[gentoo-dev] Re: Gentooo 501(c) accounting

[james]

On 12/07/2016 01:31 PM, james wrote:
> Hello,
>
>
> There was some discussion before about the software used for gentoo the
> charity (501)(c). It seems to have perked up a bit of discussion on
> gnucash, where all of the posting I have read suggest that gnucash is a
> wonderful accounting system for  charity organizations. There also
> appears to be lots of experience and help to. I thought this issue need
> a separate thread on gentoo-dev, a robust decision, and a team based
> solution, if  not a council item.
>
> Here is the latest posting I have received on the 501(c) subject matter,
> I thought I share and formally open up a discussion on the subject:
>
>
>
> Here's my original post::
>
> Hello gnucash users.
>
> I use gnucash for my small business, for years and I'm quite happy with
> it. Recently, I was ask if Gnucash has as good of support for 501(c)3
> non-profits as does ledger (www.ledger-cli.org)?
>
> Any and all comments are warmly received.
>
> James
> ........................................
>
> The the most recent reply:
>
>>
>> [1] http://www.ledger-cli.org/
>
> I regard cli accounting as a friend of GnuCash rather than the
> competition, there isn't anything one can do that the other can't in
> accounting terms, also notice that cli accounting is becoming less so as
> time passes, there are UIs and SQL type reports and so on being added
> all the time, the principle is that compared to commercial products you
> can, if you really want to, see a stream of transactions in ordinary ABC
> and 123 terms, gnc can be dumped to cli and vice versa.
>
> I'm not saying you or someone else should choose one or the other, I'm
> asking you to thunk which is most likely to get people keeping good
> records for the benefit of their non-profit.  I know that for one
> non-profit I help out with a basic cli would be a non-starter, no UI and
> the tx simply wouldn't get entered.
>
>> [2] http://www.accountingcoach.com/nonprofit-accounting/explanation/1
>
> worth reading, note the bits about restricted funds, that is what people
> that are familiar with for-profit orgs usually struggle with conceptually
>
>> [3] https://sfconservancy.org/npoacct/
>
> that's been updated since I read it last but seems to be more face lift
> than new content
>
> James, you've got some good links there but don't actually say what the
> imperatives for your correspondent are.
>
> I, and I am sure others, are happy to espouse GnuCash, *if we think it
> is right* for your org.  I don't have enough to go on.  There is little
> harm in trying it, however, as it is easy enough to get your tx in and
> out if cli accounting is your alternative.
>
> Happy helping and non-profiteering (if that is even a concept in merka
> post Trump)


Why thank you James for helping us focus on charity and organizational 
commitment. Here is an IRS online document, that is just exciting to 
read, when one puts on the filter of gentoo_behavior and reads the 
requirements to be a 501(c)3  [1]



[1] 
https://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/ch03.html#en_US_201602_publink1000200036


So which category is Gentoo under?


Where are the public records?


Can we get complete historical ledger of the organization published?


Are we (gentoo, council and foundation) in compliance?

Audit Records?


Let's get cracking on which FOSS package we want to use, as a community 
decision. I suggest preparation and a public vote.


Other ideas?


hth,
James