T.C. Memo. 2002-300
UNITED STATES TAX COURT
CHRISTIE E. CUDDEBACK AND LUCILLE M.
CUDDEBACK MEMORIAL FUND, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 5453-01X. Filed December 6, 2002.
David K. Hayes, for petitioner.
Robin W. Denick, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
WHALEN, Judge: This is an action for declaratory
judgment, pursuant to section 7428(a)(1)(B), involving
respondent's determination with respect to the initial
classification of petitioner as a private foundation, as
defined by section 509(a). Unless stated otherwise, all
section references are to the Internal Revenue Code as in
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effect at the time of respondent's determination. The
issue for decision is whether respondent correctly
determined that petitioner is a private foundation as
defined by section 509(a), rather than a supporting
organization within the meaning of section 509(a)(3). The
narrow issue presented by this case is whether respondent
correctly determined that petitioner does not meet the
"integral part test" prescribed by section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3), Income Tax Regs.
The parties submitted this case for decision without
trial in accordance with Rule 122. See Rule 217(b)(2). In
this opinion, all Rule references are to the Tax Court
Rules of Practice and Procedure. The stipulation of facts
and the accompanying exhibits filed by the parties are
hereby incorporated in this opinion.
On the basis of the record, we find that petitioner
exhausted the administrative remedies available to it
within the Internal Revenue Service and that the juris-
dictional requirements to maintain this action, enumerated
by Rule 210(c), are satisfied. At the time the petition
was filed on its behalf, petitioner's address was in
Baltimore, Maryland.
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Background
Petitioner is a testamentary trust which was created
under the last will and testament of Lucille M. Cuddeback
(referred to herein as the will), as amended by the second
codicil to last will and testament of Lucille M. Cuddeback,
executed on February 28, 1991 (referred to herein as the
second codicil). In this opinion, we sometimes refer to
Ms. Cuddeback as the testator.
Item Two G.2 of the testator's will, as amended by the
second codicil, directs that one-half of the residue of the
testator's estate is to be transferred in trust with the
intention that the trust qualify as a charitable remainder
unitrust under section 664. As amended by the second
codicil, the will directs that 5 percent of the net fair
market value of the principal of the trust is to be paid in
monthly installments to Ms. Cuddeback's niece, Ms. Vivian
B. Nelson, during her life. Thereafter, the trust's net
income is to be paid to three charities, and the trust is
to be known as the Christie E. Cuddeback and Lucille M.
Cuddeback Memorial Fund (referred to either as petitioner
or the Cuddeback Fund).
The three recipients of the net income of the trust
following Ms. Nelson's death are Bedford Presbyterian
Church, New York, New York (Bedford), Parklane Baptist
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Church, Baltimore, Maryland (Parklane), and Keswick Multi-
Care Center, formerly known as the Keswick Home for the
Incurables of Baltimore City, Baltimore, Maryland,
(Keswick). Each of these recipients is a charitable
organization described in section 501(c)(3) and is
classified as other than a private foundation under
sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A)(i) or (iii). Such
organizations are sometimes referred to as "publicly
supported [organizations]". See sec. 1.509(a)-4(a)(5),
Income Tax Regs. Under the terms of the second codicil,
Bedford and Parklane are each to receive 10 percent of the
Cuddeback Fund's net income, and Keswick is to receive 80
percent of petitioner's net income at annual or more
frequent intervals.
Keswick's primary program or activity is providing
in-house, full-time nursing home care (domiciliary care).
Keswick also provides daycare to individuals through its
adult day services center or program. In conjunction with
this daycare program, Keswick offers "grants" to some
participants who could not otherwise afford to pay the full
amount that Keswick charges for its services.
With respect to Keswick, the second codicil provides
in pertinent part as follows:
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The remaining net income shall be paid in
annual or more frequent installments to the
Keswick (Home for Incurable's), of Baltimore
City, to be used by it to cover not more than
one-half (½) of the cost of such elderly persons
enrolled in the Day Care Program operated by
Keswick, who do not have financial means to pay
all costs thereof. If for any reason Keswick
should cease to operate its Day Care Program, or
should there be insufficient individuals enrolled
therein needing financial assistance to utilize
all trust income, then it is my wish that the
remaining income or all income, as the case may
be, from this fund be used to subsidize a portion
of the costs of worthy elderly persons who may
benefit from the Domiciliary Care Program
operated at Keswick. Again, this subsidy should
be offered to persons who do not have sufficient
financial means to pay all of the costs thereof.
Said home may establish, through a committee
appointed by the Director, with the approval of
its Board of Trustees, rules and regulations to
determine who, and to what extent, deserving
persons shall receive benefits of the income from
time to time available. The Trustees shall have
no responsibility for the application of the
income and payment of the net income to said Home
as above provided shall exonerate said Trustees
from all liability.
Ms. Cuddeback, the testator, died on October 12, 1992,
and Ms. Nelson died on October 27, 1993. For the year
1993, petitioner filed a Form 1041, U.S. Income Tax Return
for Estates and Trusts, with the Internal Revenue Service
Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For each of the years
1994 through 1998, petitioner filed a Form 990-PF, Return
of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt
Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation, with
the Internal Revenue Service Center in Ogden, Utah.
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On or about September 1, 1999, petitioner filed a
Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, with the
Internal Revenue Service at Baltimore, Maryland. In its
Form 1023, petitioner asked that it be recognized as a
section 509(a)(3) supporting organization. It listed
Keswick, Parklane, and Bedford as the supported
organizations. The Form 1023 states that Keswick receives
80 percent of petitioner's income, or approximately $26,000
per year, and that Parklane and Bedford each receive 10
percent of petitioner's income, or approximately $3,300 per
year.
Along with its Form 1023, petitioner submitted a
letter from Keswick's chief financial officer which
describes petitioner's participation in Keswick's
activities for 1996. According to the letter, there were
"149 participants served in the Adult Day Services Center
in 1996", of whom "29 were recipients of Cuddeback funds."
The letter states that "Keswick offers grants to needing
[sic] participants" in Keswick's "Adult Day Services
Center" that defray 40 or 50 percent of the full charge of
the program for the participant. The letter further
explains that the first 25 percent of the "grant" is
covered by Keswick and the remaining 15 to 25 percent comes
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from funds provided by petitioner. During 1996, 24
participants received a 40-percent grant and 5 received a
50-percent grant, for a total of 29 participants who
received funds from petitioner totaling $15,967.
Petitioner later supplemented its Form 1023 upon
respondent's request for certain additional information.
Set out below is the statement of revenue and expenses
that petitioner submitted as part of its Form 1023, as
supplemented:
Statement of 1/1/99–
revenue and expenses 1996 1997 1998 7/31/99 Total
Gross investment income $27,455 $26,750 $36,255 $20,347 $110,807
Other income, "partnerships" -0- -0- (241) -0- (241)
Total 27,455 26,750 36,014 20,347 110,566
Gain or loss from sale
of capital assets 18,042 (7,954) 150,682 210,635 371,405
Total revenue 45,497 18,796 186,696 230,982 481,971
Contributions, gifts, grants,
& similar amounts paid
Keswick 20,291 23,585 25,631 19,114
Bedford 2,536 2,948 3,204 2,389
Parklane 2,536 2,948 3,204 2,389
Compensation of officers,
directors, & trustees 3,365 3,720 4,236 10,151
Other expenses
Accounting 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,200
Publications 85 89 100 104
Bank charges 10 114 74 -0-
Total expenses 29,823 34,404 37,449 35,347
Excess of revenue
over expenses 15,674 (15,608) 149,247 195,635
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The balance sheet submitted as part of petitioner's Form
1023 is set out below:
Balance sheet 7/31/99
Assets
Cash $197,289
Bonds and notes receivable 100,500
Corporate stocks 611,770
Other investments 17,033
Total assets 926,592
Liabilities
Total liabilities -0-
Fund balances or net assets
Total fund balances or net assets (926,592) (sic)
Total liabilities and fund balances or net assets 926,592
By letter dated November 16, 1999, respondent
recognized petitioner as an organization described in
section 501(c)(3) but issued a proposed adverse ruling as
to petitioner's private foundation classification. In
pertinent part, the adverse ruling states as follows:
Information submitted states the support provided
by the organization revealed that in 1999 the
organization distributed 8% percent [sic] of it's
[sic] income to Kerswick [sic] and 1% percent
[sic] each to Bedford Park Presbyterian Church
and Parklane Baptist Church.
You submitted a letter dated March 17, 1997 from
Keswick in which it states that the grant is of
a significant benefit to its budget. However,
the amount of the grant in comparison to the
overall annual income of each recipient
organization far exceeds the gross income and
net investment income of the trust. Thus, we
find that the support provided by the trust is
not sufficient to ensure the attentiveness of
the charities to the operations of the organi-
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zation, thereby failing the "integral part test"
set forth in the regulations. Consequently, your
organization does not qualify as a supporting
organization within the meaning of section
509(a)(3) of the Code.
Petitioner's attorneys filed a letter with
respondent's Office of Appeals appealing the proposed
adverse ruling. In the letter, they state that
petitioner's support is earmarked by the controlling
document to provide "grants associated with Keswick's
Adult Day Care Program", that petitioner "provides up to
50 percent of the grant money provided to 100 percent of
all grant recipients", that the "Keswick Day Care Program
is a substantial program providing day care for 139 adults
within the Baltimore Metropolitan area", and "without the
funds provided by the Cuddeback Memorial Fund, the grant
program would be severely curtailed, and a significant
number of individuals would be unable to receive financial
assistance in connection with the Adult Day Care Program".
The letter further states that, under section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax Regs., in determining the
attentiveness of the beneficiary organization, "the total
support for the day care grant program" is substituted for
"the total support of the beneficiary organization." On
that basis, petitioner's attorneys state "the attentiveness
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test is clearly met" and the adverse determination should
be reversed.
Petitioner's attorneys submitted a second letter from
Keswick dated December 15, 1999. This letter states that
in 1999 there were 139 participants who were served in
the adult day services center, of whom 31 or 22 percent
received Cuddeback funds because they were persons who
"could not afford to pay the full $60.00 per day charge
for our [i.e., Keswick's] service." The letter also
states that "grants totaling $27,236 were provided to
Keswick participants from the Cuddeback funds during 1999",
and it furnishes the following information on how the funds
from petitioner were applied:
Keswick offers grants to eligible participants
in the amount of 25%, 40%, 50% and 60% of the
program's full charge. The first 50% of each
grant is covered by Keswick. The remaining 50%
comes from Cuddeback funds, thus supplementing
our existing grant program. During 1999 5
participants received a 25% grant, 12 received
40% grants, 7 received 50% and 7 received 60%.
During an Appeals conference on the matter,
respondent's representatives asked petitioner's attorneys
to submit "the budget for Keswick's Adult Day Care Services
for the past three (3) years and also what effect it would
have on that program if the Cuddeback funds were no longer
available." In response, petitioner filed a supplement to
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its appeal that included a third letter from Keswick dated
June 28, 2000. This letter provides the following "current
financial information" that is labeled "FY 2000 Budget"
and "FY 2000 Actual (Projected)":
FY 2000 FY 2000
budget actual (projected)
Gross revenue $841,517 $640,775
Direct program costs 865,682 763,544
Indirect costs 525,693 377,024
Excess of cost over revenue (549,858) (499,793)
Less: charity care (179,478) (54,347)
Net loss (729,336) (554,140)
The letter does not explain the above financial information
except that it notes that "the Charity Care includes the
funding received from the Cuddeback trust." The letter
also states that
Without the Cuddeback Trust fund, many of these
seniors would be placed in a nursing home
prematurely or left at home alone during the day
where they could be at risk of injury, missing
meals and/or medications, and generally feeling
confused and lost. In addition, Cuddeback funds
have been used to assist veterans whose benefits
for medical day care have been exhausted; they
have assisted families in obtaining services
quickly until other funding sources could be
obtained; and the funds have been used as a
supplement to other funding sources when those
funds were not adequate. * * *
In conclusion, without these funds, there
would be a significant reduction in the number of
seniors served at Keswick Adult Day, and this
reduction would affect the overall quality of
services that are currently being provided.
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In due course, respondent determined in a
final adverse ruling that petitioner failed to qualify
as a nonprivate foundation under section 509(a)(3).
According to the final adverse determination letter, the
determination is based upon the fact that "You have failed
to establish that you meet the requirements for exemption
under section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code." In
response, petitioner timely filed the instant petition for
declaratory judgment with the Court.
Discussion
The issue for decision in this case is whether
petitioner is an organization described by section
509(a)(3), a so-called supporting organization, one type
of section 501(c)(3) organization that is excepted from
treatment as a private foundation. See sec. 509(a). In
order to qualify as a supporting organization, an entity
must satisfy the three requirements set forth in section
509(a)(3). Section 509(a)(3) provides, in pertinent part,
as follows:
SEC. 509. PRIVATE FOUNDATION DEFINED
(a) General Rule.--For purposes of this
title, the term "private foundation" means a
domestic or foreign organization described in
section 501(c)(3) other than-–
* * * * * * *
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(3) an organization which–-
(A) is organized, and at all times
thereafter is operated, exclusively for
the benefit of, to perform the func-
tions of, or to carry out the purposes
of one or more specified organizations
described in paragraph (1) or (2),
(B) is operated, supervised, or
controlled by or in connection with one
or more organizations, described in
paragraph (1) or (2), and
(C) is not controlled directly or
indirectly by one or more disqualified
persons (as defined in section 4946)
other than foundation managers and
other than one or more organizations
described in paragraph (1) or (2);
* * *
The above provision was "designed to insure that a
supported organization has the ability and motivation
to properly oversee the activities of the supporting
organization." Cockerline Meml. Fund v. Commissioner,
86 T.C. 53, 65 (1986).
Respondent's determination is based upon petitioner's
failure, as to each of the three recipients of Cuddeback
funds, to meet subparagraph (B) of section 509(a)(3), which
describes the nature and quality of the relationship that
must exist between the supporting organization and the
supported organization. See generally Quarrie Charitable
Fund v. Commissioner, 603 F.2d 1274, 1278 (7th Cir. 1979),
affg. 70 T.C. 182 (1978); Cockerline Meml. Fund v.
Commissioner, supra at 58; Callahan Scholarship Fund v.
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Commissioner, 73 T.C. 626, 632 (1980); Roe Found.
Charitable Trust v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 1989-566. In
order to satisfy section 509(a)(3)(B) the organization must
be one which is: (1) Operated, supervised, or controlled
by; (2) supervised or controlled in connection with; or (3)
operated in connection with, one or more publicly supported
beneficiary organizations. See sec. 1.509(a)-4(f)(2),
Income Tax Regs. According to section 1.509(a)-4(f)(3),
Income Tax Regs., any relationship described in section
509(a)(3)(B) must ensure that
(i) The supporting organization will be respon-
sive to the needs or demands of one or more
publicly supported organizations; and
(ii) The supporting organization will con-
stitute an integral part of, or maintain a
significant involvement in, the operations of
one or more publicly supported organizations.
Petitioner argues that it satisfies the third rela-
tionship described by section 509(a)(3)(B), the "operated
in connection with" relationship, as to Keswick. See
generally sec. 1.509(a)-4(i), Income Tax Regs. Under this
relationship, it is not necessary for one organization to
control the other, or for a third party to control both,
but it is necessary for there to be a sufficient connection
between the two organizations. Because this is the least
intimate of the three types of relationship, the regulation
imposes a stringent two-part test that must be met in order
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to qualify. See Quarrie Charitable Fund v. Commissioner,
supra at 1278 n.5; Roe Found. Charitable Trust v.
Commissioner, supra. Specifically, section 1.509(a)-4(i),
Income Tax Regs., provides the following guidance on how to
qualify as an "operated in connection with" organization:
(i) Meaning of "operated in connection with"--
(1) General rule. (i) Except as provided in
subdivisions (ii) and (iii) of this subpara-
graph and subparagraph (4) of this paragraph,
a supporting organization will be considered as
being operated in connection with one or more
publicly supported organizations only if it
meets the "responsiveness test" which is defined
in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph and the
"integral part test" which is defined in
subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.
Thus, in order to qualify as a supporting organization
under the "operated in connection with" relationship,
petitioner must satisfy both the responsiveness test and
the integral part test prescribed by the regulations.
The responsiveness test, prescribed by section
1.509(a)-4(i)(2), Income Tax Regs., is designed to ensure
that the publicly supported organization has the ability to
influence the activities of the supporting organization or
has the power to compel an accounting from the supporting
organization. See Cockerline Meml. Fund v. Commissioner,
supra at 59-60; Roe Found. Charitable Trust v.
Commissioner, supra. Section 1.509(a)- 4(i)(2), Income Tax
Regs., describes this test, in part, as follows:
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(2) Responsiveness test. (i) For purposes of
this paragraph, a supporting organization will
be considered to meet the "responsiveness test"
if the organization is responsive to the needs or
demands of the publicly supported organizations
within the meaning of this subparagraph. In
order to meet this test, either subdivision (ii)
or subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph must be
satisfied.
* * * * * * *
(iii)(a) The supporting organization is a
charitable trust under State law;
(b) Each specified publicly supported
organization is a named beneficiary under such
charitable trust's governing instrument; and
(c) The beneficiary organization has the
power to enforce the trust and compel an
accounting under State law.
In this case, petitioner is a charitable trust under
the law of the State of Maryland. Keswick, the publicly
supported organization, is a named beneficiary under the
second codicil, and it has the power to enforce the trust
and compel an accounting under the law of the State of
Maryland. See Md. Code Ann., Est. & Trusts, sec. 14-301
(2001). Thus, petitioner meets section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(2)(iii), Income Tax Regs., and, accordingly, meets
the responsiveness test as to Keswick. See generally
Callahan Scholarship Fund v. Commissioner, supra at 634-
637. Respondent does not contend otherwise.
The integral part test, prescribed by section
1.509(a)-4(i)(3), Income Tax Regs., is designed to ensure
that the supporting organization maintains a significant
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involvement in the operations of one or more publicly
supported organizations and that such publicly supported
organizations are in turn dependent upon the supporting
organization for the type of support which it provides.
See sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(i), Income Tax Regs. In
effect, the integral part test ensures that the supported
organization will have the motivation to be attentive to
the activities of the supporting organization. See
Callahan Scholarship Fund v. Commissioner, 73 T.C. at 638.
There are two alternate ways to satisfy the integral
part test. Section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(ii), Income Tax Regs.,
describes the first method as follows:
(ii) The activities engaged in for or on behalf
of the publicly supported organizations are
activities to perform the functions of, or to
carry out the purposes of, such organizations,
and, but for the involvement of the supporting
organization, would normally be engaged in by
the publicly supported organizations themselves.
Thus, under this first method, the supporting organization
must actually engage in activities for or on behalf of the
publicly supported organization.
Petitioner does not engage in any activities on behalf
of Keswick, other than distributing funds to Keswick, and,
thus, does not claim to satisfy the first method of
complying with the integral part test, as described by
section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(ii), Income Tax Regs.
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The second method of satisfying the integral part test
is described by section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii), Income Tax
Regs., as follows:
(iii)(a) The supporting organization makes
payments of substantially all of its income to or
for the use of one or more publicly supported
organizations, and the amount of support received
by one or more of such publicly supported organ-
izations is sufficient to insure the attentive-
ness of such organizations to the operations of
the supporting organization. In addition, a
substantial amount of the total support of
the supporting organization must go to those
publicly supported organizations which meet the
attentiveness requirement of this subdivision
with respect to such supporting organization.
Except as provided in (b) of this subdivision,
the amount of support received by a publicly
supported organization must represent a
sufficient part of the organization's total
support so as to insure such attentiveness.
In applying the preceding sentence, if such
supporting organization makes payments to, or
for the use of, a particular department or
school of a university, hospital or church, the
total support of the department or school shall
be substituted for the total support of the
beneficiary organization.
(b) Even where the amount of support
received by a publicly supported beneficiary
organization does not represent a sufficient part
of the beneficiary organization's total support,
the amount of support received from a supporting
organization may be sufficient to meet the
requirements of this subdivision if it can be
demonstrated that in order to avoid the
interruption of the carrying on of a particular
function or activity, the beneficiary organiza-
tion will be sufficiently attentive to the
operations of the supporting organization.
This may be the case where either the support-
ing organization or the beneficiary organization
earmarks the support received from the support-
ing organization for a particular program or
activity, even if such program or activity is not
the beneficiary organization's primary program or
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activity so long as such program or activity is a
substantial one.
Thus, the supporting organization must satisfy three
criteria or prongs. First, the supporting organization
must make payments of substantially all its income to or
for the use of one or more publicly supported organiza-
tions. See sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(a), Income Tax Regs.
We refer to this as the substantially all prong. Second,
the amount of support received by one or more publicly
supported organizations must be "sufficient to insure the
attentiveness of such organizations to the operations of
the supporting organization". Id. We refer to this as
the attentiveness prong. Third, a substantial amount of
the total support of the supporting organization must go
to those publicly supported organizations which meet the
attentiveness prong with respect to the supporting
organization. Id. We refer to this as the substantial
amount prong.
In applying the attentiveness prong of the integral
part test, the regulations state that the amount of
support received by the publicly supported organization
must represent "a sufficient part" of the total support
received by the publicly supported organization. Id. In
making this determination, if the supporting organization
makes payments to a particular department or school of a
university, hospital, or church, the regulations provide
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that the amount of support received by the publicly
supported organization must represent a sufficient part
of the total support of the department or school, rather
than the total support of the entire organization. Id.
Furthermore, the regulations provide that, even if
the amount of support received by the publicly supported
organization does not represent a sufficient part of the
organization's total support, the support received by the
publicly supported organization nevertheless may be
sufficient. Sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax
Regs. According to the regulations, this may be true
if it can be demonstrated that the beneficiary organiza-
tion will be attentive to the supporting organization "in
order to avoid the interruption of the carrying on of a
particular function or activity", such as where the
payments are earmarked for a particular program or activity
which may not be the primary program or activity of the
beneficiary organization but is "a substantial one." Id.
Finally, the regulations provide that all pertinent
factors will be considered in determining whether the
attentiveness prong is satisfied; that is, whether the
amount of support received by a publicly supported
organization is sufficient to ensure the attentiveness
of that organization to the operations of the supporting
organization. See sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(d), Income
Tax Regs. The pertinent factors enumerated by the
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regulations are the length and nature of the relationship
between the beneficiary and supporting organization, the
purpose to which the funds are put, the amount of the
support as a percentage of the total support of the
publicly supported organization, and evidence of actual
attentiveness by the beneficiary organization. Id.
Petitioner's position is that it satisfies the
"integral part test" prescribed by section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3)(iii), Income Tax Regs., and, therefore, should be
considered as being "operated in connection with" Keswick
for purposes of determining whether it is a supporting
organization under section 509(a)(3)(B). In applying the
integral part test, petitioner argues that its support to
Keswick is earmarked "for a particular program or activity,
that being the application of the Trust funds for the
purpose of making the Day Care Program of the supported
organization available to those qualified individuals
unable to pay the full cost of the day care tuition."
According to petitioner, Keswick's letters show that
"Fifty Percent of all grants coming from the grant program
came from the funds distributed to Keswick by the Trust
(i.e. petitioner)." Petitioner argues:
Fifty percent of all funds utilized by the grant
program constitutes a sufficient part to insure
attentiveness. To reduce by one half, the number
of recipients of grants would severely impair the
existing grant program and cause a discontinuance
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of service to at least one half of needy grant
recipients, the ultimate beneficiaries served.
Thus, petitioner bases its argument that Keswick will
be sufficiently attentive to petitioner's operations in
order to prevent an "interruption" in the grant program on
the fact that it contributes 50 percent of the discount
offered by Keswick to certain participants in the
daycare program and on the supposition that 50 percent of
those recipients would be unable to participate in the
program if petitioner's funds were not available. In this
connection, petitioner argues that the term "interruption",
simply means conducting the program in a different manner
or degree rather than a complete cessation of the program.
Petitioner also argues that the grant program "is
certainly substantial in relation to the adult day care
program." In this connection, petitioner points out that,
of the 139 individuals who were served in the adult daycare
program in 1999, "22% received grants". Petitioner also
points out that the amount contributed in 1999 was $27,236,
"not an unsubstantial sum".
Finally, petitioner argues that the factors for
determining attentiveness which are enumerated in section
1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(d), Income Tax Regs., weigh heavily
in its favor. Petitioner points out that it has made
distributions to Keswick for 7 years and that such
distributions provide 50 percent of all grants. According
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to petitioner, this "shows a great likelihood that the
degree of attentiveness * * * required by the regulation
will be present." Petitioner also argues that Keswick's
correspondence shows its "attentiveness to and reliance
upon the supporting organization". Lastly, petitioner
points out that under section 6104(d) Keswick is entitled
to obtain a copy of petitioner's annual return, which shows
a detailed listing of all of petitioner's investments and
its investment return.
Respondent's position is that petitioner is not a
supporting organization because it has not shown that it
has a relationship with Keswick or any other publicly
supported organization described by section 509(a)(3)(B).
Specifically, respondent contends that petitioner is not
"operated in connection with" Keswick or any other publicly
supported organization because petitioner does not meet
the "integral part test" described by section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3)(iii), Income Tax Regs.
Respondent agrees that petitioner's support is
earmarked for a particular program or activity of Keswick,
raising a question whether the exception for earmarked
funds, section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax Regs.,
is applicable. Contrary to petitioner's contention,
respondent argues that petitioner has not made the showing,
required under section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax
Regs., that Keswick would be sufficiently attentive to the
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operations of petitioner in order to avoid the interruption
of the carrying on of a particular program or activity.
Respondent's argument is premised on the assertion that
there is "no evidence, other than petitioner's self-serving
statements, that there exists a separate adult daycare
grant program." According to respondent, petitioner's
funds are earmarked for Keswick's adult daycare program,
not for any grant program.
Respondent also argues that the adult daycare program
is not a substantial activity for Keswick, but, even if it
were, there is no evidence that the loss of petitioner's
funds would cause Keswick to interrupt or discontinue the
adult daycare program. To the contrary, respondent states
that for fiscal year 2000 petitioner's support represented
only 4.25 percent of Keswick's budget for the adult daycare
center. Respondent also points out that during 1999, when
the amount of Cuddeback funds used to provide grants
increased by $11,269, an increase of more than 70 percent
over the amount used during 1996, the adult daycare program
served 10 fewer participants (i.e., 149 in 1996 and 139
in 1999) and only 2 additional individuals received
"grants". Respondent further argues that petitioner's
support can be used, and was used in 1996, for purposes
other than the adult daycare program. Respondent concludes
from these facts that the adult daycare program does not
depend on petitioner's support and, without such support,
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the program would not be interrupted or discontinued.
Respondent also argues, on the basis of the examples
set forth in section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(c), Income Tax
Regs., that the term "interruption" in section 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax Regs., should be interpreted
to mean discontinuance. In effect, respondent argues that
a publicly supported organization will not be attentive to
the operations of the supporting organization unless the
loss of support from that organization will cause the
discontinuance of a particular program or activity, rather
than causing the program to be conducted in a different
manner or degree.
The dispute between the parties in this case involves
the question whether it is demonstrated in the administra-
tive record "that in order to avoid the interruption of
the carrying on of a particular function or activity,
the beneficiary organization [i.e. Keswick] will be
sufficiently attentive to the operations of the support-
ing organization [i.e. petitioner]." See sec. 1.509(a)-
4(i)(3)(iii)(b), Income Tax Regs. It also involves whether
the particular program or activity for which the support is
earmarked is a "substantial" program or activity. See id.
While the parties agree that petitioner's support to
Keswick is earmarked, they disagree about whether the
support is earmarked for the adult daycare program or for a
program to provide grants to needy participants in that
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program. They also disagree about the meaning of the term
"interruption" as used in the regulation. Finally, they
disagree about whether the adult daycare program or the
grant program is a "substantial" program or activity of
Keswick, as required by section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(b),
Income Tax Regs.
On the basis of our review of the administrative
record, we do not believe that it has been demonstrated
that Keswick will be sufficiently attentive to petitioner's
operations in order to avoid an "interruption" of either
the adult daycare program or a program to provide grants to
needy participants in that program. Furthermore, while the
daycare program with "Actual (Projected)" revenues of
$640,775 and direct and indirect costs of $1,140,568 in
fiscal year 2000 appears to be a substantial program, there
is not sufficient information in the administrative record
to make the same finding about the grant program.
The information about Keswick in the administrative
record of this case is sketchy. We know that Keswick
conducts a domiciliary nursing care program which is its
primary program or activity, and we know that it conducts
a daycare program through its adult day services center.
The record provides little or no specific information about
the domiciliary program, such as how many individuals are
served by the program, what services are provided to
participants in the program, what revenues are realized
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by the program, what its expenses are, or any other
information.
The information about Keswick in the administrative
record is focused on the adult day services program and
the "grants" provided to needy participants. However, even
here, the information in the administrative record is
sketchy. For 1996, the administrative record shows that
petitioner contributed $20,291 to Keswick, and that $15,967
was given to grant recipients from funds that petitioner
had contributed. For 1999, the record shows that
petitioner contributed $19,114 to Keswick through July 31,
1999, and that $27,236 was given to grant recipients during
the year from funds that petitioner had contributed. We
are told the number of participants in the adult day
services program, 149 participants in 1996 and 139
participants in 1999, and the number of such participants
who received "grants", 29 in 1996 and 31 in 1999.
Significantly, we are not given any revenue or cost
information for those years. For 1999, we are told that
Keswick charged $60 per day for the services it provided to
participants in the adult day services program, but we are
not told the amount of the charge for any other year.
For the years 1997 and 1998, the administrative record
shows that petitioner contributed $23,585 and $25,631 to
Keswick, respectively. However, the administrative record
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provides no other information concerning Keswick's daycare
program or grant program during either of those 2 years.
For fiscal year 2000, the administrative record
contains certain financial information regarding the adult
day services program and the cost of certain "charity care"
that "includes the funding received from the Cuddeback
trust". Significantly, we are not given the number of
participants in the program or the number of grant
recipients during that year. We are not told the amount
that petitioner contributed to Keswick or the amount of
grants provided by petitioner's funds. We are not even
told the end of Keswick's fiscal year.
Furthermore, the financial information for fiscal year
2000 regarding the daycare program shows that Keswick
received gross revenue of $640,775 and incurred direct and
indirect costs of $1,140,568, and that Keswick's costs
exceeded revenue by $499,793. Thus, it appears that
Keswick's charges for the services that it provided to
participants in the program were not sufficient to offset
the costs incurred. The financial information also
suggests that if "charity care" of $54,347 were removed,
then the excess of cost over revenue would increase to
$554,140.
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The administrative record shows that Keswick discounts
the cost of its daycare program for certain needy
individuals. Keswick refers to these discounts as
"grants", and it refers to this grant program as "charity
care". For example, in 1999, Keswick offered discounts of
25, 40, 50, and 60 percent of the full charge of the
program, $60 per day. Thus, in 1999, the value of the
"grant" or discount of Keswick's charge to each recipient
ranged from $15 to $36 per day. During that year, 5
participants received a 25-percent grant, 12 received a 40-
percent grant, 7 received a 50-percent grant, and 7
received a 60-percent grant, for a total of 31 grant
recipients.
On an annual basis, the value of the "grant" extended
to one recipient in each "grant" category would be $38,325,
and the value of the "grant" for all 31 recipients would be
$301,125, as shown below:
1999
Type of
"grant" No. of Daily "grant" per Annual "grant" Annual "grants"
percent recipients recipient (at $60) per recipient for all recipients
25 5 $15 $5,475 $27,375
40 12 24 8,760 105,120
50 7 30 10,950 76,650
60 7 36 13,140 91,980
Total 31 38,325 301,125
- 30 -
The portion of the grants from petitioner's funds,
$27,236, is small in relation to the value of the grants on
an annual basis, computed above. The record does not
provide the number of days each of the 31 grant recipients
participated in the program during 1999, but, clearly, it
was much less than a full year, at least on an overall
basis.
With respect to the daycare program, we are not told
what "services" Keswick provides to participants in the
program or what costs Keswick incurs in providing such
services. We are not given any information concerning the
relationship between the domiciliary program and the
daycare program, such as whether the two programs use the
same buildings or other facilities, whether they share the
same staff, etc. We know the number of participants in
the daycare program in 1996 and 1999 (viz, 149 and 139,
respectively), but we do not know the number of days that
they participated in the program. The administrative
record does not provide sufficient information to evaluate
the financial impact of the daycare program on Keswick.
With respect to the grant program, the record does
not explain how participants are made aware of the grant
program, and whether participants must apply to receive a
grant. The record does not explain how participants are
selected to receive a grant, other than the fact that each
recipient must be a person who "could not afford to pay the
- 31 -
full $60.00 per day charge for our service". Similarly,
the record does not explain how recipients are selected
for a particular grant category; that is, why one recipient
receives a 25-percent grant and another receives a 60-
percent grant. The record does not state whether
participants are ever turned down for a grant, or whether
individuals may be denied "grants" in one category but
awarded a smaller "grant". Finally, the record does not
state Keswick's out-of-pocket cost of providing such
"grants" or discounts. In short, on the basis of the
information provided in the administrative record, we are
unable to fully evaluate the financial impact on Keswick of
providing the grants to participants in the daycare
program, and we are unable to evaluate the impact on that
program of the loss of the funds contributed by petitioner.
Our difficulty in evaluating the impact of
petitioner's funds is further complicated by the fact that
the administrative record suggests that there are other
funding sources for the grant program. In describing how
petitioner's funds are used to defray 50 percent of each of
the 31 grants for 1999, Keswick's letter states that the
Cuddeback funds are "thus supplementing our existing grant
program." Keswick's letter regarding the use of Cuddeback
funds in 1996 makes the same statement. Thus, it appears
that the grant program is not funded entirely by
petitioner. This is confirmed by Keswick's letter of
- 32 -
June 28, 2000, which states that "Cuddeback funds have been
used to assist veterans whose benefits for medical daycare
have been exhausted"; they have been used as a ready source
of funds to assist families "until other funding sources
could be obtained"; and they have been used "as a
supplement to other funding sources when those funds were
not adequate." Furthermore, the financial information for
FY 2000 shows a budget for "charity care" of ($179,478) and
"Actual (Projected)" charity care of ($54,347). According
to Keswick's letter, those amounts include "the funding
received from the Cuddeback trust", but the letter does not
further explain what those figures are. The existence of
other funding sources suggests that Keswick's grant program
may not depend on petitioner's contributions, and it casts
doubt on petitioner's assertion that "50% of the total
grants were supplied by Petitioner's distribution".
As mentioned above, petitioner's argument that Keswick
will be attentive to its operations is premised on the
assertion that it provides 50 percent of the funds for
all "grants". We do not believe that that assertion is
established by the administrative record. First, there is
no showing in the administrative record that 50 percent of
Keswick's grants were made with funds from petitioner for
1996, 1997, 1998, or 2000. Second, even for 1999, we do
not agree that the administrative record shows that 50
percent of all grants given by Keswick were made with
- 33 -
petitioner's funds. Petitioner bases that assertion on
Keswick's letter which states that of the 31 grants made in
1999, the first 50 percent of each grant is covered by
Keswick and "the remaining 50 percent comes from Cuddeback
funds". However, none of Keswick's letters states that
petitioner provided 50 percent of all grants given by
Keswick during the year or that petitioner provided 50
percent of Keswick's charity care for the year. To the
contrary, as mentioned above, Keswick's letters state that
it had "other funding sources." We do not know what other
funding sources Keswick had, and we do not know the full
extent of Keswick's charity care. Therefore, we cannot
evaluate the relative importance of the funds provided by
petitioner or whether the loss of petitioner's funds would
cause an "interruption" of any kind in Keswick's grant
program.
Moreover, even if we were to accept petitioner's
assertion that "50% of the total grants were supplied by
Petitioner's distribution", we question whether that would
assure Keswick's "attentiveness". Keswick's financial
information for fiscal year 2000 shows that it sustained a
loss from the daycare program of $499,793 (gross revenue of
$640,775 less direct and indirect costs of $1,140,568).
Thus, it appears that the $60 per day charge was well below
the cost of the program and is an artificial measure of the
importance of petitioner's support. On the other hand, if
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the amount of grants provided from petitioner's funds
during 1999, $27,236, is compared to the loss, it appears
that petitioner's funds amount to only 5.44% of the loss, a
level that does not assure "attentiveness".
In addition, we disagree with petitioner's argument
that the grant program, as funded by petitioner, is
substantial because 22 percent of the 139 daycare
participants received Cuddeback funds during 1999.
Petitioner computed this percentage by dividing the number
of grant recipients for 1999, 31, by the number of daycare
participants for the year, 139. This percentage does not
show the relative importance of such grants to the daycare
program. It fails to take into account the number of days
each "grant" recipient participated in the daycare program
and it treats all "grant" recipients equally, whether
they receive a 25-, 40-, 50-, or 60-percent "grant".
Finally, we reject petitioner's contention that the
factors contained in section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii)(d),
Income Tax Regs., weigh heavily in its favor. First,
as explained above, due to the sketchiness of the
information regarding other sources of funds for Keswick's
grant program, we cannot conclude that the percentage of
support from petitioner is sufficient to ensure Keswick's
attentiveness to avoid interruption of the grant program.
Second, we disagree with petitioner's suggestion that
Keswick's letters demonstrate its attentiveness to
- 35 -
petitioner. Finally, we disagree with petitioner's
suggestion that attentiveness is demonstrated by the fact
that petitioner is required by section 6104(d) to make
available for inspection by any individual its annual tax
return and certain other information, such as investment
return and a listing of all investments. In this case,
there is no evidence that Keswick exercised actual
attentiveness to petitioner's operations.
For the reasons discussed above, we affirm
respondent's determination that petitioner fails to
satisfy the attentiveness prong of the integral part test
of section 1.509(a)-4(i)(3), Income Tax Regs., and that
petitioner does not qualify to be excepted from private
foundation status under section 509(a)(3).
Decision will be entered
for respondent.