Trains.com

New Federal Grants for HSR and Identifying Corridors

5696 views
35 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 20,096 posts
Posted by daveklepper on Monday, December 18, 2023 6:13 AM

Because one can make tax-deductable contribuitions to it.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, December 18, 2023 9:52 AM

FRRYKid
Then why can it use a .org extension for its webpage? Anything government, whether it is federal, state, or local uses a .gov at least to the best of my knowledge.

A nonprofit Corporation is defined by the IRS tax code and has nothing to do with who set it up.   It is controlled by a board of directors and shareholders.    In the case I run it is done for common ownership of property (Homeowner Association) it can also be done for a special interest.    The only nonprofit C Corporation I am aware of where the Government cannot participate is 501 chapter C or Charitable Non-profit.

The web domain dot org is used by quasi-governmental organizations like the Federal Reserve on the private side (Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago) and then dot gov on the government side (Board of Governors), so it can be a mix and I don't think there is any restriction in .org being used by a government.

I think this might be a larger umbrella organization in which the government participates and so both sides might be correct here.    They might have setup a nonprofit because it is a LOT faster to setup and disband than an RTA.    Additionally with a nonprofit they could have others participate in it without the overly cumbersome government restrictions.    I think overall it would be cheaper, faster and more agile.     No idea how it would be funded other than grants.    Though NGO's are indeed non-profits and some recieve federal funding.   

So beats me on how that is all done.

  • Member since
    June 2009
  • From: Dallas, TX
  • 6,952 posts
Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, December 18, 2023 9:56 AM

daveklepper

Because one can make tax-deductable contribuitions to it.

Only true of some non-profits and again it is defined by the IRS Code.   You can have a non profit in which you cannot deduct taxes via contributions.   Also, very unlikely any form of government would participate in membership to a charitable nonprofit because I suspect that would be a conflict of interest and illegal.

Interesting subject tangent though.

I would suspect for rail passenger promotion it might be considered a political interest group non-profit but then again I would suspect the government would be legally excluded from participation.

Suspect strongly this was done for multiple governmental agency participation across governing lines of responsibility as a fast and more efficient alternative to setting up an RTA like structure as well as including non-government people into it.   Would need a very strong ethics code for the Board though, in my opinion. 

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Matthews NC
  • 363 posts
Posted by matthewsaggie on Monday, December 18, 2023 9:14 PM

Many governmental units use .com and .org as addresses. Most were registered prior to the creation of .gov

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 9:40 AM

Our school district used .org since another school district in the US used the same name with .edu.

I know of quite a few local small town government agencies that use .com and .org.

York1 John       

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy