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Reliant does not offer tax deductible giving for any student participants attending an LT a domestic Leadership Training  (LT) that is inside of the U.S.  Fundraising through a Reliant event for tax deduction is only allowed if they attend an overseas  Tax Deductible receipts for fundraising for an oversees Reliant LT event are issued to donors if the participant is attending an oversees LT like in Europe or Honduras, etc. 

Why?

After seeking extensive expert legal counsel, Reliant determined that not allowing students unfortunately it cannot allow participants to raise support for a domestic LTs LT event through Reliant. This was in agreement with what our legal counsel was advising.  Based on that, it  It is Reliant's interpretation of IRS Tax Code that domestic LT programs that are (usually 10 weeks in length) inside of the U.S. are viewed as more of a summer camp rather than a service to the community and therefore are not considered tax deductibleresults in the participant receiving tangible personal benefits, like significant leadership education and the requirement to work full time while attending the event.  Since Reliant, and our legal counsel determined that these were considered tangible personal benefits, we decided to follow IRS Tax Code (which prohibits a donation receiving tax exempt status if it results in tangible personal benefit) meant not allowing LT participants to raise financial support for their LT program fees.  We realize this is a conservative choice, but we feel it is in the best interest of Reliant Mission and its donors. 

What does that mean?

LT students participants may still fundraise on their own and ask donors to give a financial gift out of the kindness of their heart to go towards something they believe in, but it will not be a taxable deduction for their donors.  All checks will be written and sent directly to the student participant (not collected by Reliant) with no tax deduction allowed.  All domestic LT payments will be made directly by the student participant to Reliant  (Reliant will not accept any payment from donors (other than from a church) for an LT participant fees).   There is no way for donors to give electronically through Reliant to help support a student attending a domestic LT, however they could send an electronic check directly to the studentparticipant's bank account. 

Provided Materials.

For accountability purposes we ask that each LT participant wanting to raise their own suppport, complete and upload to their online LT registration, this Fundraising Integrity Form to say they will not collect more funds than needed to cover the cost of their program.

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