[Rick]

Our 4-H organization is considered non-profit, as are all 4-H clubs throughout the country. However, each club is not considered a true 501c3 organization, but are covered under the scope of the USDA 501c3.

The issues potential donor companies have is that most large companies will require the recipient of a donation to appear in a 501c3 non-profit organization database. More often than not, your local 4-H extension will be in that database, but your club will not.

What we have done in the past is had our local extension receive the donation for us. They hold on to the money and we can spend it by contacting them. They can easily send the money to FIRST for event registration.

Your best course of action is to contact your county or state 4-H extension and talk with them. If they can’t help, keep going up the 4-H chain. 4-H and FIRST have an official partnership and want to see 4-H FIRST teams succeed.

The amount of independence 4-H teams are afforded is a great benefit. Try to find a workaround for getting these donations. I know your team will find a way.