The OTW accepts donations by credit card or e-check through Paypal, and by check via mail to our post office box. See Get involved for the details.

Paypal does not reveal credit card or bank account numbers to the OTW. It is an automated service that processes payments and allows OTW to transfer the funds directly to the OTW’s bank. Paypal is administered by an outside company, which adds another level of oversight to the OTW’s financial activities.

Personal checks received by mail will necessarily have account information on them, but the information will not be retained.

• 501(c)(3) Filing Documents
  • Application (PDF)
  • Supporting Narrative (DOC) (or view as HTML)
• Annual Reports
  • Annual Report 2007 (PDF) (or view as HTML)
  • Form 990 2007 (JPG)

Yes.

The IRS has approved OTW's tax-exempt, nonprofit status. One of the benefits of our nonprofit status is that any donation that you make to the organization, including your US $10 OTW membership fee, is now tax-deductible in the United States! Even better, your past donations are also tax-deductible, back to our date of incorporation: September 5, 2007.

Please note that if you are located outside the US, your contribution may or may not be tax-deductible. You should consult with a tax adviser and see whether a gift to a US 501(c)(3) qualifies for a tax deduction under your local laws.

The OTW’s first annual report is available here.

The OTW will issue future annual reports within 120 days of the close of the fiscal year (December 31).

The OTW is a nonprofit corporation, subject to laws and regulations dictating its fiduciary responsibilities to conduct activities in a manner that upholds the public trust. The OTW will be scrutinized not only by its members and fans outside the organization, but also by the IRS and the State of Delaware, our incorporation state.

The OTW is able to accept donations via PayPal, or by check via mail to our post office box. See Support the OTW for the details.

The Board is ultimately responsible for these decisions as part of its fiduciary obligation. For smaller transactions, the Board will delegate responsibility to OTW’s committees to determine what goods and services may be necessary. All expenditures are reviewed by the Financial committee to insure they fit the goals of the individual committee and overall goals of the organization, as well as the established budgets. The Financial committee is responsible for making payments.

The OTW will need money to purchase goods and services that cannot be provided by its volunteers, such as expenses related to operations and certain administrative costs. Such operational expenses include the purchase of software and server space to create and maintain the archive. Administrative expenses include a variety of items typical to a nonprofit organization, such as insurance, paypal fees, and monthly charges to maintain a bank account. As the organization grows, additional administrative and fiscal management resources will include the services of an independent accountant, tax preparer, and auditor.

In a fiscal sense, no one; OTW is a nonprofit, so any revenue the organization takes in goes into the organization's coffers to support the work the organization does. The OTW does not currently have any paid staff and is run by volunteers. Our official conflict-of-interest policy is the one recommended by the IRS for nonprofits.