Foundation received approval to set aside funds for artist-residency renovations

Plain-English summary

A private foundation provides undisturbed residency space for writers and visual artists. It sought to set aside funds for extensive renovations that would keep its residency property open year-round and add space, building on several previously approved set-asides for the same project. Environmental approvals, zoning proceedings, the COVID-19 pandemic, asbestos work, and permitting had delayed construction, while the project required long-term spending beyond one year's income. The foundation represented that it would spend all set-aside amounts on project costs within 60 months of the first set-aside and that prepaying contractors before work began would be imprudent. The IRS approved the request under section 4942(g)(2).

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Could the foundation treat funds reserved for the long-term artist-residency renovation as a qualifying set-aside?
• Outcome: Approved
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 170(c)(2)(B) and 4942(g)(2); Treas. Reg. § 53.4942(a)-3(b); Rev. Rul. 74-450

Full text (IRS public release)

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service 10/17/2022

Tax Exempt and Government Entities Employer ID number:
IRS P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201 Person to contact:
Name:
Number: 202302014 ID number:
Release Date: 1/13/2023 Telephone:
Fax:
LEGEND UIL: 4942.03-07
D = Date
E= Date
F = Date
G = Date
H = Date
J= Date
K = Date
L= Name
M = Agency
N = Name

p dollars = Amount
q dollars = Amount
r dollars = Amount
s dollars = Amount
t dollars = Amount
u dollars = Amount
v dollars = Amount

Dear [redacted]:

Why you are receiving this letter
We received your request for approval of a set-aside under Internal Revenue Code (IRC)
Section 4942(g)(2). Based on the information furnished, your request is approved.

You are recognized as tax-exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3) and as a private foundation under IRC
Section 509(a).

What you need to do
Document your approved set-aside(s) in your records as pledges or obligations. You must pay the set-aside

amounts within 60 months after the date of the first set-aside, as required under IRC Section 4942(g)(2).

Letter 4797 (Rev. 1-2021)
Catalog Number 58293H

Take into account the amounts set aside when determining your minimum investment return under IRC Section
4942(e)(1)(A) and the income attributable to your set-asides when computing your adjusted net income under
IRC Section 4942(f).

Description of set-aside request
Your mission consists of serving writers and visual artists from all walks of life, by providing them time and

space in which to work without disturbance. Specifically, you provide residency for artists and writers from
through for to weeks at a time. The residencies take place on your property which consists
of an that has been converted for residential use. The requires extensive renovations.

You have requested a Set-Aside for t dollars for the year end of H for the purpose of providing needed
renovations to the which will allow the residences to stay open throughout the year as well as upgrade
the current conditions and add additional space including a

You have already requested and been approved Set-Asides for Tax Year D of p dollars, Tax Year E of q dollars,
Tax Year F of r dollars and Tax year G of s dollars for the renovation project.

You explained that in year E that you hired a noted architectural firm to lead the project. By early F, you
expanded the scope of the project to include a second structure which would serve as the
You also formally hired a building firm and thought that the project would proceed and be completed in about
months. However, later in year F, the L town planner informed you that a number of variances would be

required due to the highly sensitive nature of the environment, because the property bordered on

which would impose at least a delay for review, adjustments, and approvals. From the time
you were notified by the L town planner, until the COVID pandemic hit, you worked diligently to comply with
the requirements of the L town planner and to obtain the various permits required by the M.

The COVID global pandemic then halted the project. During the pandemic, you sought updates from all parties
involved in the project and worked attentively to obtain a hearing date with the L town zoning board. Due to
remote work requirements within all relevant government departments and the resulting backlog of cases, the
project was further delayed. During this time, you continued to work on adjustments to the planned site with
continued feedback from the M and you were able to file revised project plans in H. Later in H, the L Town
Zoning Board, finally held a public hearing using a ZOOM conference call and, you were advised that the
project plans were approved, and variances were permitted. However, you could not begin the project, without
approval from the M. While awaiting said approval, you conducted an asbestos test on the property which
resulted in abatement work that was completed and certified in early J.

In mid spring of J, the M finally issued you the required permit which was then submitted to the

for review and approval. In late spring of J, the issued a permit to you which
allowed you to apply for a building permit in the summer of J. Once the building permit is obtained, work on
the project can finally commence.

To date a total of u dollars has been already paid to various architects, surveyors, landscapers, attorneys,
appraisers, and the general contractor before the construction has even started for the renovation project that
you have requested set asides. The estimated cost of this renovation should be in excess of v dollars.

You stated during J, you should complete and payout Charitable Set-Asides p, q, r, s, and t dollars for Tax
Years D, E, F, G, and H with project related costs, which will be less than 60 months after the first set-aside.
The last payout of all the Set-Asides will be in K. You believe that this project can be best accomplished by a

Letter 4797 (Rev. 1-2021)
Catalog Number 58293H

Set-Aside rather than an immediate payment of funds since it would be imprudent for you to prepay funds to
contractors and professionals for work that has not commenced yet. The Set-Aside approach will allow you to
maximize control over the project, with the goal of achieving a better result.

Basis for our determination

IRC Section 4942(g)(2)(A) states that an amount set aside for a specific project, which includes one or more
purposes described in IRC Section 170(c)(2)(B), may be treated as a qualifying distribution if it meets the
requirements of IRC Section 4942(g)(2)(B).

IRC Section 4942(g)(2)(B) states that an amount set aside for a specific project will meet the requirements of
this subparagraph if, at the time of the set-aside, the foundation establishes that the amount will be paid within
five years and either clause (i) or (ii) are satisfied.

IRC Section 4942(g)(2)(B)(i) is satisfied if, at the time of the set-aside, the private foundation establishes that
the project can better be accomplished using the set-aside than by making an immediate payment.

Treasury Regulation (Treas. Reg.) Section 53.4942(a)-3(b)(1) provides that a private foundation may establish a
project as better accomplished by a set-aside than by immediate payment if the set-aside satisfies the suitability
test described in Treas. Reg. Section 53.4942(a)-3(b)(2).

Treas. Reg. Section 53.4942(a)-3(b)(2) provides that specific projects better accomplished using a set-aside
include, but are not limited to, projects where relatively long-term expenditures must be made requiring more
than one year's income to assure their continuity.

In Revenue Ruling 74-450, 1974-2 C.B. 388, an operating foundation converted a portion of newly acquired
land into a public park under a four-year construction contract. The construction contract payments were to be
made mainly during the final two years. This constituted a "specific project." The foundation's set-aside of all
its excess earnings for four years was treated as a qualifying distribution under IRC Section 4942(g)(2).

Additional information
This determination is directed only to the organization that requested it. IRC Section 6110(k)(3) provides that it

may not be used or cited as a precedent.
Visit www.irs.gov/setasides for more information.

We'll make this determination letter available for public inspection after deleting personally identifiable information,
as required by IRC Section 6110. Enclosed are Letter 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose -Rulings, and a copy of
the letter that shows 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.
Keep a copy of this letter for your records.
If you have questions, you can call the contact the person shown above.

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements

Enclosures:
Redacted Letter 4797
Letter 437

Letter 4797 (Rev. 1-2021)
Catalog Number 58293H