Re: Gathering opinions: deciding between LLC and Not-for-Profit

Thanks, I do know about fiscal sponsorship and have researched that possibility extensively. However, I realized it may be a good idea to consider the option of establishing my own not-for-profit.

I don't think that the current economy and having to deal with lots of paperwork should be the only deterrents. The economy will certainly change. If that were the only reason, why start a production company at all, with the entire film industry hurting?

In addition, I can't predict how generous or not people can or will be, but I do know if someone believes in something, they find a way to contribute -- whether with cash or in-kind donations to the production. I would request donations on a project-by-project basis (a filmmaker I know just raised almost all the money she needs for her film by circulating a letter to everyone she knows and receiving donations - and she is for-profit, and unable to offer tax deductions for donors). My company would also be eligible to apply for grants that are not available to individuals, if it were not-for-profit.

Anytime you start investigating this structure the first thing anyone tells you is there's a lot of paperwork. I'd like reasons for or against going non-profit beyond the desire to avoid a lot of paperwork! I'm not totally sold on the idea, so I want input. My concerns are more about managing a not-for-profit, having a Board, hiring yourself out to do work on projects other than your own, can the owner also be the non-profit's manager, and so on.