Dear Cat Friends,
Sometimes the best intentions just don’t go the way you want.
The mission of Cat Friends Helping Friends was to be an IRS-recognized
501(c)3 charitable organization, where donations were to be
tax-deductible, and these donations were to go to help kitties in need.
Unfortunately, it has become very clear to the CFHF Executive Committee
that we, as volunteers, are unable to fulfill this mission. Along with
the Federal IRS guidelines, applications and filings, there are also many
states who want their finger in the pie and a hand on the reins. These
mountains of red tape and hoops to jump through were only magnified
because the primary venue of our fund raising was to be online.
So, the CFHF Board of Directors voted, and it was decided that we would
not proceed with our application to become a 501(c)3 charity, and we would
disband the corporation known as Cat Friends Helping Friends.
CFHF is comprised of many enthusiastic and talented volunteers, and I want
to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work and time
dedicated to CFHF. There have been many hours spent in meetings, doing
research, and reading mind-numbing documents that the word “thanks”
really cannot sum up. Please know that your time was appreciated!
I would also like to thank everyone who donated to us. Either by
purchasing a raffle ticket, bidding on an auction, or raising funds on
your own blogs, every donation is so very much appreciated. We
understand, however, if you feel that since we were unable to attain
tax-deductible organization status, you want to request a refund of your
donation.
If you would like to receive a refund of your donation, minus PayPal fees
incurred, please e-mail your request to President @
Catfriendshelpingfriends dot com by 5pm Eastern on Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Where do we go from here?
Well, first, to wrap up some details of CFHF before we officially disband:
During our existence, we raised $2,580.69
Out of that, PayPal expenses were $121.45
Admin expenses were $90.00
$710.21 was donated to Laura (Mu Shue, Lilly Lu, and Iris)
Of the $2,580.69, we have set aside $520 to cover taxes, for filing with
the IRS. After we file taxes, if there are funds remaining from the $520,
that will be disbursed to a cat in need.
That leaves us with approximately $1,140. If we do not have any refund
requests, then this is the amount we will disburse to cats currently in
need.
The Board has elected to split this sum into four equal shares.
The following 4 cats will each receive 25% (currently $285): Moki, MuShue,
Panther, and Dancer.
These funds will be distributed on Monday, June 9, 2008 via PayPal.
Our goal was always to help cats in need, and we did all we could to live
up to that goal. Unfortunately, the corporate way just is not going to
work for us. But, like a cat with nine lives, don’t count us out yet. As
I said, CFHF is comprised of enthusiastic, talented individuals. In some
way or another, many of us will be back - in some form or another - to
help raise money for cats in need!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me (president
@ catfriendshelpingfriends dot com) or add your thoughts in a comment
here.
Thank you all, from the bottom of my heart.
Sincerely,
Mo
Morgen Pittman
President, Cat Friends Helping Friends
This post will remain up @ Cat Friends Helping Friends for 30 days.
32 responses so far ↓
1 Pearl, Bert and Jake // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Well this is very sad news - you guys are all so awesome for trying to take on such a huge endeavor! We hope that ultimately there is a way for it all to come back together, since it is such a worthy cause.
Purrs,
Pearl, Bert, Jake and Mommy
2 Zippy, Sadie & Speedy // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Even if it’s not tax deductable mom will still be sending donations to whereever and whoever needs dem when she can. We would never ask for a donation back, dat is money dat someone else needs and it should stay where it’s needed. A while back dad stopped donating to a certain charity, he decided dat dey was taking to much out in administrative fees…something like 70%, fur da bosses big salary. Now he just gives to those he knows need it directly. He sez da tax deduction wasn’t worth the wasted dollars.
3 Kashim & Othello and Momma Astrid // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:51 pm
We are really sorry and sad to hear this news.
There were so many hopes with this project and we know you all put so much effort into bringing it to live…
Thanks for all your work!!
It is amazing how much money you were able to raise in such a short time! This shows that there are really a lot of people out there in the CB who care and want to help where help is needed most.
We sure hope will be a way to keep it going somehow .. or something else..
don’t worry about the donation (ours that is) we do not want it back and we are sure you will give it to those who need it most. just like ZZ&S saided.
Again: thank you all so much for your hard work and all your effort for CFHF!!
4 Lee County Clowder // Jun 3, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Would it make it any easier if ‘we’ tried again without the tax deduktable part?
We’re with ZS&S. If we have any money to give, we never worry about that part anyway.
5 Tyler // Jun 3, 2008 at 3:10 pm
We can still donate to kitties in need, right? We just can’t have a fund. I agree about not caring about the taxes.
Arrrgh, on govermental red tape. We’re throwing it in our litterboxes where it belongs!
Tyler
6 Samantah & Mr. Tigger // Jun 3, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Ahhhhhhh….we are so sorry to hear this news! Please take what we have put in and use it to help. That is more important than anything. Silly red tape and greedy states! Thanks for the great job you all did in trying to get it to work!!
Your Fl furiends,
and Mom Chandra
7 Criz Lai // Jun 3, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Awww… this is a bad news to me. I was just discussing on how I could help out the cat community after I get Panther’s stuff settled and here I am receiving this news. Isn’t there anything else that could be done without having some many red tapes from the related authorities? Just like LCC said, without asking for tax deductibles?
I believe that there should be someone out there who can assist you in maintaining this great CFHF of yours. I will pray for a miracle, so will the rest of us here.
Anyway, thank you CFHF for assisting Panther as well. I appreciate it a lot.
8 Jimmy Joe // Jun 3, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Oh man, that is really too bad that all of those states and all of those organization made it too hard to make CHFH work. But you all have done amazing work, and all of us kitties in the Blogosphere are so glad that you Beans work so hard to help us!
Your buddy, Jimmy Joe
9 Miss Peach // Jun 3, 2008 at 4:37 pm
God Bless you all for your efforts in helping to keep this dream alive. Some times it does feel like you are banging your head against the concret wall doesn’t it!?
I will still have auctions on my blog for kitties in need as they arise. I do wish we could have helped the burned kitty Miss Silk more…she has a tender spot in my heart…as do all who suffer so at the hands of man.
Sending you much love and soft hugs for all of your help so far. Miss Peach
10 Jan's Funny Farm // Jun 3, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Oh, no. We heard about this from CrizCats and it was a shock. We know you have all given much of your time and energy to try to get this off the ground. But we understand. Every government agency wants their “share” of donations and red tape to make an organization tax deductible can be overwhelming.
You did what you could and we’d like to commend all of you on volunteering your time to help others.
11 Beverly Martin // Jun 3, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Thanks for everything you do. I would not think of asking for a donation back and will continue to donate if needed.
12 Parker // Jun 3, 2008 at 6:41 pm
I poot in the general direction of the IRS!
I’m just glad that the remainder of the funds will go to those kitties.
We’ll figure out a way to help kitties in need some way!
Smooches to all of you for your hard work!
13 Maggy & Zoey, Zoolatry // Jun 3, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Heartfelt thanks to all of you for your hard work and your effort… it was a worthy idea and a worthy goal… perhaps another day, another way.
14 Momo // Jun 4, 2008 at 12:06 am
Thankyou for all the hard work to all those concerned. Tax refund is not an objective at all for my donation, which is small anyway. I am glad those kitties get some help.
15 Camie's Kitties // Jun 4, 2008 at 12:20 am
We just wanted to add our thanks to everyone else’s for your hard work and dedication. We are so sorry that the government is made up of such poopheads. We hope the small amount we donated will help in some small way.
Tiki, Tavi, Cody and Camie
16 Lux // Jun 4, 2008 at 1:43 am
I’m sorry it didn’t work out right now, but want to add my thanks to those who worked so hard …
17 Karen Jo // Jun 4, 2008 at 4:03 am
I just want to add my thanks to all the others for all the hard work you put in trying to make CFHF work as a tax-deductible. It’s sad that the government makes it so difficult. I am glad that you raised so much money in the little time you had and that it will go to those in need.
18 Abby // Jun 4, 2008 at 6:02 am
We just wanted to send out thanks for all that you have done and are very sorry to learn that they 501c status was not attainable. We salute all the efforts of everyone behind the scenes. We so hope that there can be some type of way we can continue to raise funds for those in need. Thank you for everything you’ve done and we do hope that all the funds raised will be able to go to those kitties in need.
19 Jasper McKitten-Cat // Jun 4, 2008 at 10:00 am
Thank you all for working so hard to try to make this happen. I know I’m just echoing what everyone else has already said. This was such a huge undertaking, made harder, I’m sure, by the fact that you were all scattered across the country and taking donations from different states. We all know that charity will continue because that is in the nature of all of us. I just see this as a time of reorganization. You guys did a great job, and you should be very proud of your accomplishment. You helped a lot, in a very short time, and that makes CFHF a success.
20 Mr. Echo // Jun 4, 2008 at 12:06 pm
It is indeed sad that our government makes it so hard to help one another. I was going to donate the profits I got from my online storr to you, but now I will either send it to Siamese Rescue or some other kitty in need of help. One way or another I think the cat blogosphere will still find a way to help those in need. I’m happy to be a part of it! Thank you for all your hard work, even if it diddint go the way you envisioned!
21 The Crew // Jun 4, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Oh man, this is sad news! We heard about it from Grr, Midnight & Cocoa’s Mom when we asked about donating Paw Points.
Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to try and make it happen. Maybe there’s some other way our cat blogging community can continue to help out kitties in need & their families.
George, Tipper, Max, Misty & Crew’s Mom
22 Moki // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:19 pm
This is such sad news! We first heard about it through Criz. Please, please, please contact us directly before disbanding. We may be able to help you nagivate the red tape. The mission of CFHF is so great, we’d hate to see it come to an end!!!
23 Finnegan Buddy & Jasmine // Jun 4, 2008 at 3:21 pm
We’re really sorry to hear this but we are very proud of you for making such a great effort. Sometimes bureaucracy makes it hard for us regular folks to do the things we want to do.
Thank you all for your incredibly hard work and especially your dedication.
We will continue to make donations when we can and we know that everyone else will too.
Lots of hugs & purrs,
Finny Buddy Jasmine and mom bean
24 Angus Mhor // Jun 4, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Thank you all for trying so hard to make this idea a reality. It would have been a wonderful way for us all to help each other, but knowing our community, we’ll find a way, yet!
25 ML & Auntie Deb’s Furriends of CB | Kashim & Othello // Jun 5, 2008 at 8:40 am
[…] the CFHF sadly being disbanded this is a wonderful way to keep up helping furriends in need and raising funds. Our heartfelt […]
26 China Cat & Willow // Jun 5, 2008 at 1:54 pm
We were so sorry to hear about this today from Zoolatry. We certainly want to add our heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked so hard on getting this going to help cats in need.
Purrrrrrs, China Cat & Willow
27 Tiger Lily // Jun 5, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Hisssssssssssssses and growwwwwwwwwwwwls to the IRS! Is there any way we can have a central clearninghouse fund even if it isn’t tax deductible? Would we have to actually pay taxes to the IRS or states in a situation like that? We never think about deductibility anyway ‘cuz Mom and my Daddy do not make enough money to make itemizing worthwhile!!
Jemima, Zeke, Sushi, Tiger Lily and Ruckus
28 The Zoo // Jun 5, 2008 at 9:07 pm
were so sorry your closing but completly understand. its a shame the govt makes it so difficult but appreciate yur efforts.
29 Wednesday Noos » Cat Blogosphere // Jun 11, 2008 at 12:02 am
[…] Friends Helping Friends has disbursed their funds, as outlined in their last post. $285 went via PayPal to each of these 4 kitties: Moki, MuShue, Panther, and Dancer. Thanks to […]
30 Moki // Jun 11, 2008 at 1:56 am
We just wanted to personally thank everyone at CFHF for making a donation to help Moki and other kitties in need!
31 simplycats // Jun 11, 2008 at 8:21 am
So sorry about this. We know about ‘red tape’ all to well, and had to close our charity eventually too.
It was an admirable attempt on your part.
32 Bogdan // Jun 29, 2008 at 10:23 pm
This is very frustrating to hear. We’d like to thank you for your efforts. I don’t understand why the government makes it so hard to HELP others.
-Bogdan + staff
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