Charitable purposes

Posted 7/17/12

The hydro-fracking version of “have you stopped beating your wife?” seems to have played out in the Editorial, My View, and Letter sections of this paper (for the full skinny, see the May 31, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Charitable purposes

Posted

The hydro-fracking version of “have you stopped beating your wife?” seems to have played out in the Editorial, My View, and Letter sections of this paper (for the full skinny, see the May 31, June 14, and June 28 editions, respectively).

I’ll begin in reverse order. As to Mr. Tedoff’s point about being unable to speak to the legality of Mr. Shepstone’s claim (that the Park Foundation’s 501(c)3 tax-exempt status gives it no right to enter the political arena because such status confines it to charitable endeavors), I can’t either, but presumably the United States Internal Revenue Service can. But just referring to the IRS runs the risk of consummating the intended dodge, because the question isn’t whether Park does or doesn’t have that right, but whether the accusation is at all credible.

So (hopefully) with that aspect of the matter attended to, it’s now safe to visit with IRS Publication 557 (you’ll remember it, I’m sure). It permits organizations with 501(c) 3 status to operate exclusively for one or more of the following purposes: education, testing for public safety, scientific, religious, literary, prevention of cruelty to children or animals, religious, and, last but not least, charitable.

I’ll go out on a limb and say informing people hydro-fracking involves a few things besides economic nirvana for all might just qualify as education. Otherwise, I’m sure the IRS would be interested in what Mr. Shepstone has to say, and I hope he’ll keep us posted.

Or are we to believe the sole source of our education on such matters can be the gas industry—and if that’s the case, I didn’t realize it had a local zip code.

Dave Colavito

Rock Hill, NY

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here