Tax Exemptions?

[JoeyC]

Would SciOly clubs, by extension of the parent organization, count as 501c3 organizations? I shouldn't think so, correct?

[CookiePie1]

I know that many scioly teams here in NJ actually are 501c3s. We aren't, but we were trying to apply for grants from different companies, but most of them required you to be a 501c3. Our robotics team is, so I guess if they are then scioly teams might fall under the same category? I don't rly know how a lot of this works lol.

[SOnerd]

I think it depends on how each team runs their finances. We have an account through the school, and we never have to pay tax on anything. Whenever we pay for something, our school bookkeeper needs have to have a W9 from that vendor (but I'm not sure if that W9 is associated with tax exemption at all).

If you did something different, like used an external bank to run your finances in an account that wasn't associated with your school, then I'm not sure what the status would be.

[nicholasmaurer]

Would SciOly clubs, by extension of the parent organization, count as 501c3 organizations? I shouldn't think so, correct?

I'll start this with a disclaimer that I am not a tax law expert, but here is my general understanding:

Individual teams are not considered extensions of the national organization. They register with the national organization in exchange for being allowed to compete and use copyrighted materials. Most teams operate their finances through their school districts, which are treated as tax exempt. If you are organized separately from your district, you would need to register with the IRS to be considered a 501c3.