The opinion
United States Tax Court
T.C. Memo. 2026-1
MILK SAVING STARVING CHILDREN FOUNDATION,
Petitioner
v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
Respondent
__________
Docket No. 13274-22X. Filed January 6, 2026.
__________
Kimberly Orazzi (an officer), for petitioner.
Mary Michelle M. McCarthy, Erika B. Cormier, and Marie E. Small, for
respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
LEYDEN, Special Trial Judge: This case is before the Court on
respondent’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Motion) filed February 20,
2024. After examining petitioner’s activities for the taxable year ended
June 30, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) 1 issued a Final
Adverse Determination Letter dated February 25, 2022, revoking
petitioner’s exemption from federal income tax under section 501(a) 2 as
an organization described in section 501(c)(3), effective July 1, 2017.
1 The Court uses the term “IRS” to refer to administrative actions taken outside
of these proceedings. The Court uses the term “respondent” to refer to the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue, who is the head of the IRS and is respondent in
this case, and to actions taken in connection with this case.
2 Unless otherwise indicated, statutory references are to the Internal Revenue
Code, Title 26 U.S.C. (I.R.C.), in effect at all relevant times, regulation references are
to the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 26 (Treas. Reg.), in effect at all relevant times,
and Rule references are to the Tax Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
Served 01/06/26
2
[*2] On May 26, 2022, petitioner timely filed a Petition for a
declaratory judgment challenging the IRS’s determination. See I.R.C.
§ 7428(a)(1)(A), (b)(3). On February 20, 2024, respondent filed the
Motion moving the Court for summary adjudication in respondent’s
favor upon all issues presented. By Order served February 21, 2024, the
Court directed petitioner to respond to the Motion. On June 11, 2024,
petitioner filed a Letter with the Court. The Court characterized
petitioner’s June 11, 2024, Letter as a Motion for Extension of Time to
respond to the Motion, granted it, and gave petitioner until August 5,
2024, to file a response to respondent’s Motion. However, petitioner did
not file any further response or objection to the Motion.
For the reasons discussed below, the Court concludes that there
are not any genuine issues of material fact, and respondent is entitled
to judgment as a matter of law.
Background
Petitioner is a Pennsylvania Domestic Nonprofit Corporation,
and its principal place of business was in the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania when the Petition was filed.
On August 15, 2023, respondent filed the Administrative Record,
appropriately certified as to its genuineness pursuant to Rule 217(b).
Petitioner has not filed any motion contesting the completeness of
Administrative Record. The following facts are drawn from the parties’
pleadings and the Administrative Record. See Rules 121(c), 217(b)(1).
They are stated solely for the purpose of deciding respondent’s Motion
and not as findings of fact in this case. See Sundstrand Corp. v.
Commissioner, 98 T.C. 518, 520 (1992), aff’d, 17 F.3d 965 (7th Cir. 1994).
I. Petitioner’s Application for Recognition of Exemption Under
Section 501(a)
Petitioner was incorporated on June 9, 2001, under the laws of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and it filed Articles of
Incorporation on June 18, 2001. Petitioner’s sole incorporator was
Eugene Daniel Lucas.
Subsequently, petitioner submitted to the IRS Form 1023,
Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code (Application), dated September 14, 2001. The
IRS received it on December 5, 2001. In its Application, petitioner
described its planned activities as follows:
3
[*3] The Milk Saving Starving Children Foundation will raise
money to purchase rice, soy, and/or powdered milk. It will
solicit these products from their manufacturers. The milk
will then be distributed world-wide to starving children.
Petitioner stated in its Application that it had shipped $159.60
worth of powdered milk to Ecuador and Haiti in 2001. It also projected
that it would receive contributions for 2002 and 2003 of $1,200 and
$1,500, respectively, and that for each of those years it would make
“contributions, gifts, grants, and similar amounts paid” of $1,100 and
$1,400, respectively.
On January 28, 2002, petitioner executed Articles of Amendment-
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation to amend its Articles of Incorporation
by adding the following three additional paragraphs “[a]s a part of [its]
application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax.”
a. The organization is organized exclusively for
charitable, religious, educational, and/or scientific
purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code.
b. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall
inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members,
trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the
organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay
reasonable compensation for services rendered and to
make payments and distributions in furtherance of the
purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof. No
substantial part of the activities of the organization shall
be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to
influence legislation, and the organization shall not
participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or
distribution of statements) any political campaign on
behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this document, the organization
shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be
carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal
income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue
Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax
code, or (b) by an organization, contributions of which are
deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue
4
[*4] Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax
code.
c. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets
shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes
within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future
federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal
government, or to a state or local government, for public
purpose.
In February 2002 the IRS sent petitioner a letter stating that it
would be treated as exempt from federal income tax under section
501(c)(3) and that it would be treated as a public charity, rather than a
private foundation during an advance ruling period. On March 29, 2006,
the IRS classified petitioner as a public charity under section
170(b)(1)(A)(vi) and exempt from federal income tax under section
501(c)(3).
II. Petitioner’s Activities Before Examination
A. Purchase, Renovation, and Leasing of Real Property
Around November 15, 2001, after the date on its Application,
petitioner’s board of directors approved a plan to purchase and renovate
a building (Property) and operate a coffee shop. On June 3, 2002, a coffee
shop, Café Beignet, was created. On July 15, 2002, petitioner purchased
the Property for $90,000. Café Beignet opened at the Property in
November 2003. In 2005 petitioner began planning an addition to the
Property, which was completed around September 7, 2009. In the
subsequent decade petitioner rented the Property to various tenants,
including two pizza shops and an Indian restaurant.
B. Operation of a Coffee Shop
Petitioner has operated Café Beignet since November 2003
selling beignets, as well as coffee, tea, and soft drinks. It also has tables
and chairs for its customers. It is a cash only business. Petitioner did
not reference the operation of Café Beignet in its Application.
C. Milk Donations
Petitioner donated $159.60 worth of powdered milk in 2001 to
Haiti and Ecuador. In a meeting on September 1, 2008, petitioner’s
5
[*5] board of directors discussed “local milk shipments.” The record does
not define “local milk shipments.” Petitioner reported on its 2008 tax
return that it spent $1,100 on milk donations. In 2011 petitioner’s
powdered milk donations ceased.
However, sometime during 2020, after the IRS began its
examination for petitioner’s 2018 tax year, 3 petitioner made some
shipments of powdered milk to various aid organizations that would
distribute the powdered milk in Mexico, Haiti, Peru, or local community
shelters in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The record does not indicate the
quantity or frequency of the shipments.
D. Golf Fundraiser
On September 6, 2010, one of petitioner’s officers, a former
director, suggested at a board of directors meeting that petitioner start
an annual golf fundraiser to be held in September or October each year.
Sometime after that petitioner held annual golf fundraisers, but it is
unclear from the record how petitioner used any funds it raised from the
fundraisers.
E. Petitioner’s Filed Tax Returns
Petitioner filed tax returns for tax years 2008 through 2021 except
for 2017. On its returns it listed three principals: Kimberly Orazzi (who
represents petitioner in the present case), David Silvestrini, and Eugene
Daniel Lucas. For tax year 2008 petitioner filed Form 990, Return of
Organization Exempt From Income Tax, reporting that it was doing
business as Café Beignet. The exempt purpose identified in the 2008
return was to provide “vitamin-fortified powdered milk to children
locally and around the world.”
For each of tax years 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2015, petitioner filed
Form 990–EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income
Tax, which requires reporting limited financial and operational
information. In its 2009 tax return petitioner stated that its primary
exempt purpose was to “distribute vitamin-fortified powdered milk.”
This exempt purpose was not reported in petitioner’s tax returns for
2010, 2012, and 2015 or in the attachments to those returns. In fact,
the section for the organization’s primary exempt purpose was left blank
on those returns. On its Form 990–EZ for tax year 2015 petitioner was
required to report its financials for 2015 and the four preceding years.
3 Petitioner’s tax year is a fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
6
[*6] However, on that return petitioner did not report any contributions
or revenue from gross sales less cost of goods sold. Further, on that 2015
tax return petitioner did not report any expenses except for Ms. Orazzi’s
salary, nor did petitioner report receiving any contributions for that tax
year or the four preceding tax years. 4 Nor was there any indication that
petitioner incurred expenses from charitable giving in 2015. The tax
return filed for tax year 2015 is the last tax return petitioner filed in
which it was required to report such information.
For tax years 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2018 through 2021,
petitioner filed Form 990–N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-
Exempt Organizations Not Required to File Form 990, which does not
require taxpayers to report financial or operational information, other
than a representation that the taxpayer’s gross receipts were not greater
than $50,000. The only other information required on Form 990–N is
the organization’s name, mailing address, principal officer’s name and
address, and a representation that the organization has not been
terminated. For tax years 2010, 2012, and 2015, petitioner also filed
Forms 990–N, despite filing Forms 990–EZ for those years.
III. Examination for Tax Year 2018
On September 26, 2019, an IRS revenue agent informed
petitioner by letter that it had been selected for audit with respect to its
2018 tax year. The revenue agent scheduled an initial interview and
onsite visit. In the letter the revenue agent also enclosed an Information
Document Request (IDR) requesting background documents and
financial information needed to conduct the audit.
On November 4, 2019, the revenue agent conducted an onsite visit
at the Property, as well as an interview with Ms. Orazzi, petitioner’s
secretary and principal contact. Ms. Orazzi, who was employed by Mr.
Lucas’ law firm, also worked at Café Beignet. During the initial
interview between the revenue agent and Ms. Orazzi, she stated that
petitioner’s mission had changed from distributing powdered milk, but
she did not elaborate.
On November 7, 2019, the revenue agent reviewed petitioner’s
financials for tax year 2018, including cash receipts, expenses, and bank
statements. The revenue agent also reviewed the lease for the addition
4 This conflicts with information reported on petitioner’s 2012 Form 990–EZ,
which included financial information for contributions and expenses for tax years 2011
and 2012 that petitioner did not include on its 2015 tax return.
7
[*7] to the Property, which was then being rented out for $500 per
month. The tenant (a pizzeria) was responsible for maintenance and
utilities. Petitioner’s books and records indicated that the rental income
from the addition to the Property was directly deposited in a bank to pay
off a loan that petitioner had obtained and that was secured by the
Property.
After the revenue agent’s initial interview and a review of
petitioner’s books and records, the revenue agent sent on December 19,
2019, and April 7, 2021, 11 more IDRs to petitioner requesting
additional information and documentation as well as clarification of Ms.
Orazzi’s statements made during the initial interview.
Ms. Orazzi responded to the IDRs, and in response to one request
she acknowledged that petitioner had not conducted charitable
powdered milk distribution during the 2018 tax year, nor had it done so
for several prior years. She wrote that “[t]he foundation was established
to provide vitamin fortified powdered milk to starving children around
the world. The want for this decreased after 2011.” However, Ms.
Orazzi also indicated that petitioner was engaged in other charitable
activities which she identified as running a charity golf tournament,
selling baked goods at Café Beignet, donating proceeds and baked goods
to other charities, and purchasing items from other charities or donating
to other charities. Ms. Orazzi later sent the revenue agent a fax
informing him that during the 2020 calendar year petitioner held
several fundraisers, and it planned to hold its fundraiser golf
tournament in September of that year.
In response to that fax the revenue agent sent additional IDRs to
petitioner. In the IDRs the revenue agent noted that petitioner’s
primary sources of income were rent and the annual golf fundraiser
proceeds.
The revenue agent’s review of petitioner’s tax year 2018 books
and records revealed petitioner’s income and expenses as follows:
Income Amount
Café Sales $1,697
Rental Income 6,000
Golf Fundraiser 13,100
Donations 5,650
Total $26,447
8
[*8] Expenses Amount
Sales Tax $50
Golf Tournament Expenses 2,063
Salaries 3,900
Baking Supplies 876
Phone 264
Insurance 1,500
Loans to Mr. Lucas 9,090 5
Mortgage 6,000
A/C Unit Repairs 2,354
Total $26,097
None of petitioner’s expenses in tax year 2018 were for rice, soy,
or powdered milk.
On April 7, 2021, the revenue agent sent another IDR to
petitioner to request “[a] trial balance or other accounting record that
accurately and completely reports you[r] assets, liabilities, revenues,
expenses and equity for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.” Petitioner
did not respond to that IDR or otherwise send the revenue agent the
requested information.
On June 8, 2021, the revenue agent sent petitioner a proposed
adverse determination letter, which explained why the IRS was
proposing to revoke petitioner’s tax-exempt status. The letter concluded
in relevant part as follows:
[Petitioner] is no longer fulfilling its exempt purpose . . . .
[Petitioner] ceased milk distribution activities over the last
several years. It recently began distributing milk in
response to the potential revocation. . . . Its primary
activity, operating a café to raise funds is neither
charitable nor educational. Its primary sources of revenue
are from renting its building addition and its golf
fundraiser. Both activities were performed to raise funds
none of which were used for charitable purposes as
5 This includes $4,572.15 to pay off the People’s Security Loan and $1,462.16
for a “Sales Tax Issue.”
9
[*9] demonstrated by the table of revenue and expenses
displayed above.
The revenue agent and two of petitioner’s representatives, Ms.
Orazzi and Mr. Lucas, continued communicating after the IRS sent the
proposed adverse determination letter. In a letter dated August 6, 2021,
petitioner’s representatives stated that petitioner had been active and
had placed orders for several pounds of powdered milk, including several
orders that were canceled because the powdered milk was out of stock.
They provided the revenue agent with receipts, which included
successful purchases of powdered milk from Amazon on November 4,
2020, of $74.78, November 4, 2020, of $50.62, and January 8, 2021, of
$50.50. The address on the receipts was that of Café Beignet.
In response to that letter, the revenue agent called petitioner’s
representatives and requested current financial documentation for
January 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, to show that petitioner was
expending funds for its exempt function. Petitioner did not provide the
requested information to the revenue agent.
Subsequently, on February 25, 2022, the IRS issued petitioner a
final adverse determination letter, revoking petitioner’s section
501(c)(3) tax-exempt status effective July 1, 2017. In response petitioner
timely filed its Petition on May 26, 2022, for a declaratory judgment,
disagreeing with the IRS’s adverse determination.
Discussion
I. Scope and Standard of Review
Section 7428(a)(1)(A) confers jurisdiction on the Court to make a
declaration in a case of actual controversy involving a determination by
the Commissioner with respect to the initial qualification or continuing
qualification of an organization as an organization described in section
501(c)(3) which is exempt from tax under section 501(a). An action for
declaratory judgment may be decided by summary judgment. Rules 121,
217(b)(2); see, e.g., Church in Bos. v. Commissioner, 71 T.C. 102, 105
(1978); Sol. Plus, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2008-21, 2008 WL
312764, at *6.
The scope of the Court’s review is limited to the administrative
record pursuant to Rule 217(a). The petitioner bears the burden of
establishing that the Commissioner’s determination is erroneous. Rule
142(a); Partners in Charity, Inc. v. Commissioner, 141 T.C. 151, 162
10
[*10] (2013). The scope of the Court’s inquiry is “limited to the propriety
of the reasons given by the Commissioner for denying an organization’s
application for exemption,” rather than a de novo review of the
administrative record. IHC Health Plans, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 2001-246, 2001 WL 1103284, at *11, aff’d, 325 F.3d 1188 (10th
Cir. 2003).
Respondent filed the Administrative Record, appropriately
certified as to its genuineness pursuant to Rule 217(b)(1), as defined by
Rule 210(b)(12), which petitioner has not contested. Accordingly, the
evidence the Court will consider consists solely of the Administrative
Record. See Rule 217(b)(1).
II. Summary Judgment
Summary judgment is intended to expedite litigation and avoid
unnecessary and expensive trials. Fla. Peach Corp. v. Commissioner, 90
T.C. 678, 681 (1988). Either party may move for summary judgment
upon all or any part of the legal issues in controversy. Rule 121(a)(1).
The Court may grant summary judgment only if the movant “shows that
there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is
entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Rule 121(a)(2).
Respondent, as the moving party, bears the burden of proving
that no genuine dispute exists as to any material fact and that
respondent is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See FPL Grp.,
Inc. & Subs. v. Commissioner, 115 T.C. 554, 559 (2000); Bond v.
Commissioner, 100 T.C. 32, 36 (1993); Naftel v. Commissioner, 85 T.C.
527, 529 (1985). In deciding whether to grant summary judgment, the
factual materials and inferences drawn from them must be considered
in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party. FPL Grp., Inc., 115
T.C. at 559; Bond, 100 T.C. at 36; Naftel, 85 T.C. at 529. The party
opposing summary judgment must set forth specific facts which show
that a question of genuine material fact exists and may not rely merely
on allegations or denials in the pleadings. Rule 121(d); Celotex Corp. v.
Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 324 (1986); Grant Creek Water Works, Ltd. v.
Commissioner, 91 T.C. 322, 325 (1988); King v. Commissioner, 87 T.C.
1213, 1217 (1986).
III. Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
The flush text of section 7428(a) provides in pertinent part that
“a determination with respect to a continuing qualification . . . includes
any revocation of or other change in a qualification.”
11
[*11] A. General Rules Regarding Exempt Status
Section 501(a) exempts from federal income taxation
organizations described in section 501(c). Among the organizations so
described are those set forth in section 501(c)(3), which are:
[c]orporations . . . organized and operated exclusively for
religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety,
literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or
international amateur sports competition . . . , or for the
prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the
net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private
shareholder or individual . . . .
In order to be exempt under section 501(c)(3), an organization
must be both organized exclusively for one or more of the exempt
purposes specified in the section, known as the organizational test, and
operated exclusively for such purposes, known as the operational test.
See Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1). Failure to satisfy either test
forecloses a section 501(c)(3) exemption. Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-
1(a)(1). In the instant case the IRS’s basis for revoking petitioner’s
exempt status is its determination that petitioner was not organized and
operated exclusively for an exempt purpose. However, respondent’s
Motion focuses on petitioner’s failure of the operational test. 6
B. Failure of the Operational Test
In the application of the operational test, “exclusively” does not
mean “solely” or “absolutely without exception.” Nationalist Movement
v. Commissioner, 102 T.C. 558, 576 (1994) (quoting Church in Bos., 71
T.C. at 107), aff’d per curiam, 37 F.3d 216 (5th Cir. 1994); see also
Copyright Clearance Ctr., Inc. v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 793, 803–04
(1982). Nonetheless, the presence of a single nonexempt purpose, if
substantial, precludes exempt status regardless of the number or
importance of truly exempt purposes. Better Bus. Bureau of Wash., D.C.,
Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279, 283 (1945); Redlands Surgical Servs.
v. Commissioner, 113 T.C. 47, 71–72 (1999), aff’d per curiam, 242 F.3d
904 (9th Cir. 2001); Nationalist Movement, 102 T.C. at 576; Am.
Campaign Acad. v. Commissioner, 92 T.C. 1053, 1065 (1989).
6 Further, petitioner did not file a response to the Motion and has not
challenged the revocation as to the organizational test.
12
[*12] With respect to the operational test:
An organization will be regarded as operated exclusively
for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages
primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of
such exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3). An
organization will not be so regarded if more than an
insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of
an exempt purpose.
Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1).
The operational test also reinforces the express dictates of section
501(c)(3) in that an entity is deemed not to operate exclusively for
exempt purposes if net earnings are distributed or otherwise inure to
the benefit of private individuals. Treas. Reg. § 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2).
Additionally, although an organization may be engaged in only a single
activity directed toward multiple purposes, both exempt and
nonexempt, failure to satisfy the operational test will result if any
nonexempt purpose is substantial. Redlands Surgical Servs., 113 T.C.
at 71; Copyright Clearance Ctr., 79 T.C. at 803–04.
The IRS determined that petitioner did not operate exclusively
for exempt purposes. In the determination letter, the IRS concluded
that petitioner was “no longer fulfilling its exempt purpose” because it
“ceased milk distribution activities over the last several years.” The
letter further noted that petitioner only “recently began distributing
milk in response to the potential revocation.” The IRS found that
petitioner’s primary activity was operating a coffee shop, Café Beignet,
and petitioner’s primary sources of revenue were from renting the
Property and its addition, as well as its golf fundraiser. The IRS
concluded that the funds raised by the above activities were not used for
charitable purposes, as demonstrated by petitioner’s tax returns and
financial documentation.
In this regard the presence of a single substantial purpose that is
not described in section 501(c)(3) precludes exemption from tax under
section 501(a) regardless of the number or the importance of the
purposes that are present and described in section 501(c)(3). See Better
Bus. Bureau, 326 U.S. at 283.
“Under the operational test, the purpose towards which an
organization’s activities are directed, and not the nature of the activities
themselves, is ultimately dispositive of the organization’s right to be
13
[*13] classified as a section 501(c)(3) organization exempt from tax
under section 501(a).” B.S.W. Grp., Inc. v. Commissioner, 70 T.C. 352,
356–57 (1978). As the Court has noted, “[e]ven in a commercial, profit-
motivated context, such activities may be wholesome and commendable;
but they will not support tax-exempt status unless they are undertaken
to further an exempt purpose.” Partners in Charity, Inc., 141 T.C.
at 164.
C. Petitioner’s Lack of Objections to Summary Judgment
Rule 121(d) sets forth that “[t]he nonmovant must respond,
setting forth specific facts . . . to show that there is a genuine dispute of
fact for trial.” Further, “any response in opposition to a motion for
summary judgment must include a statement of facts with references to
the administrative record.” Rule 121(j). Where a party fails to properly
address an assertion of fact, the Court may (1) “consider the fact
undisputed for purposes of the motion” and (2) “grant summary
judgment if the motion and supporting materials (including the facts
considered undisputed) show that the movant is entitled to it.” Rule
121(f). “Disputes over facts that are not outcome determinative do not
preclude the entry of summary judgment.” Carpenter v. Commissioner,
T.C. Memo. 2012-1, 2012 WL 10798, at *4 (citing Anderson v. Liberty
Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986)), supplemented by T.C. Memo.
2013-172.
Despite the Court’s directing petitioner to file an objection to
respondent’s Motion, petitioner did not do so. Petitioner has not offered
anything in opposition to respondent’s conclusion that petitioner did not
operate exclusively for exempt purposes other than in the Petition, in
which petitioner asserted that “[t]he Milk Saving Starving Children
foundation has received substantial contributions to show it is in
compliance with the requirements of being 501(c)(3) charitable
foundation (sic),” and that “[t]he Milk Saving Starving Children
foundation is in compliance with being a 501(c) charitable foundation as
it is a publicly (sic) supported organization.” While the record does
support that petitioner received contributions, it does not show that
petitioner dispensed those contributions in support of its exempt
purpose. For tax year 2018 petitioner’s books and records show that it
did not make any payments or donations in support of its exempt
purpose, despite receiving income of $26,447. Petitioner claimed to
donate to other charitable causes throughout the course of its operation,
but the record does not support this claim, and in tax year 2018 it
reported no such donations.
14
[*14] The Administrative Record shows that, as respondent argued in
his Motion, while petitioner may have donated and participated in some
charitable endeavors, it was not operated exclusively for exempt
purposes. In addition to any charitable activities it undertook,
petitioner engaged extensively, and seemingly primarily, in commercial
activities, namely (1) purchasing and renovating the Property, as well
as renting out the addition to that Property to unrelated commercial
businesses, and (2) using the Property to operate a coffee shop, Café
Beignet. Petitioner has not argued or demonstrated that its operation
of its commercial activities furthered its exempt purposes. Accordingly,
by operating these commercial activities not in furtherance of its exempt
purpose, petitioner is disqualified from its tax-exempt status under the
above-referenced operational test.
IV. Conclusion
Petitioner has failed to adequately respond to respondent’s
Motion, and the Court could enter a decision against it for that reason
alone. See Rule 121(d). However, the Court has considered respondent’s
Motion on its merits. A review of the Administrative Record shows that
petitioner did not operate exclusively for one or more exempt purposes
within the meaning of section 501(c)(3). Because the Court finds that
petitioner failed the operational test, it need not address whether
petitioner was organized for a charitable purpose. Petitioner has not
met its burden of proving that respondent’s determination to revoke its
tax-exempt status effective July 1, 2017, was erroneous.
Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, the Court concludes
that respondent is entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.
To reflect the foregoing,
An appropriate order and decision will be entered.