Want to start a new booster club in Mississippi? It can seem a little overwhelming, but we here at Booostr are here to help! We have created this guide to help you along the way. It is important to use all of the links and legal references below to ensure that your club is legally up to par. The resources cited will provide you with the most up to date and reliable step by step information in the process of establishing your Mississippi booster club.
The first step in creating a Mississippi booster club is choosing the club name. In order to avoid choosing a name that is already in use by another organization, we suggest creating a list of 10-15 potential options. The name of your club should be unique and should communicate to your audience who your club is and what you do. Once you have compiled a list, you can now consult the Mississippi Secretary of State website to access a corporate search engine that has the names of organizations (including booster clubs) registered in the state of Mississippi. Once you have an available name, Mississippi then allows you to reserve that name. This prevents another nonprofit or business from registering under your chosen name while you continue to prepare the necessary legal documentation.
Your club’s mission statement should be a quick summary of what your club is all about. The main focus of your Mississippi booster club mission statement is to define who the organization is, why it exists, and who benefits from the existence of the organization. This is a great opportunity to align your mission statement with that of your affiliated schools. Any supporter, volunteer or student should clearly understand the basics reasons the club exists after reading this short summary.
Your Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi law.
It’s time to choose your club’s initial board members! In order to ensure the best outcome, we suggest you take a little time and follow at least these three guidelines:
You can always have more selection criteria, but the above three points are key. By choosing board members with different business / life experiences you are adding different perspectives and insight into decision making which can help the club better navigate moving forward. When you choose candidates that do not have kids involved in your booster club’s activity you are ensuring longer serving board members as they will not leave when their child quits, graduates etc.
Keep in mind some states differ in the number of directors they require on the club’s board. We generally suggest to start with 3 board members. With a small board decision can be made much quicker, making the initial processes much smoother. Once you have established the board of directors, one of their first tasks will be to then vote to determine who will be the club officers.
Because Mississippi booster club officers are in charge of overseeing the day to day of different departments of the booster club, it is important to select individuals with great communicating and management skills. 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 great group of leaders early will ensure the success or your Mississippi booster club.
It’s time for your Mississippi 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.
Once you have completed all of your state level paperwork for your Mississippi booster club, we suggest you file for an Employer Identification Number. An EIN will be necessary later on when you apply to open a bank account. All the information and forms related to obtaining your EIN is available on the IRS website. During this process, be sure to keep all of your documents organized as they will be submitted on both the state and federal levels.
While Non-profit status is not mandatory, it is highly suggested. It does require a few more hoops to jump through but the long term benefits outweigh the initial headache. Continuing to navigate through the IRS website, this is where all of the information your Mississippi booster club needs o become a nonprofit organization lives. The IRS website provides you with all of the information and forms necessary to be considered a non-profit on the federal level. Should you decide to make your booster club a tax exempt organization, the IRS also provides tax information for nonprofits.
We highly suggest your Mississippi booster club files for tax-exemption, although it is not necessary. Becoming tax-exempt is a great way for both your Mississippi booster club and your club supporters 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 can be found 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi 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!
One of the key aspects of managing a booster club is communicating and informing key booster club supporters. Supporters who give and help volunteer are vital for a club’s success. To have a strengthened and solid team of supporters, your booster club will need to be able to relay information to supporters in a quick,… View Article
Serving in a booster club is a unique and fantastic opportunity to help others and give back to a community. Despite this great opportunity, sometimes issues arise and cause a hiccup in the plans to serve well and efficiently. One of these hiccups occurs through booster club management pass-off problems that arise when leadership teams… View Article
As your leadership operates and manages your booster club, managing and tracking different files and documents is one of the worst parts. But what if you had a system and tool that could turn one of the worst parts of your club into one of its best? Booostr Document Storage advantages your club by providing… View Article
Managing a booster club is a fantastic opportunity to serve your community and make a difference in the lives of many people. Additionally, serving in a booster club allows you to be of great value and use for yourself as well as others. However, it is very easy to let this perspective and grand vision… View Article
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.
