Setting up a Taoist/Taiji Retreat!

[Taiji Bum]

I am in the beginning stages of setting up a retreat/hermitage for Taoists in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I have the land and now I need to set up legal structure. Anybody know about this? I kinda want a Tai Chi Farm but on a much smaller scale. Should I make it a church? Should I just go non-profit? Keep it private so I keep 100% control? I am sure others have thought of this so I would like your input. Thanks!

[Informer]

I would go with a non-profit and charitable LLC. To do so you need to file the standard LLC articles of organization (Form LLC-1) and an exemption application Form FTB 3500). Follow the procedures in these links:

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/2008/08_3500.pdf (Exemption Application)

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/llc/forms/llc-1.pdf (LLC-1 and Instructions)

http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/misc/927.pdf (Exempt Organizations)

 

 

*Note* You will need to file your federal application for 501©(3) status also.

 

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf (Form)

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf (Instructions)

 

I'm not sure how to do the Churches and Religious Organizations but here is the info:

 

http://www.irs.gov/charities/churches/index.html

 

How do you plan to make it sustainable? I was thinking along the lines of hoop houses and exotic organic foods / medicines. Then you could get a specialty crop grant possibly.

Edited May 29, 2012 by Informer

[thelerner]

Not so much on the legal side, but on other issues you might want to contact Minke DeVos who ran Silent Ground, an island based retreat in Canada. I believe it closed down, but she may have insights into it that she'd be willing to share.

[Taiji Bum]

Thanks for the links, Informer! Money isn't an issue. I bought the land free and clear and the taxes are really low. Plus, I have some passive income that will cover all my misc. expenses too. Guests will have to pay for themselves though.

 

Minke DeVos.... Silent Ground..... I need to do some googling!

[Wayfarer]

You could look to this place for inspiration. The Still Point centre originally created by Gia Fu Feng.

 

http://www.carolannwilson.info/stillpoint/index.html

[RiverSnake]

Cant give much advice on this...but man WOW! Sounds like a really cool idea. I look forward to hearing updates on how its going.

 

-My 2 cents, Peace

[gatito]

Thanks for the links, Informer! Money isn't an issue. I bought the land free and clear and the taxes are really low. Plus, I have some passive income that will cover all my misc. expenses too. Guests will have to pay for themselves though.

 

Minke DeVos.... Silent Ground..... I need to do some googling!

 

Can't advise you I'm afraid but I'd like to wish you good luck. I really hope it comes together; I believe that people need to meet and share their friendships and common interests in person in order to take things further.

[ChiDragon]

Thanks for the links, Informer! Money isn't an issue. I bought the land free and clear and the taxes are really low. Plus, I have some passive income that will cover all my misc. expenses too. Guests will have to pay for themselves though.

 

 

I was always thinking about doing something like setting up a retreat like that. It was my dream. You are lucky that you already have the land for that. You have won half the battle already, go for it....