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Support
Bonaire, Inc.
PMB# 340
2525 Arapahoe Avenue, Suite E4
Boulder, Colorado 80302
Tel/Fax: (303) 484-4646
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About Us
Please use the menu below to locate the information you want
about Support Bonaire, Inc.
Overview & Goals Support Bonaire, Inc.
is a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable corporation with
its offices in Boulder, Colorado.
The purpose of Support Bonaire, Inc. is to provide a means
for American citizens and corporations to financially support
a variety of non-profit efforts on the Dutch Caribbean island
of Bonaire, whereby the financial contributions qualify as
tax deductible contributions in the eyes of the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service.
Funds donated to Support Bonaire, Inc. are distributed according
to policies set by the organization’s Board
of Directors to support specific non-profit projects
affecting the island of Bonaire. Such projects are either
ones operated by legitimate Bonaire non-profit organizations
or projects which Support Bonaire, Inc. itself has initiated.
Projects which may be funded by Support Bonaire, Inc. under
its IRS-approved charter
include those which support the environment, social needs,
and developmental efforts. No support may be provided to
projects on Bonaire which are operated or controlled by the
Bonaire government, nor may funds be used for any lobbying
efforts.
Support Bonaire, Inc. was started by Jake and Linda Richter,
U.S. citizens who are also Bonaire residents, after talking
to many American visitors to Bonaire who were interested
in helping local ecology and social programs, but didn’t
know how to do this and still get a tax deduction (donations
from U.S. citizens directly to Bonaire charities which do
not have a U.S. presence are not legally tax deductible).
The corporation was founded in late 2000, with the help of
several additional Bonaire residents who form the Board of
Directors. In May 2000, Support Bonaire, Inc. received its
IRS certification as a qualified 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable
corporation.
Support Bonaire, Inc.’s goals are the following:
- Provide funding to approved Bonaire charitable projects.
- To raise those funds from Americans who want to help
such projects on Bonaire.
- Keep operating expenses to a bare minimum by using volunteers
and donated services whenever possible, and using the
Internet for fund raising instead of more costly methods
(e.g. paper mailings).
- Requiring accountability from those being granted funding
by Support Bonaire, Inc.
What is Bonaire? Bonaire
is a small, 110 square mile, island located in the southern
Caribbean - 80 miles east of Aruba, and 50 miles north of
Venezuela - with a population estimated to be only around
9,500 inhabitants.
Bonaire is part of the country of the Netherlands Antilles,
which presently has four other islands: neighboring Curacao,
as well as the more distant islands of St. Maarten, Saba,
and St. Eustasius (also known as Statia). While technically
part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles
need to rely on their own resources for the most part when
it comes to support for non-profit environmental and social
efforts, and as the country is currently in a major economic
decline, and all help local non-profits can get is desperately
needed.
Bonaire is graced with an amazing ecology, ranging from perhaps
the most pristine coral reef in the Caribbean, to being one
of only a few remaining breeding grounds in the world for
the southern flamingo. Bonaire’s environmental qualities
make it a popular tourist destination.
More information about Bonaire can be found on-line at the
following Web sites:
- InfoBonaire
- Official Web site for Bonaire
- Bonaire WebCams - Live images and weather from Bonaire (both underwater and
above water)
- BonaireTalk
- An on-line discussion community, which also features
a discussion area regarding Support Bonaire, Inc. and
its efforts.
If you
have any questions about our efforts, please Contact
Us. Other links explaining Support Bonaire:
[Board
of Directors] [Contact
Us] [Bylaws]
[Articles
of Incorporation]
Copyright © 2001-2010 by Support
Bonaire, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
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