FRIENDS OF EVERGLADES CISMA, Inc. (FOE) signed it’s Articles of Incorporation and also its Bylaws on April 17, 2013. In order to apply for FL NONPROFIT incorporation, two donors (One, an ECISMA member, and the other a friend.) came forward with the necessary funds which included enough to pay for the FLORIDA DEPT. of AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER SERVICES SOLICITATION LICENSE for FRIENDS OF EVERGLADES CISMA, Inc. (FOE) Incorporation occurred by May 6th, 2013, only three weeks after the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws were signed.

Once FDACS issued the Solicitation License, an all- out effort began to obtain items and products to gain fees to pay for the IRS FORM 1023 Tax-exempt determination application. A hefty $400, this seemed insurmountable to FOE. Efforts to get donations were hampered by the lack of 501(c)(3) status but retailer FRESH MARKET came through with 4 donations and a few others followed. Clyde Butcher Galleries gave the Giclee Print Gaskins Bay (Of the Ten Thousand Islands) and Caran Art & Frame of Coral Springs framed it for no charge. (Please see other supporters by clicking on the SUPPORTERS link above.) Finally, many South Florida Attractions came to the rescue and at the Silent Auction, FOE received over $1,000 to pay the tax-exempt application fees and other expenses. Lastly, 39 ECISMA T-shirts were designed (Much of it by ECISMA vote) and from their sale, about $225 additional dollars were raised which was assisted by a partial cost contribution by South Florida StripTees, Inc. of Pompano Beach.