how does a college academic senate receive tax-deductible donations?

[Andrew Park]

Hi,

I'm a new treasurer for my college's academic senate, and I have a question that I'm hoping someone else in this group faced and could provide guidance on: how does the academic senate receive tax-deductible donations?

Looking at my senate's bank records, it looks like we don't have a separate existence in IRS's view (the tax ID number with the bank is my district's employer ID). Could we operate with the district as our fiscal sponsor? (At least in the nonprofit world I've been involved in, I do know that's a thing---small NPOs that are just starting out often don't have their own 501(c)3 status; they work with a bigger NPO in similar area to use their information for their donors and the bigger NPO has some oversight over the smaller NPOs that they are fiscal sponsor for.)

The question came up as we are trying to expand what we do with our senate funds (establish scholarship, etc.) and thinking about fundraising---if we are doing more significant fundraising than $5 monthly payroll deduction, then I think we need to be able to give donor letters acknowledging the donation, so any of our (future) donors who itemize their tax return can keep that letter for their documentation (for gifts of $250 or more, when they deduct it on their taxes, they need a letter from the charitable organization). Also, when I did tax exempt organization search for my school (https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/tax-exempt-organization-search), it didn't show up, which was a bit concerning.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated!

Andrew

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Andrew Park
Physics Instructor
COA Academic Senate Treasurer
College of Alameda

bp...@peralta.edu

[David Morse]

Hi Andrew,

As far as the general fund, I don’t think the senate does have a separate existence in the IRS’s view.  The senate is am arm of the district, and the money goes to the district.

 

However, if your college has a foundation, they could set up a foundation account for you. People could donate to that, it would be tax-deductible, and the senate could use the money within the usual foundation restrictions.

 

 

David W. Morse, PhD

Professor of English, Long Beach City College

At-Large Representative, FACCC Board of Governors

President, Academic Senate for California Community Colleges 2014-2016

(562) 938-4458

 

Join FACCC (Faculty Association of California Community Colleges): https://fs18.formsite.com/FACCC/EnrollmentCard/index.html

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[Andrew Park]

Hm. The "usual foundation restriction" is a bit restrictive (all payment request has to be approved by our college president). It might be that what we need to do is special fundraising for the scholarships (and people would write checks directly to the foundation). I'll talk to my college senate president (and possibly people at my college/district who handle tax-deductible donations to the school/district).

Thank you!

Andrew

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[Campo, Peggy]

Hi Andrew,

At my college all donations go to our district foundation and they take care of the receipts for tax purposes, the disbursements of scholarships if there are any there, etc etc.  Just make sure when people are donating they clarify what it’s for: your senate and that should suffice.
Hope that helps somehow.  Good luck!

Peggy Campo

Professor-Anatomy and Physiology 

Norco College, RCCD

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