[TriLUG] TriLUG non-profit status?

Tue Sep 29 07:02:54 EDT 2026

Hi Steve!

You’re generally correct and the overall point is valid. So this is picking nits mostly - a grand internet tradition! 

But here’s an additional perspective on the subject. 

LEAP never got to the 501c3 status. It was a Florida non-profit, however, which had many of the same requirements (charter, officers, etc). Dues were to cover expenses (including filing fees) and generally “do things as an organization” - for example, we would produce distro CD’s and hand them out at various events like installfests and HamCation. 

Anyway, the membership moved on to other things (safe to say that) and could not sustain itself. 

Looking back, I think the 501c3 was a distraction. The primary reason we wanted it (as I recall it) was that we had some opportunities over the years to receive end of life (ie out of warranty but still good) hardware from local large employers (like from, you know, the one with a mouse logo). They could easily write those off as a donation, but they internally required 501c3 for that. 

Anyway, we ultimately didn’t need it (501c3), didn’t have the expertise (as a group) to apply for it, and would have created even more administrative burden for the group. And we were still effective in our efforts to achieve our objectives as an organization without it.  Again, the organization died because the members moved on (for various reasons). 

Hope this provides some insights from the experience of another group. 

Best regards!
Aaron M - Also a former President of LEAP. 

--am

> On Sep 29, 2026, at 01:19, Steve Litt via TriLUG <trilug at trilug.org> wrote:
> 
> Maryam Abkar via TriLUG said on Tue, 15 Sep 2026 18:17:30 -0400
> 
>> Hello everyone,
>> 
>> once upon a time TriLUG was registered as a non-profit, if anyone
>> knows the details of who registered us as such, whether that's still
>> active/if we are able to cheaply reactivate it, please let us know!
>> 
>> -Maryam A.
> 
> Be careful what you wish for Maryam. For several years I was an
> Executive Committee member and for one year president of LEAP (Linux
> Enthusiasts and Professionals) in Orlando. LEAP was 501.c3 with
> accounting, reports, mandatory elections, charter, etc. I know that's
> not TriLUG's situation, but it sounds like what you had was a North
> Carolina little brother of 501.c3.
> 
> We had to ask for dues of $35/year, and you'd be surprised how many
> folks didn't want to pay, so we had a lot of free riders because we
> weren't about to offer anything special to members (As I remember
> 501.c3 forbids that, but even if it didn't, we just couldn't in good
> conscience do that).
> 
> Anyway, in 2004 a competing, disorganized LUG called GoLUG (Greater
> Orlando Linux User Group) formed, with no dues, no bank account, no
> constitution or official officers, and slowly over the next few years
> people left LEAP for GoLUG. The end came for LEAP when they couldn't
> get a quorum to elect officers.
> 
> LEAP continued as an Installfest Only illegal entity for almost a
> decade, but the Installfests stopped. GoLUG still exists as a
> virtual LUG. LEAP's charitable organization worked to its competitive
> disadvantage.
> 
> I left out A LOT of details that are probably best forgotten, so it's
> not a direct parallel to TriLUG's situation. Nevertheless, adopting an
> official business organization brings costs and risks along with its
> benefits and opportunities.
> 
> SteveT
> 
> Steve Litt
> 
> http://444domains.com
> --
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