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Reliant does not offer tax deductible giving for donors towards any student participants attending an LT a domestic event with fees (such as Leadership Training (LT)) that is inside of the U.S. Fundraising through Reliant for tax deduction is only allowed if they attend an overseas LT like in Europe or Honduras, etc. However, tax deductible receipts are issued to donors for donations for an overseas Reliant fundraising events
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 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 training along with the requirement to work full time while attending the LT event. Since Reliant, and our legal counsel determined that these were considered tangible personal benefits, we decided that following IRS Tax Code (which prohibits a donation receiving tax deductible status if it results in tangible personal benefit) meant not allowing domestic LT participants to raise financial support for their LT program fees through Reliant. We realize this is a conservative decision, but we feel it is in the best interest of Reliant Mission and its donors.
What does that mean?
LT students Domestic event 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 cannot be considered a taxable deduction deductible gift for their donors since they giving to an individual and not a 501(c)(3) organization. All checks will need be written made payable to 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. (See Support Raising Guidelines.)
Can a domestic event participant support raise on their own through an outside fundraising online site such as GoFundMe?
Depending on how the online giving sites like GoFundMe are set up it may be possible for a domestic event participant to use them. They would need to specify that the gifts are not tax deductible, but simply a gift given out of the kindness of their heart to go to something that they want to support. The students would also obviously need to follow the instructions outlines in our fundraising integrity commitment they signed in their application. Since fundraising for domestic program fees are not considered tax deductible by Reliant, all financial support must be given directly to the student and not to Reliant. The supporters of domestic event participants could not therefore receive tax deduction through another online giving site.
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Reliant is committed to the highest standard in financial integrity and professional excellence. Reliant has been a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability since 1992. Among the essential characteristics of a Participant are integrity, honesty, and stewardship. Since you may be asking others to financially support the Program, it is particularly important that you demonstrate these characteristics in your relationships with potential supporters and in your stewardship of any funds raised towards the Program. Similarly, Reliant Mission, as a Christian ministry, seeks to maintain complete financial integrity and faithful stewardship in all of its activities and donor relationships. In consideration for Reliant allowing me to participate in the Collegiate LT Program, and as a condition of my continued participation, I hereby agree that I will not attempt to raise any more financial support from others than is necessary to pay for:
If I do inadvertently raise more funds than are required to pay the reasonable fees, costs, and expenses identified above, I agree that I will return the balance to one or more of the original donors, or donate the balance to the Reliant general Collegiate LT Program fund, or contribute to other Collegiate LT participants in financial need. I also agree to not begin raising financial support for the until after I have received an acceptance email for the program. |
Provided Materials.
For accountability purposes we ask that each LT event participant wanting to raise their own suppport financial support, to complete and upload to their online LT registration, this Fundraising Integrity Form to the fundraising integrity committement to say they will not collect more funds than needed to cover the cost of their specific program.
We also ask that all participants wait until they have been officially accepted into the program before they begin their support raising for the program fees. We also provide this fundraising guidelines (attached Reliant will send an acceptance email and also also provide these (See Support Raising Guidelines) attached to the acceptance email for the LT) event with fees to help those choosing to raise support on their own to know a few steps to help with the process.
