AboutHarvey Mechanic Expertise Federal tax issues of nonprofit 501(c)(3) public charities only. Establishing and maintaining legal requirements for such non-profit organizations in the United States, including Internal Revenue service filings and requirements. I will not be working on this free forum to answer question about Nonprofit's Unrelated Business or how to fill out forms. This forum is only for legal questions about a specific nonprofit asked by members or those otherwise directly effected by the specific nonprofit organization.
Experience I have been practicing law and especially the law of nonprofit organizations since 1990 when I was admitted to the New York Bar.
Expert: Harvey Mechanic Date: 7/3/2008 Subject: Non-profit return of donation?
Question Recently, a non-profit hospice suspended plans to build a hospice house. The organization sent a letter asking each donor what they wanted to do with the money:
1) I want it returned to me
2) use if for a future hospice house
3) use if for the running operations of the hospice
I picked "return it to me" and now they are saying they can't. Is this legal?
Answer Their statement that they can't return your donation is vague. Do they mean that they can't because they do not have the money? If they mean that they can't because the law does not allow them to do so, they are incorrect. It is their burden to provide a citation to the law or ruling, and if they can do so, ask them for that (preferably in URL form) and send the URL to me and I will respond after reviewing that URL.
Harvey Mechanic
Attorney At Law
Harvey108@hotmail.com
