H2O 70 Offers Free Training

[stimpy4242]

I just read on this website: H2O 70 - Learn to Observe and Conserve that they offer free advanced training to anyone. It says you can make a donation, but of course you can choose not to make a donation and still get the classes you want. Clearly a donation, is just that, a charitable gift expecting nothing in return. They certainly can't "Require" you to donate to get a class, that is called "selling."

Great opportunity for all, tell everyone free training available at H2O 70 - Learn to Observe and Conserve

 

[under water]

You posted this twice, so I will respond twice.
Well,
They actually do require you to 'donate' in order to complete the process.
They can indeed require a donation in return for them to give you a class.
It might seem like selling, but this happens all the time. You donate something and you might get something in return. On your income taxes, you deduct the value of what you got in return from your charitable donation.
H2O 70 is a non-profit organization with what I think is a noble cause.
I'm not sure why you posted mis-information.

 

[stimpy4242]

Thats interesting the law seems to say otherwise, they say they are operating under the 501 c 3 tax laws in their charter document, although they are not actually a 501 c 3 organization. That is not an issue, but no one can DEDUCT anything as of right now, which makes it SELLING.

Their lawyer even confirmed the fact that the are not a 501 c 3. They do have an application pending, but have not been approved or denied. So actually the can't require a "donation" for anything. So once again its selling, so since they aren't selling, they are giving away free classes, so my post is still correct.

You shouldn't believe everything you read on a website, you should research it. Now one they are a 501 c 3, they still can't require a dontation for a service, that is direct violation of the tax law as well.

 

[stimpy4242]

In addition, lets just say, in theory, but clearly against the law, that if you were to deduct the value of what you received, would you say the value of an advanced open water diver class exceeds $100? So then your donation is no longer a donation, it was a payment for a service...

 

[stimpy4242]

I think the term that is up in the air is "require". This publication explains it all:
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p526.pdf

The term fair market value is used and none of their "services" or "classes" are above fair market value, making the donation, no longer a donation, but a payment. So there is no donation on the part of the donor...this is a quid pro quo donation and as pointed out has to be deducted accordingly...

None of this matters until they are actually a 501 c 3 anyway.

 

[ScubaFeenD]

I just read on this website: H2O 70 - Learn to Observe and Conserve that they offer free advanced training to anyone. It says you can make a donation, but of course you can choose not to make a donation and still get the classes you want. Clearly a donation, is just that, a charitable gift expecting nothing in return. They certainly can't "Require" you to donate to get a class, that is called "selling."

Great opportunity for all, tell everyone free training available at H2O 70 - Learn to Observe and Conserve

I've checked this out, and the mission statement and goals I think are great and refreshing. Too often this amazing sport is restricted only to those with money.

H2O 70 is a non-profit organization with what I think is a noble cause.
I'm not sure why you posted mis-information.

I agree. Why would you post something seemingly malicious regarding an organization that seems to be trying to help spread the coolness of SCUBA?

 

[JeffG]

Why would you post something seemingly malicious regarding an organization that seems to be trying to help spread the coolness of SCUBA?

Because they are both in Baltimore. So he (stimpy4242) see's it as stealing money from him.

 

[stimpy4242]

This has nothing to do with stealing money, that is why I announced the free training. I think that is great. I think everyone should go get free training.

Thats all. As far as being malicious, when you donate to the Red Cross, you assume that you can deduct that donation. In this case you might assume you can deduct your donation to them, I was just making sure people knew you couldn't that is all. I would hate to see anyone in our industry file fraudulent tax records because they were misinformed. You could say I was really protecting everyone.

 

[JeffG]

You could say I was really protecting everyone.

Exactly. You are such a helpful guy.