Nonprofit model for photography for "advocacy" photo market specialization

<p>This post is a stream of consciousness about a business model I've been considering. <br>

I'm thinking of doing "advocacy" photography and graphic arts. Creating pieces simply to bring attention to a cause and inspire action for that cause.</p>

<p>Can I establish a not-for-profit entity and take donations for my work, and use that model instead of a pay-for-work model? I will not turn down money paid to work, but I want to open up more revenue streams through donations.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of doing this in New Jersey. Any ideas as to whether this would qualify as a nonprofit? </p>

<p>I realize that much of photography and art is done or can be used as advocacy material on behalf of a cause, and that art can focus anger or sympathy, or frustration and turn it into action for a better world.</p>

<p>Whether seals, or whales, or crime, or socialism, or pro-Obama, or Pro-Bush, or pro Keynsian economics-- whatever focus I choose, there are passionate advocates with money and purpose, waiting to further advance their position in the political and economic theaters.</p>

<p>My point is that while art or photography has been employed here before, I don't know of a dedicated photography serving only that market. Often those who create art want to create art, and stay away from linking it to this-or-that cause, since they have no intention of wading into controversy or support for one side-or another.</p>

<p>Here, I'm thinking of creating photography to do exactly the opposite. </p>

<p>There is often talk about revenue problems for photographers here. Many conclusions drawn talk about the lack of a market and lack of buyers for the particular troubled photographer's products and angle.</p>

<p>There seems a neverending supply of passionate people supporting or attacking what they think is right or wrong about society, their country, and their life. The passion and money thrown behind political movements, social justice, and so on means that a photographer or graphic artist there would be able to obtain a critical mass of donations and purchases for their narrow-market-segment photographic or art pieces.</p>

<p>Much money is made when you bet on already-existing trends. You ride a wave that's already building, and that's smart. We already have a decades-long trend of people getting more-and-more involved in saving animals, defeating the enemy, conquering homelessness, establishing pro-or-anti free market (or) big-government policies, so on. More and more people want to belong to a group that will help them create a society to their liking. In fact, the increased polarization between factions-- whether conservative or liberal, pacifist or militarist, pro-earth or pro-business-- this creates an increased chance that money will be spent to ensure a cause will win. </p>

<p>Like the Obama poster-- the one that graphic artist lifted from the Reuters photo. Often a photograph or piece of art will become a linchpin of a movement, and encapsulate a cause elegantly. You can never tell if it will be your photograph, but there a definite logic to supplying something that seems to be in great demand-- an image or graphic that will help further a cause.</p>

<p>As a business model, is this nuts, or a smart line of thinking? </p>

<p> </p>

<p>Ed:<br /><br />You should absolutely speak to a local CPA and attorney well versed in these matters. There are so many variables to any given situation that unless you're sitting down with a professional in your location discussing specifics as they relate to your situation, everything else is pretty much just very general information that might or might not apply to your situation.<br /><br />Look for a local chapter of Attorneys for the Arts, they offer legal advice at a reduced rate for artists, and they do indeed count us photographers as artists.</p>

<p>You may consider looking the IRS web site and see if there is a publication (or two) on what is needed to create a non-profit organization. Then do a check with the New Jersey attorney general (if a web site exists?) for state guidelines involving a non-profit organization. [business expenses for a photographer donating to a non-profit is limited to the cost of materials (i.e., the price paid for a reprint) and <strong>not the cost</strong> of travel, equipment, time, and computer equipment needed to produce the photograph.]</p>

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<p>I think the more I wrote, the more my "stream of consciousness" technique did exactly what you think it would do-- obfuscated my focus. But as I wrote, I realized my question was more about the business idea and market /customer focus of advocacy art/photography than about the nonprofit part. Alas, I can't edit the title.</p>

 

<p>Ed:<br /><br />So what is the business idea? I think more definition is needed. From the initial post it seems pretty darn close to being stock photography with a focus on whichever of these "causes" you decide to focus on. I personally believe that's not a bad idea. IMHO, photographers (as well as other creative types) often seem to create "better" when the topic/subject is a cause or topic they are really burning for.<br /><br />If photographing a cause is a good business idea or not in itself depends on which cause you pick. Crime? All crime? Will you be covering criminals? Crime victims? Cops? Societal reasons for crime? Economical reasons for crime? Political reasons for crime? The correctional system with prisons, jails, probation etc etc.<br /><br />I think there's potential here but you'd need to narrow things down a bit first.</p>