172 replies to this topic

[Giltaran]

i am in for a yearly amount,
also can we claim this as a non profit? ie tax break???? or do you have to file to become a non profit

because i know that would get me to donate more

i am fresh out of high school and don't know a lot, and heard about donating to non-profits being a tax break. I don't know how any of it is done, since i am on my second time paying/ doing taxes

Justin

Nope. There are a few problems with that. First and foremost there is very little any Canadian site will be able to do for your state or federal USA taxes regardless of its status - RPR would have to be a registered 501c3 group in the USA to get the deduction.

Second, the government hands those out for mainly humanitarian causes - support groups like Al-Anon, grief support, community centers, public broadcasting channels - that kind of thing. Enthusiasts are great communities but seldom have a humanitarian agenda. Once you get that status, your books are open by law to public review so anyone can find out if you're making a profit or not - which I doubt Tom would really enjoy.

Third, and most relevant: Straight out of high school you'd have to donate about twenty percent of your income to nonprofits to make the standard deduction not worth taking - you are probably better off not itemizing, which is the only time deductions come into play. I'm assuming you make less than 30K per year - nearer the 50K mark itemizing starts to make a lot of sense. If you are forced to itemize for some other reason (business / corporate return, other change of status causes like living in two different states in one year, etc.), you might as well have the deduction recorded - otherwise just take the standard amount and save yourself grief. Since you're new to taxes, I strongly recommend you take the financial hit and have your return professionally prepared at least once - since that will give you the opportunity to get your questions answered by people who know. H&R Block gives good value for money that way in my experience, Jackson-Hewitt not so much.

-Gil

[SEEKERone]

First of all,
I just sent a donation.
I want RPR to stay alive and viable....my computer is already slow and unreliable as it is so I don't need my favorite site to be too.
I agree with most of the suggestions previously mentioned.
But I have a few twists.

1.) I am more than able and willing to subscribe via PAYPAL though I feel that it shouldn't be required but should be "requested". I have seen sites where you can read but can't post at all unless you are a donating member...RPR doesn't need to be that drastic.
2.) The FOR SALE forums should stay free...but a donation from sales should be "suggested"
3.) The galleries could be divided into limited (free) and member levels. The limited levels would have a lower maximum file sizes and a limited to the total amount uploaded. That way, everyone can still post pics but the paying members with larger pictures and with huge galleries are helping pay for using more bandwidth.
4.) The idea of a "guage" showing donations is a great idea but shouldn't show a specific dollar amount but instead only a percentage of what Tom thinks is appropriate. I don't need or want to see an account of what it costs to run this site...it isn't any of my business.
5.) Vendor fee is good idea...if you are doing good business through the site then you can help keep it going.


What it comes down to is what Tom is willing to allow us to do to help. Ask and you shall recieve.

[danielleb]

Im In for Whatever... I NEED This site... I dont post much, but there is ALWAYS useful Info on here that I cannot find anywhere else!

[3GCVC]

im happy to contribute.

paying a percent of all sales made in the FS section is a good idea but it needs to be figured out so its one payment per like 6 months or something like that i dont want to be making little payments everywhere when i sell something, is it going to be easy to figure it all out then as well.

vendor account is a good idea for the businesses.
and an expiring contributing member status is good as well i think

lots of good ideas in this thread,

[Condor]

I'm up for a yearly subscription/donation.

I also don't mind at all if he advertises with vendors.
Or to say better, has supporting affiliated vendors.

1G CRX technical forum sponsored by _________

General forum sponsored by ___________

[Dohc_87hatch]

+1 for a fee monthly or yearly im a broke college student but still willing to live on top ramen for a year so this site will still be here.

maybe a list of members that want to pay should be started!

maybe down the line we can get a little sticker for redpepperracing.com Contributing Member...?

Edited by Dohc_87hatch, 16 January 2008 - 09:09 AM.

[D Jaws II]

Look here is the deal. Tom is a modest man, he is not the type to cry "WOLF" whenever he gets in a pinch. He, as a individual, has this site providing a niche to a bunch of car enthusist. US!!!!

He needs financial help to provide a better environment for us all. That comes at a cost he is forced to consider, by himself. That in and of itself, is not fair to him, we are the one's who will greatly benefit from this upgrade. Get off your butt's get on Paypal and donate. No lip service, do it now. It is so easy to post in a thread that one will ante up when it gets done and then no one follows through, (ask 1stgenrex David) so as the Nike commercial says, "JUST DO IT".

Question, by having this site, how much time have you been able to save by asking questions of others who are more experienced than you and how much is your time worth? How much have you saved by someone having advice that saved you several trips to the PAP or the parts store for more parts than you actually needed? HOw much is that worth to you. Lastly, how entertaining is RPR, in all its glory, there is some pretty funny chit that goes on around this community.

Yes, if this wonderful place were to be closed, we all would suffer. The friendships, the passion for our cars and our individual paths we have for our cars, will be lost.

Some are able to support Tom more than others, do what you can, when you can, but do it now. Don't wait as a lot of internet folks are hiding behind a screen name are deadbeats. Who is in that catagory? You a deadbeat and/or a troll? DONATE if you can.


Donnie Joslin

[87MugenProCR-X]

Definatly willing to contribute here. Let us all know when a decision has been made.

Julian

[Condor]

I would be stuck without this site.

I just sent $20 by paypal, and frankly
I'm broke until the 30th, but this is important.

I pledge another $20 when I get paid.

How about everybody step up right now and
give something, even if it's a small amount?

[badpenny]

Nope. There are a few problems with that. First and foremost there is very little any Canadian site will be able to do for your state or federal USA taxes regardless of its status - RPR would have to be a registered 501c3 group in the USA to get the deduction.

Ok, so I need to be the site "Preacher" (I can get a license EASY, actually one of our Cali members probably already is one). Tom sets up rpr like a church, and the FSM is our bible. Done.

maybe down the line we can get a little sticker for redpepperracing.com Contributing Member...?

We already have that. Its right under the peppers and your avatar.


On a slightly more serious note. I would like to pay for my gallery, I think its a good idea, Heck, there are a lot of good ideas floating about. Mr. D's idea of premium and commercial is great, and affordable.

[rpr]

Wow, I take a night off (to play Rockband at a friend's house, woot!) and the thread goes crazy!

A lot of good points were made, and I'll have to consolidate everything and figure out what makes the most sense. I *really* don't want people to think that I shut down the gallery *just* to generate donations. I didn't want to do it, but it's either the gallery or the whole site at the moment, it's just that simple. If (when) I move to another host, it will cost at least $700 a year to run the site. My biggest hesitation with that, and it's been mentioned, is yes, a bunch of people have donated already, enough to pay for a couple of months, maybe 3 (I haven't added it all up yet), but what happens when the donations dry up, and the next quarter is due? I'm sure some people will pony up again, but will it be enough? I don't want to get stuck in a situation where I've committed to moving the site, and then end up paying more for it than when it was at my house.

Anyway, a lot of good ideas, the first thing I will try and do is setup some kind of meter to show where we are. And if you want to donate, but are waiting for something to happen, I'd rather you donate now, so I can hopefully prepay for a year of dedicated hosting. That would make me warm and fuzzy inside...

As for how much to donate, well, I always say 'whatever the site is worth to you'. I've gotten everything from .01 (yes, one cent), up to $50, and everything in between, it all helps. I'm still not sure what I'm going to do in terms of subscriptions or not, advertising or not, member perks, member expiration, etc, but you have all given me a lot to think about. I think short term I'll just have to bite the bullet and move to a dedicated host.

Tom

[SEEKERone]

.... I *really* don't want people to think that I shut down the gallery *just* to generate donations. I didn't want to do it, but it's either the gallery or the whole site at the moment, it's just that simple.

I sincerely hope that NOBODY thinks that you held the gallery hostage for donations.

Let us know how to help...we appreciate what you do for us.
We are a community.

Edited by SEEKERone, 16 January 2008 - 12:14 PM.

[zakats]

I practically grew up on this site and when when I graduate from college in about a year and a half or so, I won't forget about the contribution button, til then its small $$'s when I can.

[rpr]

I sincerely hope that NOBODY thinks that you held the gallery hostage for donations.

Let us know how to help...we appreciate what you do for us.
We are a community.

I wasn't implying that anyone accused me of it, I just didn't want anyone to think that was the motivation.

I have added a 'thermometer' of sorts, it's a work in progress...

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far, if it keeps up the year will be paid for by tomorrow!

Tom

[Sgt. Pepper]

Just did my part.

I've upped my contribution, now up yours.

I've been dying to use that joke.