MAIC is a NON-Profit. We survive on Donations
  
 
 
Many people believe that a successful organization is one that earns large amounts of money. However, there are many organizations that do not revolve around monetary goals.  Instead, these organizations focus on fulfilling an objective. Examples of such organizations are churches, schools, and non-profit organizations like MAIC and IFS.  In our case, the objective we focus upon is getting students into the field, in order to develop their appreciation of nature. We offer these opportunities to young people through several different venues.
  
 
We have been in business on Andros Island for over 30 years.  As you already know, IFS has several opportunities for field experience available to students on Andros: Forfar Field Station in North Blanket Sound, the Bahamas sailing program based in Fresh Creek, and camping at the old Blanket Sound schoolhouse.  In addition, we take student groups on road trips all over the western United States.
  
 

International Field Studies is a 501(c)(3) public non-profit tax-exempt scientific and educational corporation established in 1970.  As a non-profit organization, we have a mission statement that explains the goals of our organization.  The following mission statements are also contained in our enclosed articles of incorporation.

A.    Exclusively for scientific and educational purposes.

B.    To provide opportunities for students to learn about their environment, in all disciplines, through direct field experiences; to provide the structure for developing an intensive field study program with competent leadership; to promote educational and scientific activities through direct field experiences; to cooperate with school systems so that students may receive academic credit for field studies. 

C.    To solicit, collect, and otherwise raise money for said purposes.

 
 
In addition to our federal exemption, IFS is also federal excise tax exempt.  Excise tax exemptions apply to phone calls, as well as gasoline and aircraft fuel purchases, among other things.  In addition, we are registered for state tax exemption as a public non-profit tax exempt corporation in Ohio, Florida, and Michigan.  These documents are enclosed as well. By law, 90% of our income must be derived directly from activities associated with our mission statement. Only 10% of our income can come from such things as selling T-shirts, having family members visit our facilities in the Bahamas, or other non-program revenue.  We are audited yearly by an outside agency.
  
 
In addition to a yearly outside financial audit, IFS has a volunteer Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees serves as the official liaison between the federal government of the United States and IFS.  The Board of Trustees also ensure that our organization fulfills its mission statement through assessment, review, and regular meetings. There are two categories for U.S. non-profit organizations: public and private.  IFS is listed as a public agency.  As such, we are subject to certain qualifications.  First, all IFS assets belong to the U.S. government. Second, no money earned can benefit anyone in the organization other than in the form of compensation for work done.  Although some of the staff employed in our home office in Nelsonville, Ohio earn minimal salaries, neither the executive director normembers of the Board of Trustees earn a salary from IFS. In addition, though IFS is a corporation, there are no stockholders and no private beneficiaries.
  
 
The United States federal government regulates the amount of profit that a non-profit organization can make.  Generally, non-profit agencies are only allowed an 8% profit margin. This means that if we charge $700 for a trip to Andros, 92% of that money must be put into the trip itself.  The remaining 8% (only $56 per person), may be used for development, growth, payment of bills, etc.  Therefore, while our gross income seems substantial, we have a low profit margin, and therefore experience slow recovery from economic downturns or unexpected losses.
  
  As a non-profit, we rely heavily on donations, of both monetary and in-kind, from outside sources.  Donations to IFS are considered the same as donations to the United States government and are therefore tax deductible, so these donors receive an income tax deduction for all donations to our organization.  
 

To Donate Please Contact IFS Toll Free:  1.800.962.3805

All donations for MAIC can be sent to our friends at IFS. They will then be sent directly directly to MAIC