I am in Texas, although this program will be available globally, due to the nature of the online business type. This affiliate program will be part of a business (the money generated from the program will go through a registered LLC), but will be given to a ministry (at this time we are not a 501c3, although at a certain point in the near future we hope to become such), save for that which will be required for costs including payroll, expenses and taxes.
No product will be sold, but rather membership to a site will be given, and those getting involved will be notified that their membership fee will be more a donation than a service. To explain that comment; since we are a global ministry, those getting in on our affiliate program will be doing so understanding their money will be more a donation than a product (the membership will give extra features throughout our website), but these 'donations' will be handled by a business since the affiliate program itself is for-profit while all of the profit will be given to our not-for-profit ministry (again, save for those which are needed to maintain the business, including taxes).
I know this may sound confusing, and if you like I will try to expound upon it if needed, but the simplicity of the whole thing is that a business will generate revenue to give to a ministry through an affiliate program which does not sell a product but a service. It will be clearly stated our purpose through the revenue, but since the nature of the program is for the furtherance of the ministry, and it is expected that those who would even consider getting involved in the program want to do so to further the ministry itself.
Wow, many words used to perhaps only repeat what was sad in different ways. What steps should I take to ensure this is setup and maintained legally, not only in my state, but also nationally and even globally? What resources should I be looking up?
No product will be sold, but rather membership to a site will be given, and those getting involved will be notified that their membership fee will be more a donation than a service. To explain that comment; since we are a global ministry, those getting in on our affiliate program will be doing so understanding their money will be more a donation than a product (the membership will give extra features throughout our website), but these 'donations' will be handled by a business since the affiliate program itself is for-profit while all of the profit will be given to our not-for-profit ministry (again, save for those which are needed to maintain the business, including taxes).
I know this may sound confusing, and if you like I will try to expound upon it if needed, but the simplicity of the whole thing is that a business will generate revenue to give to a ministry through an affiliate program which does not sell a product but a service. It will be clearly stated our purpose through the revenue, but since the nature of the program is for the furtherance of the ministry, and it is expected that those who would even consider getting involved in the program want to do so to further the ministry itself.
Wow, many words used to perhaps only repeat what was sad in different ways. What steps should I take to ensure this is setup and maintained legally, not only in my state, but also nationally and even globally? What resources should I be looking up?
