Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Philanthropy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lindsay considers forming a community foundation to accept donations and fund local projects
Summary
Staff proposed creating a 501(c)(3) community foundation to collect donor funds for community events and projects, stating the structure would be transparent, minimally burdensome and allow earmarked donations and tax deductions for contributors.
City staff presented a proposal to form a community foundation (a 501(c)(3)) to accept and manage donations on behalf of Lindsay, with the stated goals of increasing transparency, making donor tax‑deductible contributions easier and freeing general‑fund dollars for core services.
The manager said the foundation would be an independent nonprofit board of five to nine members, maintain public IRS filings for transparency, and be able to accept sponsorships and event proceeds that otherwise would go into the general fund. Examples cited for possible foundation use included holiday lights, youth programs and small supplemental community projects.
Staff said formation would require relatively modest staff time, some filings with the IRS and typical nonprofit governance (financials, conflict‑of‑interest rules). The city manager asked for council input and indicated staff had experience helping other cities form similar entities.
Direct quote: “All the tax filings are public information… it may be even easier to find and easier to read than our typical budget,” the City Manager said when describing the transparency benefits.
What’s next: Council invited feedback; staff will return with any requested refinements to governance or ordinance language for future consideration.
