Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing Communities with NonProfit Status

[Buzz Harris (buzz_harris]

 Hi JoAnn.

I live in Mosaic Commons Cohousing in Massachusetts. We don't have a nonprofit 
entity associated with our community, but I've helped people form, manage, and 
fund nonprofits for many years.

Speaking broadly, a 501(c)(3) that is not a grant-making foundation needs to 
have a charitable or public-interest purpose (these are defined pretty broadly 
by the IRS rules) and cannot operate only for the benefit of its members/board 
members. I should say that I'm not an attorney. If you want to start a 
non-foundation (c)(3), I recommend "How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation" by 
Anthony Mancuso (available at nolo.org). Here, in addition, is the link to the 
IRS rules: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-types.

I know that this only addresses some aspects of your question. I'll be 
interested to hear how cohousers have made use of nonprofits.

Thanks,

Buzz


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Buzz Harris


What used to be called liberal is now called radical,
What used to be called radical is now called insane,
What used to be called reactionary is now called moderate, and
What used to be called insane is now called solid conservative thinking.

-Tony Kushner


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     On Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 09:00:54 AM EDT, JoAnn Kowalski via 
Cohousing-L <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org> wrote:  
 
 Wanting to hear more about the pros and cons of adding a nonprofit entity
status to a forming or an established Cohousing Community.
Thank you.
JoAnn
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