The first two paragraphs were what we received in the letter dated April 7, 2008.

The Process:  Upon receipt, exemption applications accompanied by the required user fee are initially separated into three groups: (1) those that can be processed immediately based on information submitted, (2) those that need minor additional information to be resolved, and (3) those that require additional development.If your application falls in the first or second group, you will receive either your determination letter or a request for additional information, via phone, fax, or letter, within approximately 60 days of the date the application was submitted.   If your application falls within the third group, you will be contacted once your application has been assigned to an EO specialist.   

Current Status of Applications Requiring Additional Development:  Cases received as of January 2008* are currently being assigned.  Well that leaves us out since they didn’t receive ours until March 27, 2008 Some types of applications must be assigned to specialized agents due to the issues involved, however, and may take longer.  These applications are also assigned in order from the date they are received.

What You Can Do:If you submitted your application or determination letter request:

in or after the month indicated above, continue to check this web page for updates and wait for us to contact you.  There is no need to call.   So basically we are still in the waiting game and they are just a tad bit behind if as of: Page Last Updated:  May 19, 2008 they are still in Jan 2008.  Hey but at least they are in this year and it has almost been a month since the update so maybe they are in Feb 2008.  Will check again soon…….

We have a Post Mark Date for our 501 Application!  I got the application in the mail on March 25, 2008, and I checked to see if the IRS rec'd the application and it was rec'd on March 27.  As soon as we get more updates I will let you know right here and as soon as we are official I am sure WE the board will make an announcement; plus I will post it here as well.  Just in case some do not know what this means, it is a HUGE BIG step in being able to request donations as well as grants and the grantor will be able to deduct off their taxes, that hopefully will make us more appealing to sponsors (this does not include our regular fundraising efforts where you pay and get something in return).  At the moment the only thing a grantor is allowed to do is use what they donated as an advertising expense, if they purchase an ad or banner.  Another aspect of getting the 501 is that it is a tax exempt status, which means some places that we do business with we won't have to pay sales tax.

  This was the fast part of the waiting, now we really get to start waiting, but you know with all the BB games I bet the wait will not be as long as what is anticipated. The first thing we should get from the IRS is just a letter stating that they have rec'd the application. Then we will get a determination letter letting us know that the application is complete and rather we are officially a 501 status. Once we get this official notice then that is when the Post Mark Date of the application is extremely important for that will be the date in which our 501 status took effect.