For the issues surrounding the tax status of the Foundation and its compliance with Florida registration requirements, click here
Its been about three and half weeks since we sent the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation a simple e-mail asking whether contributions to the Foundation qualify as Internal Revenue Code Section 170 charitable contributions. We still have not heard back from the Foundation. The Foundation is still not listed in the on-line version of IRS Publication 78 (current through December 31, 2004—Hey Mr. IRS, let’s get with the digital program, update this list more frequently). We assume that contributions to the Foundation...
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are NOT tax deductible.
Today’s New York Times reports that the family is planning to sell the names of the donors who responded to an e-mail appeal to conservative groups. D Kirkpatrick and J. Schwartz, List of Schiavo Donors Will Be Sold by Direct-Marketing Firm (March 29, 2005), write:
"These compassionate pro-lifers donated toward Bob Schindler's legal battle to keep Terri's estranged husband from removing the feeding tube from Terri," says a description of the list on the Web site of the firm, Response Unlimited, which is asking $150 a month for 6,000 names and $500 a month for 4,000 e-mail addresses of people who responded last month to an e-mail plea from Ms. Schiavo's father. "These individuals are passionate about the way they value human life, adamantly oppose euthanasia and are pro-life in every sense of the word!".
The e-mail donor list appears to be separate from the Foundation's list of donors. According to the Times article, Pamela Hennessy, a spokesperson for the Foundation, indicated that the names of donors to the Foundation had not been released to anybody. In fact, she was appalled that any list was being sold. At some point, the Foundation could sell the names of donors to the Foundation.
We are a bit puzzled because we went to the Response Unlimited website and found nothing in their on-line database. We have called Response Unlimited. The operator confirmed that they had the list, but could not explain why we could not find it on the website. We left our name and number, and are awaiting a return call. [We have subsequently seen a cable television report that Response Unlimited removed the information from its website--As of Wednesday morning, nobody from Response Unlimited has returned our call.]
We recommend taking a look at Response Unlimited’s website whatever side of the political spectrum you are on. If you ever doubted that charity and advocacy group mailing lists were a big business before, you will have no doubts after perusing the list of organizations that have made their lists available for sale. Keep in mind that Response Unlimited specializes in conservative and Christian lists (their characterization, not ours). Undoubtedly, there is a leftie-list seller somewhere. For you charities out there, there is big money in these lists.
For you donors, well…. Did you ever wonder why you get so many unsolicited solicitations (i.e., junk mail)? This explains it. Is it a privacy right violation? Most experts say absolutely not. If you don’t want unsolicited solicitations for money, we recommend conditioning your donation or purchase on non-disclosure/sale of your name, street address, telephone number, or e-mail address. You are the one giving the money so you are the one with the power to protect your privacy. If you don’t like receiving unsolicited solicitations, think twice before filling out on-line surveys. In fact, think twice about even making an e-mail inquiry because there is a good chance your name and e-mail address will be sold.
The Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation finally registered with the State of Florida. Here is the data about the Foundation, as reported by the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services on line at http://www.800helpfla.com/giftgiversguide/:
Business Name: TERRI SCHINDLER-SCHIAVO FOUNDATION, INC., THE (Charitable Organization)
Business Address: 4615 GULF BLVD STE 104-103, ST PETERSBURG BEACH, FL 33706-2462
Registration Number: CH18460
Registration Expiration Date: 03/04/2006
Revenue Source DCS Report Form (12/31/2003) Total Revenue: $41,535.00
Program Services Cost: $26,409.00 (94% of Total Expenses)
Administrative Cost: $1,629.00 (6% of Total Expenses)
Fund-Raising Cost: $0.00 (0% of Total Expenses)
Total Expenses: $28,038.00
Surplus/Deficit: $13,497.00
We are curious why the revenue source is shown as 12/31/2003. Is that the date of the form, or is the financial information for the calendar year ending December 31, 2003? We would be very interested to know how much revenue came in 2004 and how it was spent if the financial information listed above is for 2003.
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