Friends of Sandisfield Fire Department is a new nonprofit with a mission to raise funds for the town's Fire & EMS departments. For those unfamiliar with nonprofit structure and how nonprofits are governed, here are some handy facts:

1. Nonprofits exist to serve a cause. Any money earned above expenses must be put back into the organization to further its charitable mission.
2. A nonprofit is tax-exempt according to IRS tax code 501c3 because it provides a public benefit. Donations to the nonprofit are tax-deductible.
3. Nonprofits are overseen by the state (via the Attorney General's Office) and the Federal Government (via the IRS).
4. Nonprofits are governed by a board of directors that provides oversight, stewardship and guidance. Nonprofit board members are volunteers. They are not paid.
5. To maintain tax-exempt status, nonprofits must be transparent about their finances so members of the public can see how their donations are spent.
6. Nonprofits file IRS Form 900 annually, which is a public document that anyone can access to review an organization's income and expense.
7. Nonprofits rely on both earned revenue (from ticket sales, fees for service, advertising sales) and contributed revenue (donations, gifts in kind, gifts from foundations and grants).
8. There are over 1,000 nonprofits in Berkshire County, employing one in four people,
9. Nonprofits are the third largest sector after retail and manufacturing. They fuel the economy and improve the quality of life.
10. Nonprofits are pervasive but often overlooked. They include museums, theaters, schools, universities, hospitals, churches, animal welfare and environmental organizations, youth, education, housing, human rights, human services, libraries, food pantries, and more.