Does anyone have instructions on establishing a charity, and beginging fundraisers, and maneging the money?

Question

Last year my son was nominated to go to Washington to represent our school with the Jr. NYLC, he went, and learned alot. He recently had to miss going to Boston, Mass, due to lack of finances. He has been invited to attend a couple more events, and will be invited to more throughout his school years. I need to know how to go about collecting donations, contributions, and having fundraisers, to assure not only that he attends the next 2 events, the Presidentual inaugration in Jan. 09, and also respresenting the state we live in ; in Birmingham , Ala, but to assure that the money is there or on its way for my son to attend all the confrences he can through the school, he has worked really hard for his grades, and his parents have no education. I need help locating legal instructions to opening a small fund for my child. Looking foward to your answers. Thank you, Mother on a mission

Answer 1

This seems far more complicated than it needs to be--and far more mother-directed. If your son is this good, he needs to be the front man here. You can help him by drawing up a list of potential donors--business and community types and all his relatives, the places you and the close relatives work. Then he needs to work up a letter and a 5-minute introduction to present to these folks to solicit donations. Every organization that meets at least once a month in your area should get a personal contact from him. Not you. No Kiwanis group will give money to a teenager whose mother solicits funds for him. He has to stand on his own feet here. (You don't have to tell them that he practiced his speech 35 times in front of you.)

Once you have a savings account, anyone who knows the number can deposit money there. There's no legality about it.