Mission, Time Line, & Public Records
Mission
Wish Upon a Wedding provides weddings & vow renewals for couples facing terminal illness and other serious life-altering circumstances, regardless of sexual orientation.
Vision & Purpose
By giving the gifts of dream weddings & vow renewals, we are able to grant some of the most intimate and heartfelt wishes of these people’s lives, and help them share this important day with close family members. Our foundation was created to celebrate the courage, determination and spirit of these couples by granting their dream wedding wishes. Our hope is that chosen recipients can inspire others couples facing similar situations to find hope and strength.
Time Line of Wish Upon a Wedding
- September 2009: Founder Liz Guthrie finalizes her decision to start a national nonprofit organization, with the goal of it becoming “The Wedding Industry’s Charity of Choice”
- October 2009: LEGAL FILINGS was hired to file for our 501 (c)(3) status. The application process begins
- October, 2009: First official Board of Directors’ meeting is held in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Nov 17, 2009: The CA Secretary of State STAMPS our Articles of Incorporation and we are legally considered a nonprofit public benefit corporation , organized under the Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for Charitable Purposes.
- Nov 25, 2009: The IRS Department of Treasury issues our Employer Identification Number 27-1370138
- Feb 8, 2010: IRS receives our Form 1023 application, and we are treated as a 501 (c)(3), able to receive all the same treatment and tax benefits during application process
- Feb 2010: Statement of Information form SI 100 is filed with the Secretary of State CA
- Feb 24, 2010: Franchise Tax Board receives Form 3500, Exemption Application
- March 2, 2010: WUW receives a letter from the IRS letting us know the 1023 application has been received
- March 13, 2009: Wedding Wish #1 for Florence and Michael
- March 22, 2010: WUW receives our EXEMPT DETERMINATION LETTER from the CA Franchise Tax Board & our Exempt Organization Number 3237556
- April 15, 2010: Wedding Wish #2 for Christina and Rehanna
- April 18, 2010: Wedding Wish #3 for Beth and Nick
- May 2, 2010: Wedding Wish #4 for Shelly and Jay
- May 5, 2010: State of CA Attorney General / Department of Justice issues letter to WUW confirming our registration with the Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts, and assigned us CT Number CT0160738
- July 21, 2010: National Board of Directors votes in a new mission statement, enabling our organization to help more couples who are in need of our services
IRC Section 501 (c) (3) purposes
Wish Upon a Wedding is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Wish Upon a Wedding is treated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and is operating as a nonprofit incorporated in CA. Most donated items are tax-deductible, however we recommend that you speak to an accountant for clarification. If the 501 (c)(3) status is turned down, cash donors may receive a refund.
Please visit IRS.GOV (Publication 4220, page 12) to learn the facts about 501 (c) (3) organizations that are currently pending approval.
