Are contributions to OFS
tax deductible?
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OFS is
classified by
the IRS as a
501(c)(6)
non-profit,
similar to trade
associations.
As such, dues
are not a
charitable tax
deduction. If
you are in a
natural
resource-related
activity or
business, the
non-lobbying
portion of your
dues may be a
deduction as a
business
expense.
Several years
ago, however, a
separate entity
was created to
support purely
educational
pursuits
consistent with
the OFS mission
statement.
Northwest Food &
Forest Education
Foundation
is a 501(c)(3)
charitable
education
foundation and
is fully tax
deductible. |
Do any of OFS’s
membership
dollars go to
political
candidates?
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No, all member
dues are used
only to fund
daily operating
expenses and
issue related
projects. OFS
does encourage
its members to
separately
contribute
dollars to
political action
committees, such
as Ag-PAC,
that do
financially
support natural
resource
friendly
legislators and
political
candidates. |
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This Site was
"Made in the USA"
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FAQs ABOUT
OFS
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What is the significance of the name,
Oregonians for Food & Shelter? Is Oregonians for Food & Shelter a state or quasi-state agency? When was OFS started and
why? Has the mission of OFS changed since 1980?
The core mission
of OFS is to
protect farmers’
and foresters’
ability to
efficiently
produce quality
food and forest
products (i.e.
lumber for
homes) thus the
reference to
“food” and
“shelter.” (Back to Top)
No, OFS has no
organizational
or financial
connection with
any governmental
agency. OFS
issues, however,
do require the
staff to work
closely with a
variety of
natural resource
and
environmental
agencies at the
state, regional
and federal
levels.
(Back to Top)
OFS was
initiated in
1980 as a means
to provide
balanced,
factual
information
about the
benefits of
responsible pest
management in
forestry to all
Oregonians.
The educational
campaign was
launched in
response to an
activist
initiative which
sought to ban
the aerial
application of
certain forestry
herbicides. (Back to
Top)
The core mission
has not really
changed, but
over the past
twenty-five
years the breath
of natural
resource-related
issues has
expanded
greatly. The
mission
statement on the
current OFS
letterhead
reads: “A
non-profit
coalition to
promote the
efficient
production of
quality food and
fiber while
protecting human
health, personal
property and the
environment,
through the
integrated,
responsible use
of pest
management
products, soil
nutrients and
biotechnology.”
(Back to Top)
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Is it true that OFS only
represents the chemical
industry’s view? |
No, absolutely
not true. Over
eighty percent
of OFS’s members
are farmers,
forestland
owners, small
businesses and
individuals.
This is further
substantiated by
the fact that 24
of the 31
members on the
OFS Board of
Directors
represent
agriculture,
timber or
non-chemical
businesses.
Less than thirty
percent of OFS
funding comes
from agri-chemical
companies and
professional
applicators.
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How big is OFS’s
membership? |
OFS has over
10,000
individual,
business,
corporate
and
association
members with
a total
combined
reach in
excess of
150,000 –
the majority
of whom are
Oregonians.
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What does it take
for a person,
business or group to
become a member of
OFS? |
The most
important
criterion is
that a
member
supports the
mission of
OFS in
answer 3.
Next we ask
that you be
willing to
get involved
at the grass
roots level
and/or make
a financial
commitment.
OFS is
totally
funded by
voluntary
member
contributions.
For more
information
or a
membership
form call or
email OFS
office
manager
Sandi
Schukar.
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Does OFS lobby on
behalf of its
members? |
Yes, both
Executive
Director
Terry Witt
and Director
of Grass
Roots
Paulette
Pyle are
registered
lobbyists in
the State of
Oregon with
over forty
years of
combined
experience.
They have
been
extremely
effective in
their
battles to:
protect
essential
production
tools of
farmers and
foresters;
oppose
government
burden and
over-regulation
on business;
and ensure
sound
environmental
policies
impacting
natural
resources
and the
environment. |
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