Is your homeschool group looking to raise some money in 2008?

Meet With an Accountant
I strongly recommend that you speak with a local accountant and explain to him or her what you are planning to do. And I stress the verb tense here. Consult with the accountant before you attempt a fund raiser.

Track Down Your Local Homeschool Association
I would reach out to the leadership of the local homeschool network in your area to ask their advice and learn from their experience. Perhaps they have an established fund raising event themselves, and you could participate in it.

Ask Detailed Questions of Any Fund raising Company You’re Thinking of Using
If you decide to go the route of a product sales fund raiser and you are considering using a professional supplier, I would recommend consulting with them before entering into an official agreement.

Find Out Exactly What Being a Non-Profit Really Means
I would suggest doing a little reading on the exact nature of what a non-profit organization truly is. It is very easy to say that you would like to become a non-profit, but it is an entirely more difficult matter to actually do it.

Visit the Homeschool CPA Online
I would read and become very familiar with the blog called Homeschool CPA. The author of this site is Carol Topp, and she is a certified CPA, who has become an authority in the field of homeschool fund raising. She answers direct questions online, so you can email her with your specific situation, if you like. After reading through her entire site, I highly recommend it.

Keep Thorough Records
When it comes to raising money, I strongly urge you to keep excellent records of everything you spend and everything you earn. This will make it much easier if you ever do have to go back and justify your actions.  Read the entire post here