing to start up a small gaming review website that is going to be non profit. (This is a site primarily for personal fun between a few friends.) All the costs are going to come primarily out of my pocket, but I have given thought to possibly accepting donations. The donations would be used for paying for web hosting, web design and buying video games and accessories to be used towards supplying content for the site.

My question is can I legally accept donations for that purpose (Especially the video games and what not) and if I can what legal reporting obligations would I need to fulfill?

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Bukie

Lead Consultant

November 28, 2009

There is a procedure to become eligible for donations

but you really want to weigh your long term motives before you can decide if that route will be worth it. Registering a non profit organization and gaining 501c3 status are what make you eligible for donations but would the whole purpose of the non profit be to run a gaming review website?

If this is really just for "personal fun between a few friends", like you stated, then I suggest you all pool some money together between you to get things started, and as it grows and gains an audience, you can sell advertising or use google ads to generate additional revenue. Of course, you will have to speak with your tax advisor regarding declaring the revenue, but you would not have to deal with the legalities related to maintaining a non profit status.

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