Carol,
We are a Christian homeschool group and co-op. The church that hosts our co-op classes is concerned with the possibility of us getting sued if we are not a recognized non-profit. We are comprised of like-minded believers for a specific cause. Can you comment on this?TW
TW,
I usually recommend nonprofit incorporation to protect the leaders and members of a homeschool organization.
Nothing can stop a lawsuit, but forming as a corporation means the liability is limited to the corporation’s assets and it protects the personal assets of the leaders and members from the lawsuit damages.
Unfortunately, being like-minded does not mean you’re immune from lawsuits. One group told me that a co-op member’s health insurance sued the homeschool group for medical bills when a child was injured while at co-op. The co-op member did not bring the lawsuit, her health insurance company did.
If you need more information on the benefits of nonprofit incorporation for your homeschool group, read The IRS and Your Homeschool Organization. It includes a chapter on nonprofit incorporation.
I hope that helps,
Carol Topp, CPA
