Explaining Our 501(c)(3) Status

The Madison Civics Club was incorporated in 1969 as a non-profit organization. Over a decade ago the board of the Civics Club decided that it would seek 501(c)(3) charitable status from the IRS.

With the help of attorney Johanna Allex, of Christensen and Allex, we submitted a 1023 application – 54 pages in length – to the IRS in June of 2006. On September 13, 2006, the Internal Revenue Service declared that Madison Civics Club’s educational and charitable activities qualify us for this new tax exempt status.

This has been a long process which has coincided with some important changes made after the Civics Club began to hold its meetings at Monona Terrace. There is no longer a “wait list,” we have an open membership policy that allows males, and we are committed to making our programs available to civic minded youth groups in our community.

The basic educational mission of the Civics Club – that is to promote non-partisan education and discussion of important contemporary issues has not and will not change.

We will are now in a better position to receive grant monies from foundations to support our programs and our youth outreach. In addition, our generous contributing and sustaining members will be able to claim tax exemptions for the amount they have donated over the basic membership fee.