[JesseK]

1885 is supported in part by the USSTEM Foundation. The mentors started the non-profit in 2010 as a way to go after grants, sponsors and other sources of funding that do not want to give money to the school or the school district. We've since branched the foundation out and support several FLL, FTC and a couple of VEX teams. We also support a Explorer Post, but unfortunately haven't found a local Girl Scouts equivalent yet.

Advantages include streamlined accounting, relaxed fundraising restrictions compared to schools, acquisition of insurance for the mentors, flexibility in doing business with pretty much any organization, the ability to fund especially poor students' travel via targeted funding/sponsorship, and the ability to carry funds over from year to year. That last one is highly underrated - none of that "use it or lose it" money inefficiency that leads to unnecessary purchases. It also means that a GREAT group of students, parent and mentors can leave a very long-lasting impact on the team.

A good model for a simplified 501(c)3 is the band's booster club. Pro tip: In the US as of 2015, if the average yearly incoming revenue (including ALL sources of money) is under $50k per year then the taxes are so simple to do that usually it's easy to find an accountant to file the taxes Pro Bono.