Nonprofit/Charity Status

I know. I need to be concentrating on writing the scripts for Episodes 7 and 9 because of our hard deadline to shoot at Arts West on Tuesday. Does this make life a little insane here while we try to balance life, school, Episode 5 fundraising, Episode 6 post production and the premiere on the 29th? Yes, it does. But here's a question I've gotten twice today from supporters I respect and adore and so, a blog :)

"Ghost Sniffers" is not, at this time, either a registered nonprofit or a charity in Washington State. HOWEVER, we are fully eligible for both nonprofit and charity status (which would make all donations tax deductible). What's holding us up? About two days in paperwork for me and $320 in filing and legal fees from Washington licensing and charity boards and our lawyer for a review.

If so little stands in our way of doing and offering so much, why don't we make that a priority? Let me share this short truth:

When we had one episode, no one returned our calls. Not press. Not location owners. No one. So we funded everything ourselves, selling belongings, making trades, all to make another episode... and another. The more content we have available, the more seriously we're taken. A body of work that gets better with every episode, that shows our limitations (due always to budget, not due to drive, talent or dedication), allows us to move forward. Sadly, just being a legal nonprofit and a registered charity wouldn't have helped us if we only had Episode 1 to show what our team can do.

Will we get there? Will we someday have it all -- the legal status we already use to guide the company (all volunteers, dedication and focus), a body of work that proves our vision and shows our direction? Of course we will!

Should I add, "Help make 'Ghost Sniffers' a tax-deductible nonprofit and charity!" as a fund raising goal on the website? Is this the direction you, the supporters and fans, want most right now? Let me know... and I'll make it so :)