Who "owns" an event?...

I'm thinking of starting a local event (2, actually).

I don't care if it makes money the 1st couple of times (annual event). I need help from organizers, who would also be volunteers (no one gets paid, not even me). But at some point the event WOULD start making $$ (I hope).

How do I make sure *I* "own" the event? What's stopping someone else from just taking over + "hijacking" the entire entity?

Anyone here have any experience with this?

Please advise.

Thanks!

-- TW