What is the legal definition of, "found," as in founding an event? (Massachusetts)

[Founder]

What is the legal definition of, "found," as in founding an event? (Massachusetts)

I live in Massachusetts. I am wondering when it is fair and legal to say that one "founded" or "cofounded" an event? Is there a legal practice area that deals with this? If I wanted to consult an attorney what kind of an attorney would I look for?

This is relevant to an graduate school application where information will likely be verified and you can get kicked out of school for inaccuracies.

I have the same question for a 501c3 organization.

 

[LdiJ]

I live in Massachusetts. I am wondering when it is fair and legal to say that one "founded" or "cofounded" an event? Is there a legal practice area that deals with this? If I wanted to consult an attorney what kind of an attorney would I look for?

This is relevant to an graduate school application where information will likely be verified and you can get kicked out of school for inaccuracies.

I have the same question for a 501c3 organization.

Someone who "founds" something creates it, makes it, organizes it, causes it to happen. The founder of an event is the person who starts the event and makes it happen for the first time. A co-founder is someone who equally does the same with another person.

If you are concerned about problems with a grad school application do not overstate what you did. Do not call yourself a founder if you are unsure. Say that you helped create the event if that is what you did.

 

[adjusterjack]

This is relevant to an graduate school application where information will likely be verified and you can get kicked out of school for inaccuracies.

What you put on your application depends on what documentation you have.

When the event or the 501c3 was created there would have been paperwork filed with the state and/or the IRS, or some other authority.

If your name is on that paperwork then you are a founder or co-founder.

If your name is not on that paperwork then you are not a founder or co-founder, no matter how you were involved.

 

[latigo]

I live in Massachusetts. I am wondering when it is fair and legal to say that one "founded" or "cofounded" an event? Is there a legal practice area that deals with this? If I wanted to consult an attorney what kind of an attorney would I look for?

This is relevant to an graduate school application where information will likely be verified and you can get kicked out of school for inaccuracies.

I have the same question for a 501c3 organization.

Your question has to do with semantics not law. So addressing your question in that light. . .

"Found, establish, institute, organize are comparable when meaning to set going or to bring into existence something as a business, institution of colony.

Found implies nothing more than a taking of the first steps or measures to bring into existence something that requires building up" (Example "The Founding Fathers")

Establish implies bringing into enduring existence.

Institute means much the same as found and establish but it differs from both words in its far wider range of application and being referable to things such as method, a study or investigation.

Organize may imply founding but it usually implies taking the steps whereby an organization becomes functional."

(Source with some paraphrasing: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms - A dictionary of discriminating, synonyms with antonyms and analogous and contrasted words.)