Our literature reflects the wide scope of our concerns. We promote and support many events in our community by carrying their flyers on our tables, and we strive to be as visible as possible. This means searching for good locations to set up a table. Sometimes the ideal situation is in a park or plaza, and other times it is important to set up outside a bank, a corporate office, government building, or military installation. How often to set up is equally important. The more we are outside in the public eye, the more our message gets out, and we encourage groups to be as regular as possible to establish a reputation. The Food Not Bombs table is often a landmark for activists and street folks looking to connect with the movement in a new city. 

A 1980 poster by members of Food Not Bombs 

than large and difficult-to-manage donations of money from people who might be quite distant from us, either geographically or politically. We feel it is better to have a wide base of support from the community with whom we have direct contact than to rely on a few foundations or wealthy people who might manipulate or pressure us into catering to their special interests. While this kind of grass-roots fund-raising is more difficult and time-consuming, it allows us to remain on the cutting edge of the political issues of our time, and also requires constant contact with our supporters. 

Nonprofit, Tax-Exempt Status 

People often ask if we are a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation. Generally, we are not interested in the bureaucracy needed to maintain such an organization. Sometimes you might use an to assist in arranging a particular donation of money that specifically needs to be given to a nonprofit, tax-exempt group, and this is fine. It usually is not too difficult to find a tax-exempt organization willing to do this for you. Specifically, however, do not seek permission from any government agency to engage in the work you do. Once a group becomes a tax-exempt organization, the IRS has the right to oversee all aspects of its operation and limit much of what it can do. Rather than trying to hide from them, we prefer to ignore them. 

Buttons and Bumper Stickers 

One way to raise funds is the setting up of literature tables with buttons, stickers, books, and T-shirts at high-volume pedestrian traffic areas or at political events. Being regularly out in the public eye, exercising your right to free speech, and collecting donations, has a tremendous effect. For some groups, receiving donations for buttons and bumper stickers is a major sourceof income, so when people ask how much, use the phrase "one dollar, or more if you can, less if you can't."