SSU Foundation Tax Determination Letter

Internal Revenue Service District Director
Department of the Treasury
P. 0. Box 2508 Cincinnati, OH  45201

Person to Contact: Ruth Ohmer
Telephone Number: 513-241-5199
Fax Number: 513-684-5936

Federal Identification Number
99-0157509

Date: May 28, 1996

Sonoma State University Academic Foundation, Inc.
1801 E. Cotati Ave. Rohnert Park, CA  94928-3613

Dear Sir or Madam:

This is in response to your telephone request for a copy of your organization's determination letter. This letter will take the place of the copy you requested.

Our records indicate that a determination letter issued in July 1975, granted your organization exemption from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. That letter is still in effect.

Based on information subsequently submitted, we classified your organization as one that is not a private foundation within the meaning of section 509 (a) of the Code because it is an organization described in sections 509 (a) (1) and 170 (b) (1) (A) (iv).

This classification was based on the assumption that your organization's operations would continue as stated in the application. If your organization's sources of support, or its character, method of operations, or purposes have changed, please let us know so we can consider the effect of the change on the exempt status and foundation status of your organization.

Your organization is required to file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, only if its gross receipts each year are normally more than $25,000.  If a return is required, it must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of the organization's annual accounting period.  The law imposes a penalty of $20 a day, up to a maximum of $10,000, when a return is filed late, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay.

All exempt organizations (unless specifically excluded) are liable for taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (social security taxes) on remuneration of $100 or more paid to each employee during a calendar year. Your organization is not liable for the tax imposed under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).

Organizations that are not private foundations are not subject to the excise taxes under Chapter 42 of the Code.  However, these organizations are not automatically exempt from other federal excise taxes.

Donors may deduct contributions to your organization as provided in section 170 of the Code.  Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to your organization or for its use are deductible for federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of sections 2055, 2106, and 2522 of the Code.                                                   

Your organization is not required to file federal income tax returns unless it is subject to the tax on unrelated business income under section 511 of the Code. If your organization is subject to this tax, it must file an income tax return on the Form 990-T, Exempt Organizatiobn Business Income Tax Return. In this letter, we are not determining whether any of your organization's present or proposed activities are unrelated trade or business as defined in section 513 of the Code.

Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your organization's exempt status and foundation status, you should keep it with the organization's permanent records.

Please direct any questions to the person identified in the letterhead above.

This letter affirms your organization's exempt status.

Sincerely,
Signed by C. Ashley Bullard
District Director