“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!” In November we told our readers that UTBA is going through a period of transition. At the time we had applied for non-profit status from the IRS. We are pleased to announce an update to that application. In the words of UTBA’s legal officer, Mark Naugle:
Utah Theatre Bloggers Association has been granted 501(c)(3) non-profit status by the IRS effective September 22, 2017. This means that the organization itself is tax-exempt as long as it does not engage in political lobbying, propaganda, or other substantial legislative activity. Intervention in political campaigns or the endorsement/anti-endorsement of candidates for public office are strictly prohibited. With this in mind, donations to the organization may be considered tax-deductible. However, each donor should consult with a tax professional about their donation. UTBA is not qualified to give tax advice. Non-profit status is a leg up for organizations like UTBA. It allows for the total reinvestment of donations and grants into the organizations goals and objectives without facing standard tax liabilities. We, as an organization, look forward to the opportunities that this development will bring in the near future and for years to come.
Thanks, Mark for the layman’s explanation of non-profit status. We’re especially pleased that donors to our Giving Tuesday campaign can deduct their donations from their taxes (though donors should still contact a tax professional) and that. All future donations to the organization are also tax deductible, and we invite you to make a donation to support independent theatre criticism in Utah.
The UTBA board intends to comply with all guidelines that the IRS has for non-profit organizations. UTBA has always been politically neutral, and the board intends to maintain this stance. If you have any questions about non-profit status, please feel free to contact the UTBA board president, Russell Warne, at russell@utahtheatrebloggers.com.
