Here's a link to a similar thread dealing with different issues with schools.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=26255
This is a thread I mentioned issues in and didn't want to retype or post twice. One thing I will say is after reading all these different threads is that more teams have issues with their schools than I originally thought.
To answer one of the original ideas of becoming 501c3 in this thread, our team has been a 501c3 tax exempt organization since shortly after we formed the team. I'm not familiar with all the rules governing 501c3 status but I do know that we applied for it when we formed our team in the fall of '98. We had to be an organization for at least six months before getting that status. We recieved it in early '99. Because we are 501c3 and get no funding from the school or board of ed they can't touch or tell us how to use our team account. This account is for the team only and gets drawn on for team money issues only wether it's for registering for events, buying material or parts, paying for team travel, lodging, ect. Being 501c3 has been a huge benefit for our team. When a company our idividual donates money, equipment or services it can be taken as a tax write off. It's a win - win situation, the team gets something it needs free and the donator gets to claim it on thier taxes. Now the downside, having this account requires keeping accurate bookeeping. All donations must be listed and a value given to them. Also with any account all withdrawls and deposits must be kept track of. Every year there's paperwork for the 501c3 that has to be filled out and given to the IRS. A 501c3 account should be handled by an adult mentor on the team with possibly some students helping out. This account should never be left to a student solely, losing paperwork or failure of keeping track of the account or not filing the paperwork every year could cause serious problems.