I'm not gonna argue with you. I'm letting the subject be.

It is really deceptive to call it a "fundraiser" when the money collected is for YOURSELF.

If you want to have a real fundraiser (in the generally understood meaning of the word) then hold the fundraiser and donate the money to a LEGIT charitable cause.

If you are going to keep the money to pay for something for yourself, then be honest and do not call it a fundraiser.

If you are raising funds for something, anything really, then it's a fundraiser.

And I'm not going to argue, I'm just pointing out facts.

Well, shoot!! Who knew it was that easy? I could sure use some help with my car payment this month! Let's get the planning started for my Nissan fundraiser :rolleyes:

^^^ :D:D:D:D:D

There you go. It is that easy! Where have YOU been?

(As for the "not going to argue"... looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck :rolleyes:)

You know what? I'm not even going to respond if you guys are going to act so immature.

Did you say DUCKS? :D

What you are talking about doing is selling food to earn money for something you want. That is NOT fundraising. Will you be disclosing where the profits of your home cafe will be going? If not, that is not ethical.

I posted the definition of fundraising. What I'm talking about is, by definition, fundraising. If you don't agree, that's your right. You can hold whatever opinion you want.

Grabbing definitions out of a dictionary won't get you a pass in the real world. I guarantee you that 99 out of 100 people or more would disagree with your version of fundraising. And...you didn't answer my question. Do you plan to tell your donors where the funds will be going?

Taking it down to the basics: Since you're not donating the money to a 501c(3), you should report the profit as income for tax purposes. Don't forget that you're going to need to meet your area's (county/town) requirements for health certificates for serving food. If your guests should become ill you'll be liable since you sold them the food.

That's fundraising 101.

To the extent that I can. The org is extremely private about their recruitment.

Since I would pretty much just be cooking for friends (something I do all the time -- I would say at least twice a week), I don't need to worry about any of that (meeting requirements for serving food etc). And since I don't make enough money to have to pay taxes, I don't need to worry about that either.

Since there has been a lot of concern about whether this fits the definition of fundraising or not, I think it would be a good idea to check with the members and find out what THEY expect from the two fundraising events you are required to organize. The intention may be that you select a charity, or two, and organize an event to raise awareness and funds for this cause. Supporting charitable efforts is important to all GLOs that I know of, and this may well be the intent. I would check to be sure. You want to make a good impression and follow the intent of the requirement.

Then why are you posting here on GreekChat?

Excuse me, but you most certainly do, if you're selling the food. You are also missing the point about having to report income. ALL income. Regardless of whether you earn enough to pay taxes or not.

I think we're here now, people.

The fundraisers are for me as an official interest to raise money to help cover my orientation fee. They are not at all for charity. I was told this when I was told I had to do fundraising.

Because I'm looking for ideas. I'm not really sure how you don't get that.

And no, I don't. It's the same as cooking for my friends on any other occasion. I have never reported my income (unless it is automatically reported?), so why would I have to report this? Or, I could have it be on a basis of donation, so then the money would be a gift, and you absolutely do not have to report gifts.

ETA: I just got an email from the sister in charge of recruitment and she said that some ideas sisters have used are: Collecting cans and returning them at a grocery store, selling candy, and holding bake sales.