I am Starting a Non-Profit Commune--Ask Me A Question!

Where is the property located?

Will plants grow on this property?

Is there fresh ground water?

Is your commune anything like Russ' New Jerusalem?

How many people do you have lined up for communal living?

Have any of these people ever lived closely before with strangers?

Do any of them have real-live farming experience?

Is your commune based on any particular flavor of belief system, be it religious, scientific, artistic or otherwise?

The monies from the business ventures go to expenditures and then all profitability must be eiterh provide for or donated to a bona fide 501(c) non-profit activity.

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. No.

4. Unknown.

5. Unknown.

6. Yes.

7. No religious flavor for this one. Just getting started. The non-profit holds the properties. The directors control decisions (within the framework of the charter and the 501(c) activity. Non-profits are hardly ever able to make a large profit in the first two to three years as they are reinvesting (large expenses). After that, monies will go to cure diseases or provide educational materials to imppoverished areas. Something like that.

Three different subject properties at play.

Vedic medic are you a vegeterian ? do you believe in reincarnation ??

bless be

Question #1 about vegetarianism: Every time I do that...some nasty vile and selfish government worker gets hurt.

Question #3 about transmigration: I believe that there are spirits so close to you that you want to believe that the information they provide you is somehow yours. I also believe that prior to your life you watched them do the things they explain to you during your life. This is the explanation of "deja vu" and "hypnotic regression". We saw it once, and were reminded yet more times...So no. Unless you mean that...then no, I don't.

feed me?

N:

I'm no snake in the grass or oil salesman.

You don't need to be fed or bred...you need some words instead?

Who will be the Executive Director? What will he/her salary be? Bonuses? Perks? Will the benefits and sahre be communal as well - or not?

Is your name Jim Jones II?

What are you doing differently from Steve and Ida May Gaskin? They started the longest running commune in US history, and ultimately they had to go co-op to survive.

5 people will act as the directors. Transferring the executive every year or two. The operation will be run by clear by laws (no cult of personality or power trips).

If people are working for the collective, then yes.

If someone wants to hang out and work outside for their own cash...then a very minimal rent. $100...maybe $150 a month.

I'd head to Surinam...not French Guyana...and no cult of personality. (**totally joking about foreign location).

Same principle.

Instead of calling it co-opt. Call it "business" and let the profits reinvest in the collective, or be given to 501(c) charity or educational purposes.

First, they aren't called "communes" anymore---they are called "intentional communities"

Have you placed an ad at ic.org?

This is the clearing house for intentional communities. Lots of great info on the site.

There are economic systems that can be put into place to really enhance the community. There is a community in Perth Australia that is being built on this economic system (a village with butcher, baker, candlestick maker--all the jobs are in community and they use a LETS system for dealing outside)

The longest running (most successful) "commune" is the pacifist community in Nelson, NZ. Been there since the 40s and they have a variety of businesses. It is an income sharing model (all money is pooled and distributed--as opposed to each person working and hoarding their income)

I suggest that you think LONG and HARD about establishing your community. These communities form easily but then just break apart.

Are you planning to do this in the US (501c3 is an IRS designation of the US)? If so, why? what a mess that place is.

how old are you?

But you are in Brazil. Why worry about U.S. non- profit laws?