The OSHPC is at Work in Seminole Heights

Some of our neighbors have asked about whether or not the Old Seminole Heights Preservation Consortium (OSHPC) has, in fact, been confirmed as a 501(c)3.  The concern seems to be that it’s not listed on the IRS website and inquiry was made to the IRS about the listings.  The IRS states that because the approval was received in March the listing would not be on the site until the third quarter of this year.  

The State of Florida has a listing as well.  In order to be listed on the State site an organization has to file an application with the State Department of Agriculture. The OSHPC application for that listing is in progress. The State of Florida listing is so that potential donors can check to make sure that the we are what we say we are and can receive funds on a tax-free basis. (and there’s a fee of course).  

So what is the state of the OSHPC at present?  The OSHPC is a fully recognized, non-profit 501(c)3 Corporation, so designated by the IRS and by the State of Florida.  It is exempt from sales taxes by the State of Florida and is authorized to receive tax-deductible donations by the Federal Government.  All registrations are fully up-to-date.  All tax forms have been fully completed and the OSHPC has met and complied with all governmental and state requirements.  The OSHPC is exactly what has been sought through OSHNA for many, many years and now it’s a reality.  

While the OSHPC is a fully independent privately held Florida Corporation, it serves in synergy with OSHNA, and, while it does have goals of its own, it fully supports the projects and goals of OSHNA.  The Consortium is governed by a Board of Trustees.  There are eleven Trustees and of the eleven four are officers. Officers serve at the pleasure of the rest of the Trustees and are appointed from the Board by the other Trustees.  In other words, although I am President of the Board of Trustees, all Trustees are equal, being a titled officer notwithstanding.  

The Board’s skill set ranges from lawyers to engineers to paralegals to accountants to social service workers.  One Trustee even teaches other groups how to set up and run 501(c)3 corporations.  Three Trustees are also OSHNA officers, thus strengthening the relationship with the Neighborhood Association.  Every effort has been made to make the OSHPC as fully representative of the neighborhood as possible.  It is a purely philanthropic organization and, despite several outside attacks on its veracity and integrity, each Trustee is committed to keeping the OSHPC out of the political aspects of the neighborhood.

I hope that this answers any current questions regarding the status of the OSHPC.  If there any further questions or concerns I am always available to discuss them using the contact information available on the OSHNA website.

Evan St. Ives,
President
OSHPC Board of Trustees