Talk:501(c)

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[edit] Merger

  • I agree with redirect and merge John wesley 12:57, 6 April 2006 (UTC)
  • Merge. Looks like a good idea to me. —Markles 14:25, 6 April 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Footer

Is this article really up to being linked to from the footer of every page in WP? --BozMo talk 10:22, 4 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Public inspection and copying of 501(c)(3) Form 990s et al

I think that it would very helpful at the 501(c)(3) wiki page to provide visitors with information pertaining to the IRS regulations concerning public inspection and copying the IRS Form 990 "Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax". This should also include the Form 990 variations such as 990-EZ, and 990-PF,

It would also be helpful to mention and link to the IRS Form 4506-A "Request for Public Inspection or Copy of Exempt or Political Organization IRS Form", Form 1023 "Application for Recognition of Exemption Under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code", Form 1024, Form 8871 "Political Organization Notice of Section 527 Status", and Form 8872 "Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures"(http://www.irs.gov/polorgs)

Section 6014. --- Publicity of Information Required From Certain Exempt Organizations and Certain Trusts

26 CFR 301.6104(d)-3

T.D. 8818, 1999.

4.88.49.206 18:06, 7 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Questionable links

The link to http://www.nonprofitlegalcenter.com/ redirects to http://www.tswrobel-law.com/nonprofit_resources/nonprofit_services.htm, which is a mostly an advertisement for legal services, as opposed to "Helpful 501(c)(3) information and links", as described in the article.

Also, while I don't speak russian, I'm a little worried that http://2.01m.net.ru/ "501(c)(3) in Russian" might be link spam, given the host name, the look of the resulting site, and some question as to why the link is relevant to the article in general. If there's a need for information in Russian about a part of the US tax code, maybe they could create an article on http://ru.wikipedia.org/

Pwooster 13:51, 4 February 2007 (UTC)

I find it extremely interesting (and questionable) that Wiki-examples are included throughout the Wikipedia in lists of this and that (here notable 501(c)(3)s), yet any other entry element (person, corporation, etc.) is discouraged from self-promotion even when including self in a factual list of like elements without commentary. I anticipate the justifications, but the open democratic nature of Wikimedia does not embrace other good faith operators in its self-serving exemptions. By placing Wiki-examples, Wiki-editors are breaking the Wiki-rules for Wiki-promotion, thus they are serving Wikimedia whether they are its employees or not and putting the interests of Wiki ubiquity above the rule against self-placement, thus, Wikimedia gains exaggerated exposure while legitimate entries are removed even when the starkest, simplest bits of fact are being included in this so-called encyclopedia. I'm having a hard time not seeing information control and unnecessary limitations here.

Wilnap (talk) 18:08, 17 May 2008 (UTC)


[edit] Challenges to 501c3 status should be covered

I think cases where the 501(c)(3) status of charities has been challenged, why, and the result would be appropriate for this article. --LegitimateAndEvenCompelling 01:14, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

I agree with this. Also, I think information on what makes a (c)(3) not a (c)(3) anymore, or what charities can do to compromise their status, such as too close alignment with for-profit companies would be very valuable in this, too.Fredsmith2 16:34, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] How to write this, for example, 501(c)(3)

The correct way to write a section in this code, using (3) as an example, is 501(c)(3), and not any of: 501C3, 501(c)3, 501c(3), 501(C)(3), 501c3. This isn't done in the article, but is done throughout wikipedia. There are redirects for all of these incorrect usages, though. I've started cleaning up referers, so that they refer directly to the correct part, e.g., 501(c)(3), not 501c3, and so their pages are correct. Fredsmith2 21:57, 19 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Make a new section, a category, and an infobox for 501(c)(3)

I don't think we should do this yet, but I agree with LegitimateAndEvenCompelling and plus I think think that there's a lot more that can be added about charity organizations. I also think that we need a (c)(3) category, because nonprofits and charities aren't necesarily (c)(3) organizations, and I think that an infobox would be helpful, with information such as Tax ID, and whether it is a public charity or a private foundation, date and status of IRS ruling, etc. Those (c)(3)-specific things aren't found in other non-profit related infoboxes. Also, check the "What links here" section. Lots of pages link here, and most link here because of the (c)(3) section. Fredsmith2 16:34, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Tax Articles

501(c)(3) is one of the sections of the Internal Revenue Code that has worked its way into common language, making it reasonable to have an article on it. I don't know how far you want to take it. Churchs are an interesting area of controversy since it is troubling to have a goverment agency ruling on what does or does not constitute a Church. On the other hand if you don't want governemt regulating churchs you have to define what they are. There is a similar problem with Indian Tribes.

I don't think Wikipedia is supposed to be a legal reserch source. The other section that has worked its way into common language is 401(k).

12.159.138.194 (talk) 14:26, 28 December 2007 (UTC)


>>>********** The line in the section on 501(c)(3) and political organizations about the The American Foreign Policy Council being a pro-Israel lobby is both biased and gramatically incorrect. One of you Wiktators should fix this.

[edit] Church example

Justifying my replacement of Scientology as an example 501(c)(3) with United Methodist Churches:

  • IRS Pub. 557 Ch. 3 specifically mentions churches as example 501(c)(3) organizations.
  • Scientology is a highly controversial, polarizing organization, and its inclusion as a mainstream example of a 501(c)(3) needlessly brings its controversy to this article.
  • Contrary to Fredsmith2's edit note, United Methodist Churches are definitely 501(c)(3) if they choose to apply. For many cases in point, go to IRS's charity search and search on methodist. You'll find many examples of UMC congregations, albeit not all are there. Per IRS Pub. 557 Ch. 3, churches do not need to fill out form 1023.
  • Further contrary to Fredsmith2's edit note, 501(d) is for communal organizations which may or may not be churches. The UMC is not a communal organization in that sense.
  • Even further contrary to Fredsmith2's edit note, there is considerable debate of the propriety of recognizing Scientology as a religion or a nonprofit. See Scientology_controversy#The_legitimacy_of_Scientology_as_a_religion.

Nova SS (talk) 21:19, 11 March 2008 (UTC)

I think it's a great idea to add in a church that is a 501(c)(3). I don't particularly care which church it is but I think it's important that whatever we choose actually is a 501 (c)(3) - If all individual UMCs are not necessarily 501(c)(3)s then I think that's a poor example to use. I don't think the controversy over Scientology's religious status is a bar to its inclusion here - 501(c)(3) status is not the same thing and the article you linked to doesn't seem to question that. In someways using examples that might surprise readers is a good thing in that it helps to challenge incorrect assumptions. However, if we can find a Church 501(c)(3) example that does this without introducing unnecessary controversy that's even better. In any case - edit warring over the content is entirely inappropriate. -- SiobhanHansa 22:33, 11 March 2008 (UTC)