Photo websites asking for donations

[tculotta]

If you are receiving "donations" via an electronic means, and you are a business (in its simplest or most complex form), paypal, square, et al will keep track and issue a 1099 to you and the IRS each year. If you are asking for money you should be prepared to report it to the IRS. It is income, whether the motives of those who give it are charitable or otherwise. The process to become a 501(c)3 is quite involved and it's not just the process that's relevant. You need to demonstrate that you are a charitable organization, not just seeking to be a charity. However, I suspect that the person referenced is just seeking to help defray the costs of managing a site and trying to cover the costs of one's time is not trivial for some of these sites. A few make a career of it (and when the quality of the content is of value, deserve compensation, e.g. this site or the digital picture.)

 

[Diko]

However, I suspect that the person referenced is just seeking to help defray the costs of managing a site and trying to cover the costs of one's time is not trivial for some of these sites. A few make a career of it (and when the quality of the content is of value, deserve compensation, e.g. this site or the digital picture.)

Even if that is the case - Hosting and similar Cost. Is there a backdoor for that? Otherwise if not officially stated the editorial of such a website/blog/vlog could be considered as pure hobby ergo all costs are not to be considered?

 

[tolusina]

This is no different that the local coffee shop with a box for change to "send a kid to camp", or the grocery store with a big bin to accept donations to the food bank.

I think more like a tip jar.