FundSvcs Community

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

I have a quick follow-up question.  We have a donor who attempted to make a donation to a fraternity chapter last year.  I explained that we were unable to accept that donation for that purpose and offered alternatives.  We went back and forth a couple of times, and he never accepted an alternative.  He has now reached out again asking if this could be resolved for a donation this year. 

I would like to send him the "official" IRS stance, but the link on the document is not valid.  Does anyone know of an official government document/weblink that I can provide him to help him understand that I am not making this up?

Thanks!

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

A quick Google search will provide dozens of references. Here's a snip from an IRS training (EO CPE) document from 1999.

Here's a well-written memorandum from UPenn:

https://ofsl.universitylife.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Donations_letter10-15-08.pdf

Most Greek organizations are further classified as 501c7 organizations - tax-exempt but not eligible to receive deductible donations.

Just because a link doesn't work doesn't mean the law has changed! You cannot donate to an organization that serves mostly social, not educational, purposes.

You may also wish to chat with Counsel.

John

John H. Taylor, Principal

John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC

2604 Sevier Street

Durham, NC     27705

johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com

919.816.5903 (cell/text)

Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987

I have a quick follow-up question.  We have a donor who attempted to make a donation to a fraternity chapter last year.  I explained that we were unable to accept that donation for that purpose and offered alternatives.  We went back and forth a couple of times, and he never accepted an alternative.  He has now reached out again asking if this could be resolved for a donation this year. 

I would like to send him the "official" IRS stance, but the link on the document is not valid.  Does anyone know of an official government document/weblink that I can provide him to help him understand that I am not making this up?

Thanks!

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

A quick Google search will provide dozens of references. Here's a snip from an IRS training (EO CPE) document from 1999.

Here's a well-written memorandum from UPenn:

https://ofsl.universitylife.upenn.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Donations_letter10-15-08.pdf

Most Greek organizations are further classified as 501c7 organizations - tax-exempt but not eligible to receive deductible donations.

Just because a link doesn't work doesn't mean the law has changed! You cannot donate to an organization that serves mostly social, not educational, purposes.

You may also wish to chat with Counsel.

John

John H. Taylor, Principal

John H. Taylor Consulting, LLC

2604 Sevier Street

Durham, NC     27705

johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com

919.816.5903 (cell/text)

Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987

I have a quick follow-up question.  We have a donor who attempted to make a donation to a fraternity chapter last year.  I explained that we were unable to accept that donation for that purpose and offered alternatives.  We went back and forth a couple of times, and he never accepted an alternative.  He has now reached out again asking if this could be resolved for a donation this year. 

I would like to send him the "official" IRS stance, but the link on the document is not valid.  Does anyone know of an official government document/weblink that I can provide him to help him understand that I am not making this up?

Thanks!

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.

Hello,

I have looked at previous posts and found the documentation about fundraising for fraternities and sororities on the listserv, but still have a question. My understanding has always been that we cannot fundraise and intake/receipt gifts for fraternities and sororities as they have their own 501(c)3 status through their parent organizations.  Our campus activities department is asking about fundraising for our 4 fraternity/sorority chapters on campus. They would like to use the money raised to help students pay for the dues to join and to make Greek involvement more financially accessible to students.  We've reached out to several peer organizations who do have Greek life fundraising programs that their Annual Fund teams oversee. Some are fundraising to support activities and programs and others are fundraising for facility improvements. My question is, are these donations able to be receipted by the college for tax deductible purposes?  Does it depend on the type of fraternity/sorority? I'm not sure I'm understanding what we would or would not be able to include in our fundraising and if we would be able to receipt the donors.