Fundraiser money...taxable or none taxable and how do I pay if so?

Okay first I am working on opening a business here in Indiana. Unfortunately, neither I nor none of the people involved in this have the money to open it so we are going to raise it with many fundraisers. I was told recently that the money we raise is taxable. So, the question is, is this true and if it is, since I am wanting to go about this the right way, who do I contact, who do I pay, and how do I do so? Please help!