The Fort Belvoir Enlisted Spouses Club is now a certified non-profit organization due to receiving its 501(c)(3) status.
A 501(c)(3) status makes a non-profit organization tax exempt and allows donors and donor organizations to receive a federal tax deduction for contributions made, more than $250, to a 501(c)(3) association.
"This is fantastic for the club," said Barbara Zimmerman, BESC president. "It's hard to ask other organizations to donate to our group if they aren't getting anything in return."
The donations Zimmerman hopes the BESC will now receive will largely go to the club's scholarship fund. The BESC awards numerous scholarships to current and new college students, and military spouses taking college courses.
Receiving donations from outside organizations will allow the club to put more money towards their scholarship fund.
"Our scholarships are our pride and joy," said Zimmerman. "To have the funding come from other organizations allows us to give out larger scholarships. The more we put into an event the more we receive funds back for the scholarship fund."
Along with receiving donations and handing out more and larger scholarships, the BESC is now able to grant Department of Defense civilians and active-duty servicemembers membership into the club.
Servicemembers will be given an honorary membership that allows them to participate in club social activities. But, if they want to pay monthly dues, they will become voting members which allows them to vote for BESC board members.
Feedback from single, active-duty servicmembers who have attended past BESC sign-up events is one reason the club chose to attain its 501(c)(3) status.
"There was one servicemember who came to our sign-up event and has a child who is an active member of the Boy Scouts," said Zimmerman. "Every time we had a sign-up event, she couldn't join because she isn't a spouse. She wanted her children to be able to come to the play dates we have and some of the field trips we go on. That stuck with me because we can be a welcoming place for people who need support."
The Club talked for the last year about attaining the 501(c)(3) status. Changes had to be made to the club's by-laws and policies in order to attain the non-profit organization status, but Zimmerman believes these changes are for the betterment of the club, and the Belvoir community.
"We've had a lot of feedback over the past year, and we think it's our purpose to make the military community stronger," said Zimmerman. "We want to offer opportunities for spouses and military members to bond and strengthen."
Social Sharing