I've always felt that community based organizations are the life blood in our society. Without my local church growing up, I probably would have ended up in lots of trouble. My gift and my passion is to help people who have a heart to help others. I think that's why I've always enjoyed and favored working in the nonprofit sector; because nonprofit work is a place where compassion THRIVES! Where there is love, there is also compassion:) I truly believe this.

JS Crockett Consulting's philosophy is obviously my philosophy and if my organization were to live on many years after I've met my maker, I would hope that the legacy would be to help as many people on the front line, so to speak, to help them do their jobs better through strategic implementation, either by doing the job for them to help them get over "the hump" in the most relaxed, easy way or by creating a tool to guide them towards actualizing their goals and dreams for some mission based activity that impacts the world in a positive way.

There is a sense of warmth and reward knowing that JSCC has helped so many social entrepreneurs make someone else's life better. Through strategic action and support, we have helped incarcerated youth transform their lives, provided transitional housing for developmentally challenged adults, fostered excellence in scholastic achievement, exposed inner city kids to arts and culture, reunited abandoned children with their once absent fathers, decreased the drop out rate in community colleges, assisted with homework through afterschool programs, built churches and ministries, and fed the hungry because of all that our clients do.

We succeed because they succeed. Our clients' dreams and goals become our action items.

We LOVE all of our clients and even more, love the work that they do because of who they are and how they love through compassionate, mission based business activities.

Thank GOD for you all!

Sincerely,

Jamila Crockett
Principal Consultant

I am sooo appalled at what I saw on CNN today! They had a story on 3 charities for cancer survivors that combined raised over $26 million, which sounds amazing within itself, but to squander funds that were dedicated to a good cause is really sad. Of this amount they only gave away $14,000!!!! I was floored when I heard that! "Unbelievable!", was all I could shout to the screen! (see video below)

There were a few RED flags for me as I watched the story: #1 there were three charities and they were ALL related. #2 The CEOs made more money in their salaries than they issued towards mission based activities! #3 They ALL did not want to answer any questions, in fact one guy flipped the reporter off as he was driving away!

There is a reason why organizations are gifted to obtain tax exempt status and that reason is to do good and charitable acts for the community that you are serving. It's really sad as a nonprofit consultant to see this because there are so many organizations that I know of that are struggling and could have used that money to benefit so many people.

Truth be told, if this money was used properly for their target market, so many people could have been helped.

It's scuzzbuckets like these people that mess it up for hardworking people on the front lines doing really good, impactful work for the community. Unfortunate circumstances like this make it more difficult for reputable organizations to get the financial support that they need.

Here's the video:
courtesy of CNN

UPDATE May 26, 2013
The California Secretary of State now has processing times down to 10 business days. Yippee!!!
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Once upon a time, not long ago in the State of California, the Secretary of State processed Articles of Incorporation within 45 minutes. This meant that you could literally drop them off for an additional $15.00, special handling fee and wait only an hour to pick them up.

Those days are long gone. Don't get me wrong. I love the Great State of California and favor it among all others and I know personally, that the people at the Secretary of State work really hard to get them processed for us on time.

So Why the Delay?

Prior to January 2013, if you walked them into the Secretary of State's Sacramento office, the wait was approximately 2 weeks for pick up in person. In January 2013, the State implemented a new law that required Articles of Incorporation to include the corporation's physical mailing address. This change caused many Articles to be rejected and then resubmitted, thereby increasing the total volume of Articles being processed at one time. 

If you walked your Articles into the Los Angeles area Secretary of State office, the average wait time was 5 weeks because they forward them to Sacramento.

What is the Current Wait Time?

Now (in April 2013), the current wait time is approximately 27 days if you drop them off at the Sacramento office. They are working feverishly every day to get this wait time down to 5 days. In November 2013, they will be mandated by law to get the average wait time to 5-10 days.

Of all of the State agencies, the Secretary of State is one of my favorites because the people are really friendly and approachable. They are available to answer your questions and they really want to make sure you get your requests processed efficiently and quickly.

If you are in the same position as many of my clients, waiting for your Articles to get approved, be patient because those processors are working hard on your side to get your work finished as fast as they can.

(and no they aren't paying me to say this;) LOL!!!

If you want to know the current processing time for any document with the Secretary of State, go to: http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/be/processing-times.htm

~ Jamila

JS Crockett Consulting enjoys helping nonprofit organizations and individuals interested in starting nonprofits do the paperwork for 501 c 3 status and create strategic implementation plans.

Nonprofit organizations are mission based, tax exempt corporations that allow you to receive grants, donations, and conduct charitable activities to support the community.

Nonprofit organizations offer a unique opportunity to share your heart with the world through philanthropic, mission based work while earning a living through social entrepreneurship.

Social entrepreneurship allows you to create a job for yourself, while helping others.

JS Crockett Consulting is offering a discount this week only for its “Your Next Job Nonprofit Start Up Bundle” that includes the following:

1)      Full Service Nonprofit Start Up Service: includes mission development, articles of incorporation filing, state paperwork filing, and federal paperwork filing for your organization's 501 c 3 tax exempt status.

2)      3- Part Workshop Series:
  a.       Nonprofit Start Up Process
  b.      Strategic Planning and Program Implementation
  c.       Financial Sustainability

3)      A copy of the JS Crockett Consulting book that guides you step by step through the process of creating a job for yourself

* 24 hours of consulting, *3 hours of workshops and worksheets, plus * a copy of the new JSCC book is being offered at a discount for this week only. 

Promotional package: $500.00
(regular price of package valued at $1,050.00) 

For more information on how to create your next job by starting a nonprofit organization and take advantage of this great promotion, go to: http://www.jamilacrockett.com/your-next-job.html or call us at: (657)201-9895.

The IRS has revamped the way that they are processing applications. Check out: http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Charitable-Organizations/Where's-My-Application for details. While you are waiting for your 501 c 3 status, we have a few suggestions on ways to take action. Check out our video here: http://www.jamilacrockett.com/1/post/2014/04/what-to-do-while-you-wait-for-501-c-3-status.html

Here is a partial reprint taken from the Internal Revenue Service website (click on the link above for the entire message):

"Sometimes, representatives of exempt organizations and practitioners question why certain applications for tax exemption are processed faster than others. Not all applications are the same. While many are complete when received and the IRS does not need more information to process them, others may be incomplete or involve complex issues that require further development. This web page describes the application process and provides information on how to determine the status of an application.

EO Determination Application Process: After you submit your application, we will send you a notice within about 14 days acknowledging receipt. Exemption applications accompanied by the required user fee are separated into three groups:

1. Those that can be approved immediately
2. Those that need minor additional information to be approved
3. Those that require development

If your application falls within the first two groups, you will receive either your determination letter or a request for additional information, via phone, fax, or letter, within approximately 90 days of the date you received your acknowledgement of receipt.

If your application falls within the third group, you will be contacted once the application is assigned to an EO agent for further development."

This original blog posted on August 1, 2012. Since the post, the IRS has substantially decreased the waiting time. Although on the website (http://www.irs.gov/Charities-&-Non-Profits/Where-Is-My-Exemption-Application), it shows a delay of March 2012 or  a10-month waiting period, your application could take as few as 3 months to process, if the organization has a simple filing and the application is complete with user fee at the time of submission. 

While you are waiting for your nonprofit status, you may consider a temporary fiscal sponsorship relationship with an existing active organization. For more information on this type of relationship, go to: http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/tutorials/fiscal/continuum_4e.html

The IRS is currently 9- 10 months behind on the processing applications for nonprofit or exempt status. 

I call the IRS often with my clients to verify information and get updates. When I asked the agent why she thought there is such a long delay, she hesitated and did not want to provide a definite answer. However, she did say that it was because of the influx of new applications and possibly the surge of organizations that lost their tax exempt status and had to reapply.

Click Here to Find Out How to Keep Your Tax Exempt Status

I thought this was very interesting because the rates for filing nonprofit status (to date) are $400, if under 10,000 and $850 if the budget is over 10,000 and I remember at one point they were planning to implement a new software or web service that would allow filers to submit their paperwork through a "cyber assistant", which would bring the cost down to $200.

My thoughts? Think they would be more efficient if they worked out the cyber assistant, however they would lose a substantial amount of money. In addition, this issue of losing the tax exempt status if you don't file the 990 in three consecutive years is a relatively new thing.

Some of my clients were furious because they never received notification that their status was in jeopardy. I wonder how many still don't know that this rule exists.

Many clients are now choosing to align themselves with existing organizations to use as a fiscal sponsor while their applications are being approved. The best fiscal sponsor relationships I've seen have been with organizations having previous professional or collaborative relationships.

For the status on IRS exempt application processing, go to: 
http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=156733,00.html 

That's great! It's always nice to put into action your desire to help community. You can even create a job for yourself during this economy doing something you are passionate about.

The steps to filing for nonprofit or tax exempt status are pretty simple:

1) First you must file a formation document, typically Articles of Incorporation. In the State of California, you would do this with the Secretary of State's office. In other states this varies slightly.

2) You will receive a state corporate number which will be necessary when filing your IRS form 1023 and your other state filings.

3) In the State of California, you must also file with the Department of Justice, Charitable Trust Registry as well as the Franchise Tax Board.

4) Next, apply for your EIN or Employer Identification Number. This may be done online.

5) Complete the form 1023 for 501 c 3 organizations. Other nonprofit status filings may have to use other forms to receive nonprofit status.

For details on how to do this, whether within the State of California or outside, feel free to email us or go through the steps one by one with our portal.

We are happy to help with this process.

People are loving the easy to use new portal that JS Crockett Consulting has launched. It is a nonprofit start up portal called the Hands on Intensive Nonprofit Start UP Course that is designed to take people step by step through the filing process for 501 c 3 status and even includes some program development, budget analysis, and follow up tips.

The Hands on Intensive Nonprofit Start UP Course portal condenses over 20 hours of successful consulting hours into easy to use modules, videos, templates, forms, and documents to assist you with this process.

What is usually an arduous, expensive task, JS Crockett Consulting takes the guesswork and the overwhelm out of this process by offering these tools and their 24/7 free email support system designed to answer any questions.

The cost is extremely low at $149.95 for 12 months of information. The forms, templates, and documents are downloadable and more videos are coming to assist with capacity building at length on a regular basis.

For more information, go to: www.jamilacrockett.com

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Media Contact:

Jamila Crockett
JS Crockett Consulting
(657)201-9895
jamila@jamilacrockett.com