Want to create a Louisiana booster club, but don’t know how? you’re in luck! Here at Booostr we have created this guide to help you along the way. To ensure that legally your booster club is up to par, it is important to thoroughly consult all of the links and legal references provided below. The resources cited will provide you with the most up to date and reliable step by step information in the process of establishing your Louisiana booster club.
It’s time to give your booster club a name! You can’t use a name that is already being used by another organization so this is going to take a little creativity. We suggest starting with a list of 10-15 different options for the name of your club. Be sure to pick a unique name for your Louisiana booster club, both to avoid using another club’s name and to ensure your audience understands who you are and what you do. Once you have compiled a list, you can now consult the Louisiana Secretary of State website to access a corporate search engine that has the names of organizations (including booster clubs) registered in the state of Louisiana. Now that you have settled on a name for you club it is time to craft your mission statement.
The main focus of your Louisiana booster club mission statement is to define who the organization is, why it exists, and who benefits from the existence of the organization. The mission statement is a great opportunity to partner with and/or use as a reference your affiliated Louisiana school’s mission. Any supporter, volunteer or student should clearly understand the basics reasons the club exists after reading this short succinct summary.
Your Louisiana booster club bylaws contain the rules and procedures your booster club corporation will follow. Your bylaws do not need to be filed with the state of Louisiana but are important as they are your internal organizational operating manual. Before you file your articles of incorporation, you’ll need to have bylaws that insure your club is operating correctly under Louisiana law.
Creating a solid group of board members for your Louisiana booster club is very important, especially this early on. Furthermore, when you are considering specific people to join your board, make sure they are business minded with strong management skills. The key to your board is they should help guide the club, bringing strengths and experiences that you may not have. One other suggestion is to choose candidates that do not have kids in your program to help ensure board longevity.
Many states differ in how many board members they require an organization to have, we suggest having 3 members. With such a small board, decision making will be very efficient. Once you have established the board of directors, they will then vote to determine who will be the club officers.
The officers of your Louisiana booster club are responsible for overseeing the day to day activities to maintain a booster club. Because of this responsibility, it is important to appoint club officers who will take care of the booster club and assure that everything is managed professionally. You want to make sure that your club officers are appointed based on their expertise, interaction with parents and kids and their focus on the development and growth of the club. Creating a strong group of leaders now, will set your club up for success!
It’s time for your Louisiana booster club’s first meeting! There will be a lot of information to cover during this first meeting. The first task is to approve the bylaws that should contain information about the rules and procedures of your organization. After approval of the bylaws, the group needs to determine the best accounting period and tax year would be best for the club. Your club’s fiscal year should coincide with the club’s activity season and if possible, the school’s fiscal year. The next item to tackle is voting on club officers. Finally, if your organization is ready, your board can approve the opening of the booster club business bank account and approve any initial transactions.
Filing for an Employee Identification Number (EIN) with the Federal Government via the IRS is the next important step after completing all of the state level paperwork for establishing your new Louisiana booster club. All the information and forms related to obtaining your EIN is available on the IRS website. You might wonder why you need an EIN? Well for example, in order to open a business bank account for your booster club, most states require an EIN. Make sure that you have all of your state documents in order as you fill out the EIN application as much of the information submitted and approved by the state of Louisiana will be needed by the IRS.
Keep the IRS website handy, you’re going to need it. While becoming a non-profit is optional, we highly recommend it. At this point your focus on the IRS website is completing the steps to become a non-profit on the federal level. You will also find all of the forms you need to complete in order to be recognized on the state level. The IRS also provides tax information for nonprofits, which will be helpful if you should decide to make your booster club a tax exempt organization.
Although tax-exemption isn’t necessary, we highly suggest you consider applying. Becoming tax-exempt allows both your Louisiana booster club and its supporters to save money. Tax-exemption means that your club is excluded from most sales tax and any donations or purchased made through a tax-exempt organization can be written off on personal and business taxes. It’s a win win for everyone involved! All of the information and forms regarding becoming tax exempt is available on the IRS website. The basic step-by-step process listed on the site is as follows:
The last step in this process is to open a bank account for your new Louisiana booster club! Trying to manage your club’s money without a bank account can become very disorganized and confusing very quickly. Not to mention, without a bank account it is much easier for potential theft within the club. Opening a bank account will decrease the potential for mismanagement of funds and maintain the trust of donors and supporters. An added bonus of a bank account is that it makes holding online fundraisers possible for your booster club. Having a bank account will make collecting donations much easier, as well as managing finances and future management take out.
You are the proud new owner of a Louisiana booster club! Now that your club is up and running, there are a few things to remember. It is important to keep up with current Louisiana law, regarding booster club management. To maintain good legal standing, stay on top of yearly fees and dues required by the state. As you move forward with your club, keep checking back on Booostr for further help managing, marketing or fundraising for your booster club!
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Booostr is the first booster club software platform with a connected set of tools designed to help booster clubs and nonprofits better manage their organization. From Communication, to Management, to Fundraising, Booostr's connected software improves booster club efficiency and allow them to focus on surpassing their goals.
