News:Furry charity events raise over $60,000 in 2007
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2007 was a good year for charity, with furry community events raising over US$XXXXX at events worldwide - an increase of XX% over 2006. The total was boosted by new events, with contributions from Rainfurrest, FA: United and RBW totaling over $5000. Long-running European convention Eurofurence ran their first charity auction this year, raising 1814€ (roughly $2628).
Most money goes to local animal-related charities (both mundane and exotic), but there are exceptions. In 2005, the Memphis-based Mephit Furmeet 9 collected an unrecorded amount in money and resources for victims of Hurricane Katrina, many of whom were staying in the same hotel.
As popular as such special events are, they aren't always the best source of cash. Many US furry events are run by non-profit organizations claiming 501(c)(3) status, which are both tax-exempt and eligible for tax-deductible donations.[1] They often run large surpluses, some of which may be donated directly to charity.
Leading such groups is Anthropomorphic Arts and Education (organizer of Further Confusion), which in 2007 made the largest ever recorded donation of $16000. AAE received $41068 in the same year through tax-exempt donations, mostly purchases of sponsor memberships.[2] In contrast, Anthrocon is a non-profit social club[3] and does not regularly run a surplus from which grants can be made. Nevertheless, it has run a charity auction for over a decade, raising over $70000 in total.
[edit] Timeline of charity donations
[edit] Sources
- ↑ 501(c)(3) organizations must be "organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals", where "no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual" (26 USC A 1 F, I 501(c)(3))
- ↑ AAE's total revenue for the 2006/7 fiscal year (ending January 31) was $136018.
- ↑ Anthrocon chose 501(c)(7) based on advice from their lawyer, who did not feel that all of Anthrocon's activities would satisfy the "public good" argument.
