Have any of you connected with a railroad museum had any dealings with the Lawrence Scripps Wilkinson Foundation of Detroit? It apparently "donated" toy and model trains to a number of museums or transportation-related organizations over the years.

The foundation was dissolved in 2012. As it happens, the item we received came with the condition that we report the model's status every year, as well as get prior approval before changing the way it is exhibited. Obviously we can't do that very well with a defunct organization (though it might make an interesting show for the Long Island Medium). The problem is, we find ourselves with a valuable model and only a cloudy "title". We do have a legal maneuver that should resolve the matter, but I'm wondering if anyone else has already trod this path.

Randy

I don't know about Foundations, but 501C-3's have to have a recipient of their remaining assets if they go out of business as part of their incorporation papers.

-Hudson

I understand that they are supposed to designate a successor for assets, but I don't believe there is a requirement that they appoint a successor for records or to oversee continued operations like donation supervision.

But, in case they did, how would you find out who the successor was?

Randy

Their final tax filing is at http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2 ... 00bd-F.pdf. It says all assets were dissolved through donations or on final administrative costs and says "The remaining fixed assets in the foundation with a book value of $0 were deemed worthless and were disposed." The filing also includes Michigan state forms documenting the dissolution.

You could ask a lawyer to look at the tax filing and ask if the dissolution absolves you of liability to follow the original stipulations. You could also send a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State, as he/she is probably the only entity that might have standing to enforce the original stipulations.

I've found Guidestar and corporate records maintained (often on line) by the Secretaries of State to be a good source of information when researching this type of question.

(I'm not a lawyer and whatever I know about administration of non profits comes from having been an officer in several different non profits for about 15 years. The information above is worth exactly what you paid for it.)

The tax filing should also give you the name and address of the CPA firm or lawyer who filled out the forms and that would provide an address you could write....

Bob H

We have located the names in question... issues solved... Thank you