Friends of the Seminary 2026 Registration Form:

SVDP Treatment of Gala Sponsorships and Auction Items

For IRS purposes, a portion of each payment for the Friends of Seminary Gala represents the fair market value of benefits received (dinner and event admission), and only the excess, if any, is a tax‑deductible charitable contribution.

• The fair market value (FMV) of each gala dinner seat is $150 per person.
• Any amount paid up to $150 per seat is not tax‑deductible.
• Any amount paid above $150 per seat may be treated as a charitable contribution, subject to the donor’s individual tax situation.

Your gift acknowledgment will state the FMV of benefits received and the portion of your payment that may be deductible, in line with IRS quid pro quo disclosure rules.

Payment methods and restricted funds

Under current IRS rules, charitable funds that cannot provide more than an “incidental benefit” to the donor may not be used to cover any part of the cost of attending a fundraising event (including tickets bundled into sponsorships). To comply with these rules:

• The FMV portion of all gala tickets ($150 per seat) must be paid from personal funds (e.g., cash, personal check, or personal credit card).
• Donor‑advised funds (DAFs), IRA charitable distributions, private foundation grants, or similar restricted charitable vehicles may not be used for any part of the ticket or sponsorship amount that covers admission, meals, or other benefits.

If you wish, you may recommend a grant from a DAF or make another type of restricted charitable gift only toward the fully charitable portion of your sponsorship that does not provide you or your guests with any gala benefits. In that case, the ticket/FMV portion must still be paid separately from your personal funds.

Auction items at the gala

Charity auction purchases are treated similarly for tax purposes/gift planning.

• For each auction item, a good‑faith fair market value will be displayed.
• If you successfully bid on an item, only the amount you pay above its listed fair market value may be tax‑deductible, and the amount up to fair market value is a purchase, not a donation.
• As with tickets, DAFs, IRA charitable distributions, and similar restricted charitable funds may not be used to pay for auction items, because you receive more than an incidental benefit.

A written acknowledgment can be provided after the event, reflecting the fair market value and any potentially deductible portion of your payment, consistent with IRS substantiation rules.

This information is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal or tax advice. Donors should consult their own tax advisors regarding the deductibility of their payments.

If you would like to register now but will be paying by check, please fill out this form - Google Form - instead of the registration below.