Nominet has launched a charitable foundation, the '''Nominet Trust''',<ref>[http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/2008/?contentId=4709 Nominet launches a charitable trust]</ref> as it has been creating a profit surplus on its ordinary operations since 2003; its constitution forbids it from distributing surplus funds to members in the manner of a commercial company paying dividends, and so it turned to charitable activities as a means of running down the excess funds. In September 2008, Nominet's board made an initial donation of £5m to its charitable offshoot,<ref>[http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/2008/?contentId=5627 Nominet Foundation Trustees appointed]</ref> which will support "education, research and the funding of suitable projects for the benefit of UK internet stakeholders". Since its founding, the trust has raised and invested over 10 million pounds in 170+ projects that have aimed to help the disadvantaged and strengthen communities.<ref>[http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/11729/nominet_trust_invests_2m_in_new_social_investment_projects Nominet Trust Invests 2 m in New SOcial Investment Projects, CivilSociety.co.uk]</ref> | Nominet has launched a charitable foundation, the '''Nominet Trust''',<ref>[http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/2008/?contentId=4709 Nominet launches a charitable trust]</ref> as it has been creating a profit surplus on its ordinary operations since 2003; its constitution forbids it from distributing surplus funds to members in the manner of a commercial company paying dividends, and so it turned to charitable activities as a means of running down the excess funds. In September 2008, Nominet's board made an initial donation of £5m to its charitable offshoot,<ref>[http://www.nominet.org.uk/news/latest/2008/?contentId=5627 Nominet Foundation Trustees appointed]</ref> which will support "education, research and the funding of suitable projects for the benefit of UK internet stakeholders". Since its founding, the trust has raised and invested over 10 million pounds in 170+ projects that have aimed to help the disadvantaged and strengthen communities.<ref>[http://www.civilsociety.co.uk/finance/news/content/11729/nominet_trust_invests_2m_in_new_social_investment_projects Nominet Trust Invests 2 m in New SOcial Investment Projects, CivilSociety.co.uk]</ref> |