Trust for one injured person did not serve a public charitable interest

Plain-English summary

A group formed a special needs trust to raise and manage money for one named person with a traumatic brain injury. The trust would pay that person's medical, rehabilitation, transportation, food, and other living expenses. Although the person might belong to a charitable class, the IRS found that selecting one individual in advance made the trust serve private interests rather than the public. That substantial nonexempt purpose caused the trust to fail the operational test under IRC § 501(c)(3). The IRS denied exemption, and the trust did not file a protest within 30 days, so the denial became final.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Does a trust formed solely to support one preselected injured person qualify under IRC § 501(c)(3)?
• Outcome: Denied
• Key authorities: IRC § 501(c)(3); Treas. Reg. §§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(a), (c), (d); Rev. Rul. 67-367; Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc. v. United States; Capital Gymnastics Booster Club, Inc. v. Commissioner

Full text (IRS public release)

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service
Tax Exempt and Government Entities

Date:
07/10/2025

Employer ID number:
[redacted]

Form you must file:
[redacted]

Tax years:
[redacted]

Person to contact:
Name: [redacted]
ID number: [redacted]
Telephone: [redacted]

Release Number: 202540025
Release Date: 10/3/2025
UIL Code: 501.03-30, 501.33-00

Dear [redacted]:

This letter is our 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). Recently, we sent you a proposed adverse determination in response to your application. The proposed adverse determination explained the facts, law, and basis for our conclusion, and it gave you 30 days to file a protest. Because we didn't receive a protest within the required 30 days, the proposed determination is now final.

Because you don't qualify as a tax-exempt organization under IRC Section 501(c)(3), donors generally can't deduct contributions to you under IRC Section 170.

We may notify the appropriate state officials of our determination, as required by IRC Section 6104(c), by sending them a copy of this final letter along with the proposed determination letter.

You must file the federal income tax forms for the tax years shown above within 30 days from the date of this letter unless you request an extension of time to file. For further instructions, forms, and information, visit www.irs.gov.

We'll make this final adverse determination letter and the proposed adverse determination letter available for public inspection after deleting certain identifying information, as required by IRC Section 6110. Read the enclosed Letter 437, Notice of Intention to Disclose - Rulings, and review the two attached letters that show 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.

If you have questions about this letter, you can call the contact person shown above. If you have questions about your federal income tax status and responsibilities, call our customer service number at 800-829-1040 (TTY 800-829-4933 for deaf or hard of hearing) or customer service for businesses at 800-829-4933.

Letter 4038 (Rev. 11-2021)
Catalog Number 47632S

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements

Enclosures:
Letter 437
Redacted Letter 4034
Redacted Letter 4038

Letter 4038 (Rev. 11-2021)
Catalog Number 47632S

Department of the Treasury
Internal Revenue Service

Date:
05/21/2025

Employer ID number:
[redacted]

Person to contact:
Name: [redacted]
ID number: [redacted]
Telephone: [redacted]
Fax: [redacted]

Legend:
B = Date
C = Name
D = School

UIL:
501.03-30
501.33-00

Dear [redacted]:

We considered your application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a). We determined that you don’t qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3). This letter explains the reasons for our conclusion. Please keep it for your records.

Issues

Do you qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3)? No, for the reasons stated below.

Facts

You were formed as a Special Needs Trust on B. Your Trust Agreement states that your purpose is to provide a system for fiscal management, administration and disbursement, advocacy, care, and social and emotional guidance for C. It further states that your assets will be distributed to D upon dissolution. In our request for additional information, you attested that you amended your Trust Agreement to include updated purpose and dissolution clauses that meet the requirements of Section 501(c)(3).

You were formed by a group of concerned friends and acquaintances to raise money to support the needs of C. C is an individual with a traumatic brain injury in need of financial support to cover costs related to medical, dental, vision, supplemental health care, prescriptions, rehabilitation, therapy, specialized classes, clothing, personal hygiene items, daily living equipment, transportation, and food.

Law

IRC Section 501(c)(3) provides for the recognition of exemption of organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or other purposes as specified in the statute. No part of the net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that, in order to be exempt as an organization described in IRC 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.

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K

2

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be regarded as operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified in IRC 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.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) provides that an organization is not organized or operate exclusively for one or more exempt purposes unless it serves a public rather than private interest. To meet this requirement, it is necessary for an organization to establish that it is not organized or operated for benefit of private interests such as designated individuals.

Revenue Ruling 67-367, 1967-2 C.B. 188, describes a nonprofit organization whose sole activity was the operation of a 'scholarship' plan for making payments to pre-selected, specifically named individuals. The organization did not qualify for exemption from federal income tax under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because it was serving private rather than public or charitable interests.

In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 179 (1945), the Supreme Court held that the presence of a single non-exempt purpose, if substantial in nature, will destroy a claim for exemption regardless of the number or importance of truly exempt purposes.

In Capital Gymnastics Booster Club, Inc. v. C.I.R., T.C. Memo. 2013-193 (2013), the tax court ruled that an organization that authorized members to raise funds for the benefit of their children served a private benefit. The contributions did not generally benefit all the child athletes in the program but rather benefitted only the children of the members who did the fundraising. Because the organization operated in a manner that promoted substantial private benefit and not public interests, the organization did not operate exclusively for an exempt purpose.

Application of law

IRC Section 501(c)(3) and Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) set forth two main tests for an organization to be recognized as exempt. An organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for purposes described in Section 501(c)(3). Based on the information provided, you fail the operational test.

You do not meet the operational test under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because you are not operated exclusively for charitable purposes as required under Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1). While C may be a member of a charitable class, providing assistance solely to C serves the private interests of C rather than the interests of the public, as described in Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii).

You are like the organizations described in Rev. Rul. 67-367 and Capital Gymnastics Booster Club, because you serve private interests rather than public or charitable interests. While providing funds to members of a charitable class to assist with medical and living expenses is generally considered a charitable activity, providing such assistance to a single pre-selected individual serves the private interests of that pre-selected individual rather than the interests of the public. Serving the private interests of this pre-selected individual is a substantial non-exempt purpose which precludes exemption as described in Better Business Bureau.

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K

3

Conclusion

Based on the information submitted, you are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes. You are operated for the private interest of a designated individual, rather than the interest of the public. Therefore, you do not qualify for exemption under IRC section 501(c)(3).

If you agree

If you agree with our proposed adverse determination, you don’t need to do anything. If we don’t hear from you within 30 days, we’ll issue a final adverse determination letter. That letter will provide information on your income tax filing requirements.

If you don't agree

You have a right to protest if you don’t agree with our proposed adverse determination. To do so, send us a protest within 30 days of the date of this letter. You must include:

• Your name, address, employer identification number (EIN), and a daytime phone number
• A statement of the facts, law, and arguments supporting your position
• A statement indicating whether you are requesting an Appeals Office conference
• The signature of an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization or your authorized representative
• The following declaration:

For an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization: Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this request, or this modification to the request, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the request or the modification contains all relevant facts relating to the request, and such facts are true, correct, and complete.

Your representative (attorney, certified public accountant, or other individual enrolled to practice before the IRS) must file a Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, with us if they haven’t already done so. You can find more information about representation in Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney.

We'll review your protest statement and decide if you gave us a basis to reconsider our determination. If so, we’ll continue to process your case considering the information you provided. If you haven’t given us a basis for reconsideration, we’ll send your case to the Appeals Office and notify you. You can find more information in Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status.

If you don’t file a protest within 30 days, you can’t seek a declaratory judgment in court later because the law requires that you use the IRC administrative process first (IRC Section 7428(b)(2)).

Where to send your protest

Send your protest, Form 2848, if applicable, and any supporting documents to the applicable address:

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K

4

U.S. mail:

Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
Mail Stop 6403
PO Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201

Street address for delivery service:

Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
550 Main Street, Mail Stop 6403
Cincinnati, OH 45202

You can also fax your protest and supporting documents to the fax number listed at the top of this letter. If you fax your statement, please contact the person listed at the top of this letter to confirm that they received it.

You can get 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 listed at the top of this letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service

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 if 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.

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements

Letter 4034 (Rev. 01-2021)
Catalog Number 47628K