Hug a Gamer Charity

Shiuzu

This seemed like the section to ask for some help so here goes,

I come to you as a representative of the new charity (as the title says) Hug a Gamer. (http://www.hugagamer.com/) Basically what were doing at this time is accepting money donations, and if you can't afford that you can mail in any gaming/comic/anime etc. that you have laying around and what we do with all that stuff is give it all back to the gaming community in one way or the other.

So if you have 5 bucks you wanna give, or an old game you have laying around, hell even if you don't want to give that up. Tell your friends, we still need to get our name out there that's why I'm coming to you guys and writing this long description. Just...take a look, it's all I ask.

Thanks, Graham

VisionOfClarity

Are you actually registered as a charity? Also, you usually need this kind of thing mod approved and it probably belongs in a different forum.

Shiuzu

VisionOfClarity wrote: »

Are you actually registered as a charity? Also, you usually need this kind of thing mod approved and it probably belongs in a different forum.

Yes we are registered as a charity, and I apologies, this seemed like the place to post it, and I wasn't aware of the mod rules.

VisionOfClarity

Some advice, you really need to display your 501(c) status on your website.

VisionOfClarity

Also, are you sure you're registered in the States because you're not in the IRS database of charities.

Shiuzu

VisionOfClarity wrote: »

Also, are you sure you're registered in the States because you're not in the IRS database of charities.

That was my mistake, most of the paperwork has been sent off, and we still have a few things to fill out (the site went live only about 3 weeks ago lol) so things still need to get fully processed.

VisionOfClarity

Ok, what you're doing I'm near positive is illegal. You're advertising and soliciting as a charity and are not actually registered as a charity. This can get you into serious trouble with the IRS. I would suggest on-boarding someone who knowns nonprofit law or management ASAP.

Shiuzu

Well for all legal purposes were registered as a business. And those papers being processed are also making us a NPO organization. Don't worry, we did our homework ^_^

VisionOfClarity

Yes, but a business is not a charity and just because you're in the process of filing it does not mean you'll be approved. And since you are presenting yourself as a charity, and not a business, this is where the problem arises.

OnTheLastCastle

VoC has very good advice.

Also, fix the typos littered everywhere on that site. Charities still need to be professional. And I'm not nitpicking, there are major typos about every other sentence. "Gamers live without boarders."

I don't want to straight up say you're trying to scam us, but that site does not inspire my confidence that you are a legitimate entity in its current form. Get ideas for a redesign from other charitable websites, and/or you may want to look into hooking up with Child's Play.

Druhim

Yeah, this all looks very shifty. And I don't get how this is even a charity in concept. Child's Play? Totally makes sense as a charity. Getting games to sick kids recovering in hospitals is awesome. You're just sharing games with whoever wants some? I don't really get that.

ceres

H/A doesn't accept solicitations. You need admin approval for something like this, and if you want it at all you may wish to consider finalizing your paperwork BEFORE asking for money and site traffic if you are going to claim yourself as a charity.