IRS revokes a nonprofit's 501(c)(3) status for private benefit from bargain-sale deals and the president's personal use of funds

Plain-English summary

The IRS revoked a small charity's tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3), effective January 1, 2018. On audit, the IRS found the organization spent much of its effort on real-estate "bargain sale" transactions arranged by an outside promoter, where the charity issued large charitable-contribution acknowledgements but kept only a tiny net amount, so the deals mostly benefited the donors and the promoter rather than the public. The IRS also found that the organization's president ran most of the group's money through her personal bank account and used charity funds for personal costs (rent tied to her residence, meals, clothing, personal care, a cell phone, and similar items) without board approval or business substantiation. Because a 501(c)(3) may not let its earnings inure to insiders or serve private interests, and because these activities were more than an insubstantial part of what the group did, the IRS concluded the organization was not operated exclusively for exempt purposes. Contributions to it are no longer deductible under section 170. The document is the final revocation letter (Letter 6337) with the earlier proposed-revocation letter (Letter 3618) and the audit report (Form 886-A) attached.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Should the organization's IRC § 501(c)(3) exemption be revoked for private benefit and inurement?
• Outcome: Revocation (effective January 1, 2018)
• Key authorities: IRC § 501(c)(3); Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2) and -1(d); IRC § 170; IRC § 4958; IRC § 7428

Full text (IRS public release)

Internal Revenue Service

Tax Exempt and Government Entities

Department of the Treasury Date: March 29, 2023
Taxpayer ID number (last 4 digits):

Form:

Release Number: 202325010 Tax periods ended:
Release Date: 6/23/2023

UIL Code: 501.03-00 Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:
Fax:

Last day to file petition with United States
Tax Court:

CERTIFIED MAIL - Return Receipt Requested
Dear :

Why we are sending you this letter

This is a 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), effective
Your determination letter dated , is revoked.

Our adverse determination as to your exempt status was made for the following reasons: Organizations
described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) and exempt under IRC Section 501(a) must be both organized and operated
exclusively for exempt purposes. You have not demonstrated that you operated exclusively for one or more
exempt purposes as required by IRC Section 501(c)(3). Your primary activities consist of bargain sales, offering
benefits to private individuals and not to the public. In addition, your President used the organization's funds for
personal purposes, rather than for exempt purposes. IRC Section 501(c)(3) precludes federal income tax
exemption if net earnings inure to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals. See Treasury Regulation
1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2). Your tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(c)(3) is thus revoked, effective from
January 1, 2018.

Organizations that are not exempt under IRC Section 501 generally are required to file federal income tax returns
and pay tax, where applicable. For further instructions, forms and information please visit IRS.gov.

Contributions to your organization are no longer deductible under IRC Section 170.

What you must do if you disagree with this determination
If you want to contest our final determination, you have 90 days from the date this determination letter was
mailed to you to file a petition or complaint in one of the three federal courts listed below.

How to file your action for declaratory judgment
If you decide to contest this determination, you can file an action for declaratory judgment under the provisions
of Section 7428 of the Code in either:

• The United States Tax Court,
• The United States Court of Federal Claims, or
• The United States District Court for the District of Columbia

Letter 6337 (Rev. 8-2022)
Catalog Number 74808E

You must file a petition or complaint in one of these three courts within 90 days from the date we mailed this
determination letter to you. You can download a fillable petition or complaint form and get information about
filing at each respective court's website listed below or by contacting the Office of the Clerk of the Court at one
of the addresses below. Be sure to include a copy of this letter and any attachments and the applicable filing fee
with the petition or complaint.

You can eFile your completed U.S. Tax Court petition by following the instructions and user guides available
on the Tax Court website at ustaxcourt.gov/dawson.html. You will need to register for a DAWSON account to
do so. You may also file your petition at the address below:

United States Tax Court
400 Second Street, NW
Washington, DC 20217
ustaxcourt.gov

The websites of the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia contain
instructions about how to file your completed complaint electronically. You may also file your complaint at one of
the addresses below:

US Court of Federal Claims
717 Madison Place, NW
Washington, DC 20439
uscfc.uscourts.gov

US District Court for the District of Columbia
333 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20001

dcd.uscourts.gov

Processing of income tax returns and assessments of any taxes due will not be delayed if you file a petition for
declaratory judgment under IRC Section 7428.

Information about the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service

The IRS office whose phone number appears at the top of the notice can best address and access your tax
information and help get you answers. However, you may be eligible for free help from the Taxpayer Advocate
Service (TAS) if you can't resolve your tax problem with the IRS, or you believe an IRS procedure just isn't
working as it should. TAS is an independent organization within the IRS that helps taxpayers and protects
taxpayer rights. Contact your local Taxpayer Advocate Office at:

Internal Revenue Service
Taxpayer Advocate Office

Or call TAS at 877-777-4778. For more information about TAS and your rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights,
go to taxpayeradvocate.IRS.gov. Do not send your federal court pleading to the TAS address listed above.
Use the applicable federal court address provided earlier in the letter. Contacting TAS does not extend the time
to file an action for declaratory judgment.

Where you can find more information
Enclosed are Publication 1, Your Rights as a Taxpayer, and Publication 594, The IRS Collection Process, for
more comprehensive information,

Letter 6337 (Rev. 8-2022)
Catalog Number 74808E

Find tax forms or publications by visiting IRS.gov/forms or calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). If you
have questions, you can call the person shown at the top of this letter.

If you prefer to write, use the address shown at the top of this letter. Include your telephone number, the best
time to call, and a copy of this letter.

You may fax your documents to the fax number shown above, using either a fax machine or online fax service.
Protect yourself when sending digital data by understanding the fax service's privacy and security policies.

Keep the original letter for your records.

Sincerely,

[illegible signature]
for Lynn A. Brinkley
Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Enclosures:
Publication 1
Publication 594
Publication 892

Letter 6337 (Rev. 8-2022)
Catalog Number 74808E

Department of the Treasury Date:
Internal Revenue Service 03/25/2022
Tax Exempt and Government Entities Taxpayer ID number:

Form:

Person to contact:
Name:
ID number:
Telephone:

Fax:
Address:

Manager's contact information:

Name:
CERTIFIED MAIL — Return Receipt Requested ID number:

Telephone:
Response due date:
4/25/2022

Dear

Why you're receiving this letter
We enclosed a copy of our audit report, Form 886-A, Explanation of Items, explaining that we propose to revoke
your tax-exempt status as an organization described in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3).

If you agree

If you haven't already, please sign the enclosed Form 6018, Consent to Proposed Action, and return it to the
contact person shown at the top of this letter. We'll issue a final adverse letter determining that you aren't an
organization described in IRC Section 501(c)(3) for the periods above.

After we issue the final adverse determination letter, we'll announce that your organization is no longer eligible
to receive tax deductible contributions under IRC Section 170.

If you disagree

1. Request a meeting or telephone conference with the manager shown at the top of this letter.

2. Send any information you want us to consider.

3. File a protest with the IRS Appeals Office. If you request a meeting with the manager or send additional
   information as stated in 1 and 2, above, you'll still be able to file a protest with IRS Appeals Office after
   the meeting or after we consider the information.

The IRS Appeals Office is independent of the Exempt Organizations division and resolves most disputes
informally. If you file a protest, the auditing agent may ask you to sign a consent to extend the period of
limitations for assessing tax. This is to allow the IRS Appeals Office enough time to consider your case.
For your protest to be valid, it must contain certain specific information, including a statement of the
facts, applicable law, and arguments in support of your position. For specific information needed for a
valid protest, refer to Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status.

Fast Track Mediation (FTM) referred to in Publication 3498, The Examination Process, generally doesn't
apply now that we've issued this letter.

Letter 3618 (Rev. 8-2019)
Catalog Number 34809F

4. Request technical advice from the Office of Associate Chief Counsel (Tax Exempt Government Entities)
   if you feel the issue hasn't been addressed in published precedent or has been treated inconsistently by the
   IRS.

If you're considering requesting technical advice, contact the person shown at the top of this letter. If you
disagree with the technical advice decision, you will be able to appeal to the IRS Appeals Office, as
explained above. A decision made in a technical advice memorandum, however, generally is final and
binding on Appeals.

If we don't hear from you
If you don't respond to this proposal within 30 calendar days from the date of this letter, we'll issue a final
adverse determination letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Office is a taxpayer right
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 you've tried but haven't
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.

Additional information
You can get any of 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 shown at the top of this letter.

Sincerely,
[illegible signature]

for Lynn A. Brinkley
Acting Director, Exempt Organizations Examinations

Enclosures:
Form 886-A

Form 6018
Publication 892

Letter 3618 (Rev. 8-2019)
Catalog Number 34809F

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
EIN:

ISSUES PRESENTED:

1. Whether operates exclusively for exempt purposes described
   within Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3)?

1.a Whether is operated to serve a public rather than a private
interest?
1.b Whether involvement in bargain sales transactions is more
than an insubstantial part of its activities?

2. Whether any part of the net earnings of inured to the benefit
   of any private shareholder or individual?

3. Whether revocation of IRC 501(c)(3) tax exempt status is
   appropriate?

FACTS

( ) filed their Articles of Incorporation with the State o1 as a not-for-
profit corporation on . It filed their Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption
Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), which was received by the Internal Revenue
Services on . Internal Revenue Services issued a final determination Letter 947 on
, granting Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3) tax exempt status to with a
foundation status of public charity. The organization had filed return since inception. Small tax-
exempt organizations generally are eligible to file to satisfy their annual reporting requirement,
if their annual gross receipts are normally $ or less.

The articles of incorporation named individuals as the , namely the
. The article of incorporation and the Form 1023 named
as the . The following activities are listed on the attachment to the
Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3)

will provide training and expertise to enhance the lives of
in many ways including

will include the use of
for the objective. will also include guest
speakers who will offer advice and resources for attendees, including personal introductions to
business mentors in the

engaged in the following activities during and

Page 1 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
Workshop Activities
Per response to with regards to its activities, claimed that in it conducted
. Usually they facilitated but did an
extra in . The organization stated that these "
was paid for teaching these workshops; volunteer their time at
." The response further stated that " is paid and there
are no direct expenses for the "

• From a with ,

Agent discovered the following: Agent was informed at
that meeting, that has , and all are
required to take before they can leave and , and
. helps with
presentation that helps for which some
are . The set the dates , provided the facility,
and enroll the persons . were from am - pm. Email
received from on , also stated the following: " comes in
and provides monthly , facilitated by . It is a that provides information
on "

• , they provide after the conducted
  at . was issued and __ related to obtaining specific details of the
  exempt activities of the organization, to differentiate the activities of the and the activities conducted by
  , for which the information was not provided. In , records were requested to show the individuals
  who received the training and the time spent with each exiting military. However, no records were provided.

Per response to and are the presenters for the
monthly conducted at . has also received many thank
you letters for the that was conducted.

listed following volunteer on the Organizations Website:

Professional Photographer
, Financial Advisor
Financial Advisor
Employment Advocate
Coach

There was no information provided as to what activities are conducted by these volunteers. As a part of the
organization's response to the exempt activities it conducts, the statements made about the volunteer's
activities were: "Average time spent by is per week, in addition to
dedicated by volunteers" and "Manage volunteer team and obtain from

Page 2 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
Fundraising Activities

• participated in a bargain sale promoter scheme with completing
  bargain sale transaction in and in For the bargain sales conducted in ;
  wrote charitable contribution acknowledgements that totaled $ , paid ,
  fees of $ , paid other fees, and received a net charitable contribution of $ . For the
  bargain sale, wrote a charitable contribution acknowledgement for $ and
  paid fees of $ , paid other fees of $ and received a net charitable contribution of
  $ . So for the issued acknowledgements that total $ '
  paid fees of and received a net contribution deposited into the EOs bank account of only $
  When entered into these transactions the were bought and sold on the
  same day, or a very short time after the donation was accepted. was required to
  issue the Form 8282 to the donor at the time of the sale because the donation was sold within of
  receipt. The organization did not file the Forms 8282 at that time. Agent asked for copies of the Form 8282 in
  the IDR and they were provided even though at the interview they said they were never completed. Agent
  found out that those Forms 8282 submitted per the IDR, were for Agent to submit to the Service
  Center. Agent processed the forms to the Service Center.

The organization provided documents associated with the transactions. For example, a review
of the documents shows the following.

• Letter of intent dated listed as buyer and seller
  . Total earnest money deposit was $ . Seller to engage an appraiser to
  prepare an appraisal for the property during inspection period. Seller to provide current title search resulting in
  a commitment satisfactory to the buyer. Seller will provide the closing documents and shall convey the
  property to buyer by a special warranty deed. Seller to pay or other transfer taxes. The
  letter of intent was signed by . Other agreements include Real Estate Purchase Agreement
  between as buyer and the seller; and Real Estate Purchase Agreement with as seller and the
  Purchaser. The document states that any notices required or permitted to be given under the agreement to be
  sent to closing Dept.

• Per bank statements, deposits for the and tax year totaled
  $ and the amount of those deposits related to bargain sales was $ . So
  received % of its total revenue form the bargain sale schemes they entered into with

This shows that the bargain sale donation was the primary source of income for

Page 3 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
Expenditures

• Since inception, has filed annually the . This form is generally used
  by small tax exempt entities that normally receives $ or less in gross receipts annually.
  issued charitable donation acknowledgements for total amount of $ for the
  and $ for and did not file the required
• The books and record showed that most of the expenditure for were paid out as reimbursements to
  the who used her personal account to conduct the majority of business and
  then reimbursed herself.
  The total amount of funds deposited into the exempt organizations bank account for the was
  $ and for the was $ . Expenditures paid to the for the
  is as follows :
  Total
  Rent
  Electric
  Phone and Internet
  Monthly Software Fees
  Meals
  Personal Misc. Items
  Attorney Fees - Apartment Lease
  Wages reported on
  Meetings and conferences
  Milage
  Total Expenses paid to the
  Payments to the % % %

! of Revenues

does not have an office and the amounts for office rent were for expenses associated with
residence which was charged to requested information and documentation regarding
the rent charged to It asked for copy of the lease showing total rent and the allocation of rent
expenses. Documentation provided includes copies of invoices, subscriptions, and
expenses labeled as Information Technology. Documentation provided includes items such as electric bill,
subscription, invoice from (cable/TV/Internet/Phone provider), and invoice from

. The accompanying handwritten journal noted the entries with expense categories of office supplies,

Information Technology, conference/meetings/education, telephone, office rent/utilities, rental,

Page 4 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
and business mileage. More specifically the handwritten journal for office rent showed amount of $ with
% allocated to notated as home feet with % office space. of
electric and internet cost were also allocated to No lease documentation was provided to support the
total square feet of the apartment and office space and all exempt activities reported took place at

also provided some documentation titled "Business Lunches". Examples include Page
which showed receipt from a restaurant with a notated with a date, amount, and statement " "
or " ". The amount noted on the receipts were higher than the total due. then
deducted % of the total and the remaining % was charged to the organization. A worksheet was
provided, i.e. "Work Sheet , Page , showing the detail amount for each meal, the total,
and the % deduction. It noted that the amounts were paid from personal checking and % of the
total were reimburses to from checking. Some of the receipts noted a name of person and
others did not note a name but say " ". The documentation did not notate the specific business purpose for
the meals.

The personal items consist of purchases such as cloths, RX refills, cosmetics, health care needs, hair
appointment, tailor, shoe repair, miscellaneous personal and travel needs, etc. The legal fees were for an issue
with apartment lease of residents, for which the president left her apartment for and
then went back to the apartment. Other charges include the purchase of a new cell phone and Bluetooth
health monitoring devices. Meeting and conferences with travel expenses were noted on the worksheet
submitted by the organization. Office supplies include purchases titled "office furnishings" " " &
" [Worksheet , response listed on file , Page ].

As a response to ' provided a status of the organization in an email that was received on

and indicate the following. "At a board meeting that was held in it was decided to
shut down operations immediately. This is not solely related to the IRS audit, as the Taxpayer has been
frustrated in preforming its exempt functions due to continuing restrictions for as a
result of the COVID- pandemic, and the lack of contributions to be able to continue operations. The
organization filed Articles of Dissolution with the State of on and is no longer a corporation
and is no longer conducting business. " No response for the documents requested in were provided.
LAW

To be tax-exempt under IRC § 501(c)(3), an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for
exempt purposes set forth in IRC § 501(c)(3) The organization must not be organized or operated for the
benefit of private interests, and none of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. In
addition, it may not be an action organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial
part of its activities and it may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates.

IRC § 501(c)(3) exempts from Federal income tax: corporations, and any community chest, fund, or
foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety,
literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of net earnings
of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of

Page 5 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending

which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and which does not
participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on
behalf of any candidate for public office.

Treasury Regulations

1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1), Organizational and operational tests, provides that in order to be exempt as an
organization described in 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.

1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be regarded as "operated exclusively" for one or more
exempt purpose only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of such exempt
purposes specified in section 501(c)(3). An organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial
part of its activities is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose.

1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2) provides that an organization is not operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes
if its net earnings inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals.

1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(ii) of the regulations provides that an organization is not organized or operated exclusively for
one or more exempt purposes unless it serves a public rather than a private interest. Thus, it is necessary for
an organization to establish that it is not organized or operated for the benefit of private interests such as
designated individuals, the creator or his family, shareholders of the organization, or persons controlled,
directly or indirectly, by such private interests.

§1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2) provides that an organization is not operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes
if its net earnings inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals.

1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) of the regulations provides that the term "charitable" is used in section 501(c)(3) of the
Code in its generally accepted legal sense and includes the promotion of education.

1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3) defines the term educational as the instruction or training of the individual to improve or
develop his capabilities, or the instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the
community. The regulation further provides that an organization may be educational even though it advocates
a particular position or viewpoint, so long as it presents a sufficiently full and fair exposition of the pertinent
facts to permit the public to form an independent opinion or conclusion. An organization is not educational if its
principal function is the mere presentation of unsupported opinion. Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3).

1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i) defines the word "educational", as used in §501(c)(3) of the Code, as —

(a) The instruction or training of the individual for the purpose of improving or developing his capabilities; or
(b) The instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community.

Page 6 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending

In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D C., Inc. v. U.S., 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the Supreme Court stated
that an organization is not operated exclusively for charitable purposes if it has a single non charitable purpose
that is substantial in nature.

The words "private shareholder or individual" in section 501 refer to persons having a personal and private
interest in the activities of the organization. Treas. Reg. § 1.501(a)-1(c).

The inurement prohibition provision "is designed to prevent the siphoning of charitable receipts to insiders of
the charity . . ." United Cancer Council v. Commissioner, 165 F.3d 1173 (7th Cir. 1999). A "private
shareholder or individual" for purposes of a private inurement analysis has been interpreted to mean an insider
of the organization. See Orange County Agricultural Society, Inc. v. Commissioner, 893 F.2d 529, 534 (2d Cir.
1990). The prohibited private inurement involves using the assets of the exempt organization for the benefit of
the insider; examples include payment of a percentage of revenue, lending money, and payment of personal
expenses. Founding Church of Scientology v. United States, 412 F.2d 1197 (Ct. Cl. 1969).

Prohibited inurement is strongly suggested where an individual or small group has exclusive control over the
management of the organization's funds. The Church of Eternal Life and Liberty, Inc. v. Commissioner, 86
T.C. 916, 927 (1986); Basic Bible Church v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 846, 857 (1980); Church of the
Transfiguring Spirit v. Commissioner, 76 T.C. 1, 7 (1981).

Section 4958(c)(1)(A) of the Code, in part, defines an "excess benefit transaction" as "any transaction in which
an economic benefit is provided by an applicable tax-exempt organization

Inurement and Private Benefit

Revenue Ruling 67-5, 1967-1 C.B. 123, it was held that a foundation controlled by the creator's family was
operated to enable the creator and his family to engage in financial activities which were beneficial to them, but
detrimental to the foundation. It was further held that the foundation was operated for a substantial non-exempt
purpose and served the private interests of the creator and his family. Therefore, the foundation was not
entitled to exemption from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).

TAXPAYERS POSITION: Unknown at this time.

GOVERNMENT POSITION

An organization that is tax exempt under IRC 501(c)(3) is not organized exclusively for an exempt purpose if it
provides private benefit that is more than just incidental to furthering its charitable goals.

The IRS's position is that by accepting bargain sale donations in and
in that the donor and the promoter, received substantial private benefit. For these
bargain sale transactions issued acknowledgements to the donors that totaled
$ , paid administrative fees of $ , paid other fees of $ and received
net charitable cash donations of only $ . The amount of charitable contributions received is de

Page 7 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending
minimums compared to the charitable contribution acknowledgments issued for the bargain sale
donations. This is an indication that was not operating exclusively for tax exempt
purposes since it was providing substantial private benefit to outsiders and failed the operational test by not
operating exclusively for tax exempt purposes.

The paper trail gave the appearance that was activity involved with bargain sales with donors.
signed agreements which noted responsibilities of either as buyer
or seller. It showed cash deposits being required at a time when bank statement showed that
it did not have monies to fund such deposits. brokers handle the solicitation of donations and
the subsequent sale of properties. prepares all legal documents for the sale which are
signed by . The initial acquisition, brokerage representation, financial services,
appraiser services, underwriting, management, and disposition are all handled by Thus,
[redacted] merely used the EO's tax exempt status to obtain personal benefits for itself and
donors.

was approached by to accept property bargain sale donations. They told they
would put up the bargain sale money upfront and get repaid when the property sales, either that same day or
very soon after the donation takes place, and that would get the net gains after the sale.
preyed on IRC 501(c)(3) filers that receive $ or less in a given year, this way the transaction
would not be reported to the IRS, because the reports no financial information. What
did not tell the that by writing acknowledgements in the millions for these bargain sale donations, the
organization is now required to file the and were not permitted to file the
also did not let know they were required to file the Form 8282 for large non-cash donation that are sold
within of receipt. The organization did no due diligence, related to the transaction they were
entering into and was happy it was going to receive a donation of any amount. did not file the require
or Forms 8282. For the transactions listed above wrote acknowledgements for non-
cash donation in the amount of $ , paid administrative fees of , paid other
fees of $ and received a net charitable cash donation of only $ in total for all transactions.
The appraisal amounts submitted for the bargain sales are questionable, large amounts being acknowledged
as donations, and the large amount of fees paid to and other organizations deals
with are indicative of substantial private interest especially when compared to the de minimums amount paid to

These transactions produced a private benefit to each of the donors related to the overstated
appraisals submitted for the bargain sales, and also produced private benefit to and associated
business.

books and records shows that the majority of the organization expenses were paid
from the personal bank accounts and reimbursed the for the receipts that were
submitted.

While did on an average of ' did not have to find
space as this was provided by the . did not have to
participants because was the
participants incurred no significant overhead cost for the
beyond time and possible for the use of the However, information provided

Page 8 of 9

Form 886A Department of the Treasury - Internal Revenue Service Schedule No. or Exhibit
Explanation of Items
Name of Taxpayer Year/Period Ending

showed that throughout the months incurred expenses labelled as business lunch, meetings, and
conferences. However, the specific business purpose for such meals or training or conferences were not
established. Thus, it appears that much of the time expended dealt with actions in which was
deriving substantial personal benefit. Thus, more than an insubstantial portion of activities were for
her personal benefit.

charged the EO for rent, electricity, internet, phone but provided no documentation as to how she
arrived at the amount to be charged. There was no documentation provided to show that the board
approved this arrangement or that it was even discussed. The charges for electricity, rent, internet for space at
residence without any business substantion were all amounts paid for her personal benefit.
Based on the handwritten journals, it appears that incurred cost for meals on a regular basis.
the journal nor receipts noted a business purpose for these items of the expenses appear to be
personal in nature and included items such as a cell phone, office furniture personal care items, cloths, etc.
Based on review of the transactions, used the EO's funds at will for purposes that appears to be for
her personal benefit. Approximately % of the and organization's revenues went to
IRS requested substantiation for travel, meals, rented office space, utilities, monthly software fees,
, legal fees, etc. in , which were not provided. The information
was requested to determine if these expenses were personal or related to the exempt activities of .
Without the required substantiation of these expenses the expenditure would be considered a private benefit
and inurement to the President.

CONCLUSION:

Treasury Regulation §1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2) provides that an organization is not operated exclusively for or
more exempt purposes if its net earnings inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or
individuals.

In the and did not operate exclusively for tax exempt purposes
because the organization entered into transactions that produced private benefits to the donors of the bargain
sale property donations and to the for all bargain sale donations
accepted. These bargain sale donations produced % of income for the and '
which is more than an insubstantial part of its fundraising activities.

books and records shows that the majority of the organization expenses were paid
from the personal bank accounts and reimbursed for the invoices that were
submitted, however substantiation of these expenses were not provided. Without the required substantiation
of these expenses the expenditure would be considered a private benefit to the

Since did not operate exclusively for tax exempt purposes in the and
, their IRC 501(c)(3) tax exempt status should be revoked as of

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