IRS denies 501(c)(3) status to a family reunion association that serves its own members

Plain-English summary

An unincorporated group applied for recognition as a tax-exempt charity under section 501(c)(3), describing itself as a not-for-profit dedicated to providing an organized space for family reunion events, fundraisers, and activities that foster family growth. Its members were the members of a single family, and its activities were annual reunions with cookouts, cultural events, talent shows, and similar gatherings, funded entirely by family dues. The IRS issued a final adverse determination denying exemption. It found the group fails the operational test because it is not operated exclusively for charitable purposes: it provides direct benefits to members of one family, which is a private rather than a public interest, and its social and recreational activities are substantial. The IRS compared the group to organizations in Rev. Rul. 67-367 and Rev. Rul. 69-175 (serving subscribers' or parents' own private interests) and to the family association in Callaway Family Association v. Commissioner (a family's interests do not become "public" merely because the family is large). Because the taxpayer did not protest the earlier proposed adverse determination within 30 days, that determination became final. The document is the final adverse letter (Letter 4038) with the enclosed proposed adverse determination (Letter 4034), which sets out the facts, law, and analysis.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Does an association operated to host reunions and gatherings for the members of a single family qualify for exemption under section 501(c)(3)?
• Outcome: Denied (final adverse determination)
• Key authorities: IRC § 501(c)(3); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1), (c)(1), (d)(1)(ii), (d)(2); Rev. Rul. 67-367; Rev. Rul. 69-175; Callaway Family Association v. Commissioner; Schoger Foundation v. Commissioner; Minnesota Kingsmen Chess Association v. Commissioner; St. Louis Science Fiction Limited v. Commissioner

Full text (IRS public release)

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service 05/17/2023
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Employer ID number:

Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201

Form you must file:
Number: 202332015 Tax years:
Release Date: 8/11/2023

Person to contact:

UIL: 501.03-00, 501.03-30

Dear

This letter is our final determination that you don't qualify for exemption from federal income tax under Internal
Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a) as an organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3). Recently, we sent
you a proposed adverse determination in response to your application. The proposed adverse determination
explained the facts, law, and basis for our conclusion, and it gave you 30 days to file a protest. Because we
didn't receive a protest within the required 30 days, the proposed determination is now final.

Because you don't qualify as a tax-exempt organization under IRC Section 501(c)(3), donors generally can't
deduct contributions to you under IRC Section 170.

We may notify the appropriate state officials of our determination, as required by IRC Section 6104(c), by
sending them a copy of this final letter along with the proposed determination letter.

You must file the federal income tax forms for the tax years shown above within 30 days from the date of this
letter unless you request an extension of time to file. For further instructions, forms, and information, visit
www.irs.gov.

We'll make this final adverse determination letter and the proposed adverse determination letter available for
public inspection after deleting certain identifying information, as required by IRC Section 6110. Read the
enclosed Letter 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose - Rulings, and review the two attached letters that show our
proposed deletions. If you disagree with our proposed deletions, follow the instructions in the Letter 437 on how
to notify us. If you agree with our deletions, you don't need to take any further action.

If you have questions about this letter, you can call the contact person shown above. If you have questions
about your federal income tax status and responsibilities, call our customer service number at 800-829-1040
(TTY 800-829-4933 for deaf or hard of hearing) or customer service for businesses at 800-829-4933.

Letter 4038 (Rev. 11-2024)
Catalog Number 47632S

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements

Enclosures:

Letter 437

Redacted Letter 4034
Redacted Letter 4038

Letter 4038 (Rev. 11-2021)
Catalog Number 47632S


Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
PO Box 2508
IRS Cincinnati, OH 45201
Date: 03/13/2023

Employer ID number:

Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:
Fax

Legend: UIL:

W = Date 501.03-00
X = Date 501.03-30
Y = Names

Z = Location

Dear

We considered your application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue
Code (IRC) Section 501(a). We determined that you don't qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3).
This letter explains the reasons for our conclusion. Please keep it for your records.

Issues
Do you qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3)? No, for the reasons stated below.

Facts
You submitted Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3)
of the Internal Revenue Code on W.

You attest that you are an unincorporated association, and you were formed on X. You attest that you have the
necessary organizing document, that your organizing document limits your purposes to one or more exempt
purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(3), that your organizing document does not expressly
empower you to engage in activities, other than an insubstantial part, that are not in furtherance of one or more
exempt purposes, and that your organizing document contains the dissolution provision required under Section
501(c)(3).

You attest that you are organized and operated exclusively to further charitable purposes. You attest that you
have not conducted and will not conduct prohibited activities under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Specifically, you
attest you will:

e Refrain from supporting or opposing candidates in political campaigns in any way
e Ensure that your net earnings do not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or
individuals

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K


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e Not further non-exempt purposes (such as purposes that benefit private interests) more than
insubstantially

e Not be organized or operated for the primary purpose of conducting a trade or business that is not related
to your exempt purpose(s)

e Not devote more than an insubstantial part of your activities attempting to influence legislation or, if you
made a Section 501(h) election, not normally make expenditures in excess of expenditure limitations
outlined in Section 501(h)

e Not provide commercial-type insurance as a substantial part of your activities

On your Form 1023-EZ, you state that you are a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe and
organized space for hosting family reunion events, fundraisers and activities aimed at fostering continued
family growth.

After review of your Form 1023-EZ, detailed information regarding your activities was requested. You are a
membership organization whose members consist of Y. Your activities involve hosting family reunions and
family gathering events, as well as conducting activities including, but not limited to, cookouts, cultural events,
talent shows, etc., with the members of Y being considered the participants.

You will conduct these activities in various locations depending on what is decided by the reunion chairs for the
event year. Most of your events will be held in Z, where the roots of Y align. You will aim to gather and have
these activities once a year. You will charge fees to family members based on the cost of the activities planned
and the age of participants. You will charge children and disabled adults a lesser rate than traditional adults.

Your source of revenue comes exclusively from family dues. Your expenditures are for grocery foods, the
and propane, catering food, visiting local landmarks, tents and trash removal, and T-shirts. You will carry
over any remaining funds to help cover costs for the next event.

Finally, you provided your bylaws as your organizing document which were adopted on X, which is the date
you attested that you were formed. Your bylaws state your purpose is to improve the quality of family reunion
events and activities. They also state under the heading "Description" that "The Association is organized for
charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(3)."

Law

IRC Section 501(c)(3) provides for the recognition of exemption of organizations that are organized and
operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or other purposes as specified in the statute. No part of the net
earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that, to be exempt as an organization described in IRC
Section 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the
purposes specified in such section. If an organization fails to meet either the organizational test or the
operational test, it is not exempt.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) provides that an organization is not organized and operated
exclusively for charitable purposes unless it serves a public rather than a private interest.

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K


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Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) provides that the term "charitable" is used in IRC Section 501(c)(3) in
its generally accepted legal sense and includes, among other things, lessening the burdens of government, relief
of the poor and distressed or of the underprivileged, advancement of education or science, erection or
maintenance of public buildings, monuments, or works, and promotion of social welfare by organizations
designed to accomplish any of the above purposes, or in part to defend human and civil rights secured by law.

Revenue Ruling 67-367, 1967-2 C.B. 188, describes an organization whose sole activity was the operation of a
"scholarship plan" for making payments to pre-selected, specifically named individuals. The organization did
not qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because it was serving the private interests of its
subscribers rather than public or charitable interests.

Revenue Ruling 69-175, 1969-1 C.B. 149, describes an organization created to provide bus transportation for
school children to a tax-exempt private school. The organization was formed by the parents of pupils attending
the school. The organization provided transportation to and from the school for those children whose parents
belonged to the organization. Parents were required to pay an initial family fee and an additional annual charge
for each child. The Service determined that "when a group of individuals associate to provide a cooperative
service for themselves, they are serving a private interest."

In Callaway Fam. Assoc. Inc. v. Commr. of Internal Revenue, 71 T.C. 340 (Tax 1978), the petitioner argues
that there are "hundreds, perhaps thousands" of individuals who would become linked by participation in its

association. However, even though "family" may refer to many individuals with a common heritage, their
interests, because of the size and diversity of the group, do not become a "public" interest. The mere number of
activities accomplish an exempt purpose. Whether there were 6 or 600 members, it is evident that they joined
only because the purposes and activities of the organization were "for" and "about" Callaway.

In Schoger Foundation v. Commissioner, 76 T.C. 380 (1981), it was held that if an activity serves a substantial
non-exempt purpose, the organization does not qualify for exemption even if the activity also furthers an
exempt purpose.

In Minnesota Kingsmen Chess Association v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 1983-495, the organization sponsored
chess tournaments, provided chess magazines and books to libraries, offered free chess lessons, and published a
newsletter that primarily contained reports of past tournaments and announcements of future ones. The
petitioner sought exemption under Section 501(c)(3) because its purposes and activities were described as
educational. The court found that the promotion of chess tournaments furthered a substantial recreational
purpose, even though individual participants may have received some educational benefits.

In St. Louis Science Fiction Limited v. Commissioner, 49 TCM 1126, 1985-162, the Tax Court held that a
science fiction society failed to qualify for tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Although many of
the organization's functions at its annual conventions (the organization's principal activity) were educational, its
overall agenda was not exclusively educational. A substantial portion of convention affairs were social and
recreational in nature.

Application of law
You do not meet the requirements for recognition of tax exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because you
fail the operational test as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1).

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K


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You do not meet the operational test under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because you are not operated exclusively for
charitable purposes as required under Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1). You conduct an activity that
provides direct benefits to members of Y that is more than insubstantial in nature. You are not operated
exclusively for charitable purposes as required by Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2).

You do not serve a public interest as required by Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) because you are
operating for the benefit of Y, and therefore you are serving a private interest.

You are like the organization described in Revenue Ruling 67-367. Like that organization, your activities serve
to benefit your members which consist of Y rather than for the benefit of the public. For example, you are
hosting family reunions and family gathering events and activities including, but not limited to, cookouts,
cultural events, talent shows, etc., with the members of Y being considered the participants. This illustrates that
your activities are directed toward pre-selected individuals.

You are like the organization described in Revenue Ruling 69-175. The group of parents in Rev. Rul. 69-175
provided a cooperative service for themselves and thus served their own private interests. Like that
organization, you were formed to host family reunion activities specifically for members of Y. Similar to the
organization in Callaway Fam. Assoc, your activities are centered around a specific family, which is Y, and
therefore you are serving the private interests of Y. Although you may conduct some exempt activities, you
have a single nonexempt purpose that is substantial in nature. This precludes you from qualifying for exemption
under IRC Section 501(c)(3) as explained in Schoger Foundation v. Commissioner.

You are like the organizations described in Minnesota Kingsmen Chess Association and St. Louis Science
Fiction Limited in that more than an insubstantial amount of your activities is devoted to non-501(c)(3)
purposes. While there may be educational activities at your events, the recreational and social purposes
are substantial and outweigh any of the IRC Section 501(c)(3) purposes that you may further.

Conclusion

Based on the facts presented, you do not qualify for exemption from federal income tax as an organization
described in IRC Section 501(c)(3). You are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes as set forth in
Section 501(c)(3). You are operated to further the private interests of Y and are operating for a substantial non-
exempt purpose.

If you agree

If you agree with our proposed adverse determination, you don't need to do anything. If we don't hear from
you within 30 days, we'll issue a final adverse determination letter. That letter will provide information on
your income tax filing requirements.

If you don't agree
You have a right to protest if you don't agree with our proposed adverse determination. To do so, send us a
protest within 30 days of the date of this letter. You must include:

¢ Your name, address, employer identification number (EIN), and a daytime phone number

¢ A statement of the facts, law, and arguments supporting your position

¢ A statement indicating whether you are requesting an Appeals Office conference

¢ The signature of an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K


organization or your authorized representative

¢ The following declaration:
For an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization:
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this request, or this modification to the
request, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the request
or the modification contains all relevant facts relating to the request, and such facts are true, correct,
and complete.

Your representative (attorney, certified public accountant, or other individual enrolled to practice before the
IRS) must file a Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, with us if they haven't
already done so. You can find more information about representation in Publication 947, Practice Before the
IRS and Power of Attorney.

We'll review your protest statement and decide if you gave us a basis to reconsider our determination. If so,
we'll continue to process your case considering the information you provided. If you haven't given us a basis
for reconsideration, we'll send your case to the Appeals Office and notify you. You can find more information
in Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status.

If you don't file a protest within 30 days, you can't seek a declaratory judgment in court later because the

law requires that you use the IRC administrative process first (IRC Section 7428(b)(2)).

Where to send your protest
Send your protest, Form 2848, if applicable, and any supporting documents to the applicable address:

U.S. mail: Street address for delivery service:
Internal Revenue Service Internal Revenue Service

EO Determinations Quality Assurance EO Determinations Quality Assurance
Mail Stop 6403 550 Main Street, Mail Stop 6403

PO Box 2508 Cincinnati, OH 45202

Cincinnati, OH 45201

You can also fax your protest and supporting documents to the fax number listed at the top of this letter. If you
fax your statement, please contact the person listed at the top of this letter to confirm that they received it.

You can get the forms and publications mentioned in this letter by visiting our website at www.irs.gov/forms-
pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). If you have questions, you can contact the person listed at
the top of this letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service
The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your
taxpayer rights. TAS can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or if you've tried but haven't

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K


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been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS
will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 877-777-4778.

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K