Why is no one talking about the fact that ANW has been claiming to be a non-profit, but they are not? Registration in Washington shows it as an active single-owner FOR PROFIT business. What were the charity donations at con used for? Has that been communicated yet? Why was no one really questioning this?
For-profit is simply a business structure, not a sign of anyone getting rich. There's nothing unusual about running that structure as not-for-profit, because nonprofit status can have the same result except with extra cumbersome paperwork. It might even make extra risks (like attracting attention into what the purpose of the con even is - is it a social gathering not a charity, and if so, can people get in trouble for writing off donations?) It's far fetched that there's anything out of the ordinary. I looked at the company registrations and didn't sense ulterior motives. If there were any, this would be a ridiculous way to go about tricking anyone, and the wrong group to try it with.
As far as I remember, the con itself is a nonprofit, and there is an earlier-established for-profit. Which means that AnthroNW may be just one of a number of possible events under a parent structure. It may be a useful approach for tax or risk purposes or to attract or spend funding, or who knows why, but... like I was saying about transparency up there, you're running into the difference between an open unmoderated community and a private event that caters to it, depending on the work and risk of the owners. In other words, it's their house but you're invited to hang out there, so if they're being cool, enjoy it and don't ride their ass about it.
For-profit is simply a business structure, not a sign of anyone getting rich. There's nothing unusual about running that structure as not-for-profit, because nonprofit status can have the same result except with extra cumbersome paperwork. It might even make extra risks (like attracting attention into what the purpose of the con even is - is it a social gathering not a charity, and if so, can people get in trouble for writing off donations?) It's far fetched that there's anything out of the ordinary. I looked at the company registrations and didn't sense ulterior motives. If there were any, this would be a ridiculous way to go about tricking anyone, and the wrong group to try it with.
As far as I remember, the con itself is a nonprofit, and there is an earlier-established for-profit. Which means that AnthroNW may be just one of a number of possible events under a parent structure. It may be a useful approach for tax or risk purposes or to attract or spend funding, or who knows why, but... like I was saying about transparency up there, you're running into the difference between an open unmoderated community and a private event that caters to it, depending on the work and risk of the owners. In other words, it's their house but you're invited to hang out there, so if they're being cool, enjoy it and don't ride their ass about it.