Benefits for MMGA Affiliate Chapters
Benefits for MMGA Affiliate Chapters
Local and regional chapters of Michigan Master Gardeners that affiliate with the MMGA receive valuable benefits as an affiliate organization. Once your chapter is affilliated with the MMGA you will have the ability to enjoy these tangible benefits:
- Use MMGA's IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter.
- Offer tax deductions for donations
- Apply for grant dollars for projects like community gardens and food gardens because many granting organizations, like foundations, can only make grants to organizations with a 501(c)(3) status.
- Make mission-related purchases without paying sales tax
- Have a checking account free of bank charges
- Be named as an Additional Insured on the MMGA's liability policy
- Use the MMGA logo on chapter communications as long as you follow MMGA guidelines for its use
- Use the MMGA's Standard Operating Procedures as templates for your chapter operations
- Form a legal entity and provide a layer of protection to chapter members
But that's not all! In addition helping you with formalizing your organization so that you can enjoy all the tangible benefits of being a 501(c)(3) affiliate organization, as an MMGA affiliate chapter you'll also enjoy networking opportunities, support, training and resources for:
- Chapter board members and officers
- Filing IRS form 990
- Apply for a sales tax license
- Filing a sales tax report
- Filing appropriately with the State of Michigan
- Reporting to MMGA
- Leadership training sessions for all chapters at least once a year
- Assistance with your chapter questions and concerns from MMGA board members
- Introduction to and the opportunity to network with other master gardener groups
