PLR 1342011: A bequest qualifies as an unusual grant for a camp serving seriously ill children

Plain-English summary

A publicly supported organization that operates a camp for seriously ill children asked whether a proposed charitable bequest would qualify as an unusual grant. The IRS concluded that it could be excluded from the public-support calculation because it was unusually large, unexpected, and attributable to the organization's publicly supported nature. The ruling considered that the bequest had no restrictions, the founder had no officer or board role, and the organization had attracted public support and met the relevant support tests. Excluding the bequest allowed the organization to maintain its public-support status.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the proposed bequest be treated as an unusual grant under Treas. Reg. § 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii)?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 501(c)(3), 509(a), 170(b)(1)(A)(vi), and 4946; Treas. Reg. §§ 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) and 1.509(a)-3(c)(4)

Full text (IRS public release)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
P. O. Box 2508

Cincinnati, OH 45201

Number: 201342011 Employer Identification Number:

Release Date: 10/18/2013
Person to Contact - ID#:

Date: 7/17/2013
Contact Telephone Numbers:

LEGEND:

UIL: 501.03-00
Name of Founder 509.01-02
State 170.09-00
Date
Name of Foundation
Trust
§ Amount of Unusual Grant

Dear

We have considered your March 22, 2012 request for recognition of an unusual grant under
Treasury Regulations section 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) and related provisions.

Based on the information provided, we have concluded that the proposed grant constitutes an
unusual grant under section 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) and related provisions of the regulations. The
basis for our conclusion is set forth below.

Facts:

You were incorporated in the State of Don E. You were recognized as exempt from federal
income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (“the Code”). You operate a
camp for seriously ill children. We have further determined that you are not a private foundation
within the meaning of section 509(a) of the Code because you are an organization of the type
described in section 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) of the Code.

The camp is funded by donations. You have received funding from individuals, businesses,
corporations, foundations, civic groups and other organizations. Your public support has
continued to grow. You anticipate that this trend will continue. You have a representative
governing body made up of individuals with previous experience with organizations similar to
yours.

You are requesting recognition of a proposed grant of $f from T as an unusual grant under
sections 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) and related provisions of the regulations. The grant is in the form of a
charitable bequest to you upon the passing of C. No restrictions were placed on the bequest.

The proceeds from this grant are to be used to pay off tax exempt bonds issued by you to fund
the construction of your facilities for which C had provided a personal guarantee. Any remaining
funds will be used to partially fund your operations for up to one (1) year and/or to establish an
endowment in the name of C.

C was your founder. A review of your previously filed Form 990 filings indicates that you
previously received contributions from C during Fiscal year ended 20. and20 . You have
also received contributions from G in previous years. .

C was not an employee, board member, or person in position to exercise control over you. You
met the facts and circumstances test in each of the years from 20 -20 . Subject to the
treatment of the bequest as an unusual grant your public support percentage would be %

Law:

Treasury Regulations sections 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) and 1.509(a)-3(c)(4) set forth the criteria for an
unusual grant:

Treasury Regulations section 1.170A-9(f)(6)(ii) states that, for purposes of applying the 2-percent
limitation described in paragraph (f)(6)(i) of this section to determine whether the 33 1/3 percent
support test or the 10 percent support limitation in paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section is satisfied, one
or more contributions may be excluded from both the numerator and the denominator of the
applicable support fraction if such contributions meet the requirements of paragraph (f)(6)(iii) of this
section. The exclusion is generally intended to apply to substantial contributions or bequests from
disinterested parties which:

e are attracted by reason of the publicly supported nature of the organization;
e are unusual or unexpected with respect to the amount thereof; and

e would, by reason of their size, adversely affect the status of the organization as
normally being publicly supported.

Treasury Regulations section 1.509(a)-3(c)(4) states that all pertinent facts and circumstances
will be taken into consideration to determine whether a particular contribution may be excluded.
No single factor will necessarily be determinative. Such factors may include:

e Whether the contribution was made by a person who:

a. created the organization

b. previously contributed a substantial part of its support or endowment

c. stood in a position of authority with respect to the organization, such as a
foundation manager within the meaning of section 4946(b)

d. directly or indirectly exercised control over the organization, or

e. was in a relationship described in Internal Revenue Code section 4946(a)(1)(C)
through 4946(a)(1) (G) with someone listed in bullets a, b, c, or d above.

A contribution made by a person described in a. - e. is ordinarily
given less favorable consideration than a contribution made by
others not described above.

e Whether the contribution was a bequest or an inter vivos transfer. A bequest will
ordinarily be given more favorable consideration than an inter vivos transfer.

e Whether the contribution was in the form of cash, readily marketable securities, or
assets which further the exempt purposes of the organization, such as a gift of a
painting to a museum.

e Whether (except in the case of a new organization) prior to the receipt of the
particular contribution, the organization (a) has carried on an actual program of
public solicitation and exempt activities and (b) has been able to attract a significant
amount of public support.

e Whether the organization may reasonably be expected to attract a significant amount
of public support after the particular contribution. Continued reliance on unusual
grants to fund an organization's current operating expenses (as opposed to providing
new endowment funds) may be evidence that the organization cannot reasonably be
expected to attract future public support.

e Whether, prior to the year in which the particular contribution was received, the
organization met the one-third support test described in section 1.509(a)-3(a)(2)
without the benefit of any exclusions of unusual grants pursuant to section 1.509-
3(c)(3);

e Whether the organization has a representative governing body as described in
Treasury Regulations section 1.509(a)-3(d)(3)(i); and

e Whether material restrictions or conditions within the meaning of Treasury
Regulations section 1.507-2(a)(7) have been imposed by the transferor upon the
transferee in connection with such transfer.

Treasury Regulations section 1.509(a)-3(c)(6), Example 5 read in conjunction with Example 4
provides an example of a bequest received by an organization from an individual not in control
of the governing body, in cash, with no restrictions as to its use, which contribution could be
excluded as an unusual grant for the purpose of determining the one-third support test.

Application of Law:

The proposed bequest constitutes an unusual grant within the meaning of Section 1.170A-
9(f)(6)(ii) and related provisions of the regulations for exclusion as an unusual grant. It is
unusual and unexpected with respect to the amount and you received it due to your publicly
supported nature. Additionally it would by reason of its size adversely affect your publicly
supported status.

After reviewing the factors detailed in section 1.509(a)-3(c)(4) of the regulations we have
determined that the proposed contribution constitutes an unusual grant. Although made by the
founder, the proposed contribution is in the form of a bequest, was made in cash and has no
restrictions as to its use. The founder had no authority with respect to you as an officer or board
member. Further, you have carried on a program of exempt activities and have attracted public
support since inception of your organization. You have met the public support tests yearly under

facts and circumstances and will meet the one-third public support test if the proposed bequest
is treated as an unusual grant. You are similar to the organization in Treasury Regulations
section 1.509(a)-3(c)(6), Example 5.

We'll make our determination letter available for public inspection under Internal Revenue Code
section 6110 after deleting certain identifying information. Please read the enclosed Notice 437,
Notice of Intention to Disclose, and review the two attached letters that show our proposed
deletions. If you disagree with our proposed deletions, you should follow the instructions in
Notice 437. If you agree with our deletions, you don’t need to take any further action.

If you have any questions, please contact the person listed in the heading of this letter.

Sincerely,

Kenneth Corbin
Acting Director, Exempt Organizations

Enclosure:

Notice 437
Redacted copy of letter.