June 16 -July 15, 2011

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Lead Stories

Nonprofit Law YOU Want to Know

We regularly feature answers to questions from readers in our “To the Point” column. The full list can be viewed on the site.
To the Point

Is it legal to use 501(c)(3) tax ID for personal social interest?

The president of our 501(c)(3) organization has an interest in a social issue that has no part of our 501(c)(3). He insists that he can collect donations using our tax id number for his own social interest organization/movement. As CEO of our organization, I think that this is an illegal use of our status. He argues that it is legal as long as he gives some of the collected funds to the original 501(c)(3). Who is right?

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