Last month Earth Matter was awarded 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. We owe a very special thanks to Rot Star Ilyse Kazar, one of the driving forces behind this feat. As the Earth Matter Board of Directors’ Secretary, Ilyse encouraged our organization to expand the NYS not-for-profit and CHAR500 status we obtained in 2009, to become a federally recognized not-for-profit organization.
Ilyse joined us in meeting with Lawyers Alliance, which accepted us as a client and coupled us with theColumbia Law Clinic to assist us with the laborious 501(c)(3) application.
Ilyse propelled us forward – drafting parts of the application, emailing, and co-leading discussions at the Board meetings. In all, it took us one and half years from the dream to the award letter.
Ilyse has a variety of roles as a core Earth Matter friend. Stop by our Center 12-4pm on a Sunday and see her in action at our vermicomposting “cocoon room” corner that she co-hosts with Jabani Bennett, a Farm School apprentice.