Purpose of Family Associations / Organizations and Articles of Incorporation
What is the purpose of "family association," or a "family organization," especially in the the United States and in Utah? Some family associations have "article of incorporation" and also have IRS 501c3 tax exempt status as well as Utah tax exempt status. There must be reasons why some families do this. Could someone explain this to me?
Answers
-
This is quite an interesting question. I don't think there is anyone here that can give you a clear answer to it, however. May I suggest that you contact a couple of family organizations and ask them? This wiki page on Family Organizations lists a couple of organizations and has a link to other lists of them. Hopefully this will help you get an answer to your question.
0 -
Thank you, Anne.
0 -
I think what you are trying to ask is why some families feel the need to create LEGAL/formal entities of Family Associations/Organizations. (instead of just an informal family association).
In My family there are a few official Family Organizations - two that come to mind
The Hale Family Organization:
The Tolman Family Organization
http://thomastolmanfamily.org/
These two organizations were created very early on - I think more than 100 years ago. And were surely organized with the intent of organized and coordinated family history and temple work. These two organizations were created in Utah - as these were early members of the LDS faith - for which genealogy and family history is taken very seriously.
with so many LDS in Utah - there may be a higher prevalence of such organizations in the Utah area - but there are surely Family Organizations around the country and around the world. (and many of them are NOT LDS)
In more recent decades I think this in some cases it relates to legal and financial matters. (there are valid reasons a group may want to qualify as a 501C3 - so people donating can take advantage of that legal/tax status'. Also there may be reason related to ownership and maintenance of assets related to the family and family research and the administration of donated funds.
There are various reasons really.
can you give a little background as to what triggered you to ask the question:?
0 -
The GUILD of ONE NAME STUDIES - lists people/groups as well as associations (both legal/formal and non formal) that focus their research on a specific family or surname.
https://one-name.org/surnames_a-z/
Creating an organization/association allows a large group of people to coordinate/organize/fund serious long term family research
0 -
The term "association" can have various meanings to various people (I assumed you meant legal/formal entities) - it can be used both "loosely" or specifically.
BUT for example I maintain the Yancey Family Surname Resource Center
https://yanceyfamilygenealogy.org/
(it is not a legal / formal organization ) - but in a general sense could be considered an "association"
as stated there could be various driving factors for creating both formal and non formal associations/groups/organizations
0 -
Thank you, Dennis, for your answers.
In my family two FA were organized in the 1970's. One on my father's side and one on my mother's side. Both were active with articles of incorporation, officers, and tax exempt status. It appears that they may have had dues and expended the dues for family history research. They also collected money to publish a family history book in 1979. In the 1990's all of the officers had passed away and interest waned. Neither FA is active at the moment. Been thinking of "reviving" one of the FA because a family history book will be published later this year and that will likely generate renewed interest in family history. Also been thinking of renewing IRS and Utah tax exempt status and publishing the book under the name of the FA. There are pros and cons to this.
0 -
Also, it appears that someone with experience created both articles of incorporation. Who does that? An accountant, attorney? Who?
0 -
Yeh, personally I would not feel the need to renew tax status simply to publish a book . . .
0 -
I would assume so . . (either An Attorney or Accountant)
though I wonder if anyone could technically do it if they had they know how. Just a guess
but Im sure there are millions of researchers/genealogists and family history enthusiasts
who have done some great things - without ever having a formal legal association creation.
0 -
That's good information. Thanks Dennis.
0
