NOT a 501(c)
Why?
Today is New Year’s Eve and 501(c) organizations are working hard to get our donations. While certainly many of these serve very worthy causes, obLITTERate is not a 501(c) and this is by design.
I have purposely chosen not to take a corporate approach (a bottleneck of board members, bylaws, and strict requirements); I just want to pick up trash and promote healthier environmental behavior. Period. I also believe this keeps operating costs down.
After working as a graduate intern with a successful marketing agency whose clients were all multi-million dollar charitable foundations with highly paid CEO’s and other executive positions, I learned that a lot of donation dollars go to promoting the cause, not just addressing the cause.
The standard of best practice, not a requirement, suggests that at least 65% of total expenses go directly to the actual cause or program. For example, if an organization allocates 65% of their funds to programs, 25% to marketing, and 10% to fundraising, then that means 65 cents of every dollar donated to the organization is going towards a direct program service, while the remaining 35 cents is supporting critical overhead that the organization needs to maintain its services, staff, and the operating functions that keep the organization in compliance with various rules and regulations.
However, just as 501(c) organizations are mandated to be transparent, I share all financial contributions and expenses publicly and file my earnings accordingly. My work is supported by financial contributors, like you, who generously allow me to focus time, energy, attention, and costs in keeping areas obLITTERated. While your donation to obLITTERate is not deemed “tax deductible,” you are supporting my ground efforts directly and altruistically – thank you!
My goal for 2025 is to grow obLITTERate; to collect litter wherever I venture and dedicate myself to it full time. So, for now anyway, my weekdays are corporate days with an 8-5 job in the tech service industry. Although I didn’t get to collect much litter Monday, I did manage to pick up a few articles of trash while walking my furry nephew, Moose, during our lunch. Maybe not enough to add to my record keeping of pounds and miles, just a straw and crumbled discarded receipt, on a quick walk. But it was still good practice in what I “preach.” So cheers to an obLITTERated 2025! Moose and I thank you… Woof!
