Buying land for NONPROFIT

if you buy a island or sim I don't know the correct name for it but it's 65,563 square meters for a nonprofit do you have to use the whole island for it or can you put other things on it as well

I dont know but I would presume you have to have the proper credentials for purchasing through that program. likewise you might breech that agreement if for-profit stores start popping up, but I dont know if they would actually check that

From the "Land: Islands" web page:
http://secondlife.com/community/land-islands.php

"If Linden Lab determines at any time, at its sole discretion, that an island is not being used for educational or non-profit purposes, either in part or in whole, Linden Lab reserves the right to cancel all related billing agreements and accounts, and/or bill retroactively for past usage at standard rates."


So it looks like the whole thing has to be used for the non-profit / educational purpose.

This always somewhat bothered me. I know of a few people that wanted to make a giant park for a project in exactly how in-depth SL's building tools can be, in tandem with the windlight viewer. They were going to take no money for it, they just wanted to have the land to build on. Yes, they were non-profit so to speak because they were not going to make any money from it, but in this case they mean verified non-profit businesses. So even if you intend to never make a profit off your land (i.e. residential areas), it will still cost you your first, and probably second, born child.

The U.S. government offers corporations tax breaks for giving something of value to educational institutions and registered non-profit organizations. If LL doesn't get a tax break for giving your friends the discount, then no discount.

1. Your organization satisfies LL that it is a non-profit. The emre fact that you do not make a profit is not enough. Conversely, Legal Non-profit organizations can bring in more income than they spend. They just don't call it profit.

2. Assuming 1) is satisfied, the TOS appears to say that LL expects that your island is used for activities related to your non-profit status. Exactly what this means is up to them, not us.

I conclude, call LL and talk it over with them.

To qualify for the "not for profit" status, the organisation paying for the land must (in the US) be "501c.3" registered -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/501(c) - and use the land solely for that organisation and promoting its activities. If you are outside of the US then whatever your country's equivalent (ie registered charity number in the UK) must be quoted and will be checked to make sure it is all legit.

The rules are quite strict, and if you were found to be renting out half the island to a mall, or home rentals, for example, then you would probably lose the land for violating the contract. The activity, and content, must be in line with the aims of the charity.

Obviously, a vendor that gives out free t-shirts with the name of the charity on it, or similar, isn't "commercial" activity.

If you just wanted to buy land to build a park, for example, then that doesn't qualify as "not for profit". It's something that has annoyed me for a long time that so much stuff in SL is based around commercial activity simply because the landowner has to pay for it somehow. I've long desired a 'two tier' land fee, one for high traffic commercial activity such as stores, malls and clubs - and a lower fee for private homes, parks and other "fun" activities that really show the potential of Second Life far, far more than some laggy club full of campers ever can.

ok it would be for a NONPROFIT organization not just no money coming in my Question was once you put the nonprofit stuff on and you have a lot of land left what do you do with that

More prims you use in a sim does cause more lag on some machines like mine.
You don't have to use every inch and every prim you have on a Sim or Island like every one else does.
Put up a few trees and flowers, little path way with lots of space of green inbetween to the area you use, the beach.
I notice for those of with computer loading 3000 or more prims in one area my fps hit 3 to 7.
It would be nice to go to place to visit or hang out that doesn't use every resource available.
I know it doesn't really mean much to those with best of everything but for those of us who don't it would be nice if there was a place that was friendly to all computers here in SL.
The thing is if the organization is non-profit and wanting to be self supporting either the organization has to be self supporting by outside benefactor or donations in some way that
still under the rules.
Or the owner of the non-profit has to have the funds to keep it going.

Maybe the question is what is it that you want to do other than nonprofit activities? Let's say your organization gets an island for its nonprofit activity. You could probably put housing on for all the staff related to the nonprofit organization. Put down a park or other recreational facility. Put down an art gallery to promote the arts. Make an ampitheater to support live music. There are plenty of things you can do. But if you want to use the island for nonprofit purposes, the best people to ask would be Linden Lab. Clearly the average forum user has little to no experience here with it, so go to the source.

One would assume the majority of residents in SL are doing non-profit activities because very few of us are making money but spending money on things like tier,etc.
I belong to group in Huin called Faeria.
The owner provides pretty much everything out of her own pocket.
The purpose for Faeria doesn't involve profit yet she has no non-profit status.
Lots of residents probably do the same yet few of the residents have non-profit status.
I agree with the others majority of residents couldn't advise you how to do this.
I am not sure if SupportforHealing island is non-profit but they do have few shops when I went there once last year.

We're making this a lot more complicated than it has to be. From the "Land: Islands" web page:
http://secondlife.com/community/land-islands.php

"We offer a 50% discount to verified real world educators and academic institutions (e.g., universities/schools) or 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that will be using the regions to support their organization's official work."

So, the discount is offered to 501(c)3 non-profit organizations. If your organization does not have 501(c)3 status (or the equivalent in your country), you do not qualify for the non-prof discount.

If you DO have 501(c)3 status, or are a verified educator or academic institution, you must use the region to support your organization's official work.

Although open space would certainly be acceptable along with some landscaping, I think it's pretty clear that side ventures like a music venue would be forbidden if they do not directly apply to your organization's mission. For example, if your organization is a music school, then a live music venue featuring student performances should be fine. But if your organization is a professional association for biochemists, a music venue would not be appropriate and would probably lose you your discount.