PLR 9945058: Scholarship grant procedures receive advance approval

Plain-English summary

An organization planned to fund scholarships for high school seniors, with a public charity administering applications, selecting recipients, and supervising the awards. The program covered full-time study at accredited two- or four-year colleges, universities, or vocational-technical schools, and financial need would affect award amounts. The IRS approved the proposed objective and nondiscriminatory procedures under § 4945(g)(1). Grants made under those procedures would not be taxable expenditures under § 4945(d)(3). The letter says recipients could exclude grants from income under § 117(a) to the extent used for qualified tuition and related expenses. The approval depends on the program operating as proposed, with no awards to specified insiders, and covers no other scholarship program.

Ruling snapshot

• Question: Do the proposed scholarship procedures qualify for advance approval under § 4945(g)(1)?
• Outcome: Approved for the described program, subject to the letter's conditions.
• Key authorities: IRC §§ 117(a), 170(b)(1)(A)(ii), 4945(d)(3), 4945(g)(1).

Full text (IRS public release)

[illegible] 4945-00-00 199945058

Internal Revenue Service Department of the Treasury

Washington, DC 20224

Contact Person
Telephone Numb

In Reference to

Date AUG 13 1999
OP:E:EO:T:4

Legend:
B =
C =

Dear Sir or Madam:

This is in reference to your letter of July 8, 1999, requesting advance approval of your grant procedures under section 4945(g) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The information submitted indicates that grants will be administered and supervised by B. B is exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and has been classified as other than a private foundation under sections 509(a) (1) and 170 (b) (1) (A) (vi).

Your scholarship program is called C. Under the terms of an agreement, you will make annual contributions to B to fund scholarships for the benefit of high school seniors who plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two or four year college, university or vocational- technical school. B will prepare and furnish application forms, receive all applications, determine the recipients and amount to be awarded, notify the recipients of the award, confirm enrollment in an educational institution, make payment of the award, and supervise and investigate the use of the grant funds by the recipients in their educational programs. Recipients are determined solely by B utilizing selection criteria whereby each candidate is evaluated based on the following: scholastic aptitude as measured by performance on the scholastic aptitude test; scholastic performance measured by rank in class; counselor appraisal; and interests, activities and leadership contributions. Financial need will be considered in determining the amount of the award.

-2- 199945058

Scholarships will only be awarded to students that plan to enroll in an institution that meets the requirements of section 170 (b) (1) (A) (ii) of the Code. The recipient will not be restricted in his/her course of study.

Section 4945 of the Code provides for the imposition of taxes on each taxable expenditure of a private foundation.

Section 4945(d) (3) of the Code provides that the term "taxable expenditure" means any amount paid or incurred by a private foundation as a grant to an individual for travel, study, or other similar purposes by such individual, unless such grant satisfies the requirements of section 4945(g).

Section 4945(g) (1) of the Code provides that section 4945(d) (3) shall not apply to an individual grant awarded on an objective and nondiscriminatory basis pursuant to a procedure approved in advance by the Secretary, if it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Secretary that the grant constitutes a scholarship or fellowship grant which is subject to the provisions of section 117(a) and is to be used for study at an educational institution described in section 170(b) (1) (A) (ii) of the Code.

Since your scholarships are not employer-related grants, the provisions of Rev. Proc. 76-47 are not applicable.

Based upon the information submitted, and assuming your program will be conducted as proposed, with a view to providing objectivity and nondiscrimination in the awarding of scholarship grants, we rule that your grants to B for the awarding of scholarship grants comply with the requirements of section 4945(g) (1) of the Code. Thus, expenditures made in accordance with these procedures will not constitute "taxable expenditures" within the meaning of section 4945(d) (3) of the Code, and as such are eligible for the exclusion from income provided for in section 117(a) of the Code to the extent that such grants are actually used for qualified tuition and related expenses within the meaning of section 117(b) (2) of the Code.

This ruling is conditioned on the understanding that there will be no material changes in the facts upon which it is based. It is further conditioned on the understanding that no grants will be awarded to creators, officers, directors, trustees, or members of the selection committee, or for a purpose inconsistent with the purposes described in section 170 (c) (2) (B) of the Code.

-3- 199945058

Please note that this ruling is only applicable to grants awarded under your scholarship program as outlined above. Before you enter into any other scholarship programs you should submit a request for advance approval of that program.

We are informing your key District Director of this action. Please keep a copy of this ruling with your organization's permanent records.

This ruling is directed only to the organization that requested it. Section 6110(k) (3) of the Code provides that it may not be used or cited as precedent.

Sincerely yours,

Gerald V. Sack
Chief, Exempt Organizations
Technical Branch 4