Donor Disclosure
Donor Disclosure
Where Fear Not Foundation stands today, in plain language, so anyone considering giving knows exactly what they are looking at.
Our current legal status
Fear Not Foundation, Inc. is an Alabama nonprofit corporation in formation. Articles of Incorporation are being filed with the Alabama Secretary of State. Until the Articles are accepted and a Certificate of Formation is issued, the entity is in the process of formation.
Our federal Internal Revenue Service application for recognition of exemption under §501(c)(3) (long-form Form 1023) is in preparation. Our IRS determination letter has not yet been issued.
Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-5295276. Until the IRS issues our determination letter and adds Fear Not Foundation, Inc. to the public record at the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search, donors will not be able to verify our exempt status through that database.
What this means for tax deductibility
Until the IRS issues our determination letter, contributions to Fear Not Foundation are not currently tax-deductible, and we are not currently accepting live donations.
If and when the IRS approves our application, the IRS recognizes exempt status retroactively to the date the corporation was created. Per the IRS, "contributors to the organization do not have advance assurance of deductibility because the organization's exemption is pending. If the organization ultimately qualifies for exemption for the period in which the contribution is made, the contribution will be tax-deductible by the donor. Alternatively, if the organization ultimately does not qualify for exemption, then the contribution will not be tax deductible."
Donors should consult their own tax advisor before making a contribution to any organization with an exemption application pending.
Plain-language summary. We are not asking for money today. If you join the Founders' List, no money moves. We will write you the day giving opens — after our IRS determination letter is in hand and our Alabama charitable solicitation registration is on file.
State charitable solicitation
Alabama law (Ala. Code §§ 13A-9-70 to 13A-9-84) requires charitable organizations that solicit contributions in or from Alabama to register with the Office of the Alabama Attorney General. We will register before opening live giving and will publish our registration number on this page once issued.
Two unrelated organizations with similar names
For donor clarity: the IRS database currently lists two unrelated organizations using the name "Fear Not Foundation":
- EIN 86-0647136 — Fear Not Foundation, Tucson, Arizona (a private foundation).
- EIN 86-1880714 — Fear Not Foundation, Oak Ridge, North Carolina.
Neither is affiliated with our Alabama foundation. If you intend to support our work, look for EIN 41-5295276 and the Saraland, Alabama address.
Our stewardship commitments
When we open giving, we will:
- Issue contemporaneous written acknowledgments that comply with IRS Publication 1771.
- Adopt and publish a written Conflict-of-Interest Policy, Whistleblower Policy, and Document Retention Policy as part of our IRS Form 1023 narrative.
- File and publish our Form 990 (or 990-EZ / 990-N as applicable) annually.
- Publish our annual stewardship report — actual program / operations / fundraising ratios — measured against our published Year-1 model and 5-year trajectory. (See Stewardship.)
Contact
Questions about this disclosure: kevin@fearnotfoundation.net.