AZDBA is a 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organization, and this allows AZDBA to provide tax write-offs to donors for anything they donate of monetary value.  This also makes it attractive for larger companies/corporations to partner with AZDBA to provide an employee matching program where they will match dollar-for-dollar any employee donation (up to a max limit) or even donate money for time the employee volunteers time to that organization.   The organization gets much needed funds, the employee helps their charity of choice, and the company gets a tax write-off and improves their community relations image.  Everyone wins.

If you are an employee of a large company/corporation, you may be able to help AZDBA by earning “free” money towards our cause.  While each company is different in how they implement their programs, it typically works like this:

• The employee will recommend/register AZDBA as a IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status with their companies community involvement/giving program.
• The company will vette AZDBA to insure they are a legit 501(c)(3) that complies with their policies for an approved charity.
• Once AZDBA is approved, they will typically do one (or both) of the following:
  • Allow their employees to donate directly to the 501(c)(3) and will match the employee dollar-for-dollar (to a max limit)
  • Allow their employees to donate their time volunteering for that organization’s events and will provide matching funds for the time spent volunteering for that organization.

So as an example, Intel Corporation recognizes AZDBA as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization that complies with their non-discriminatory policies.  As a result, they offer the following to their employees:

• Employee Matching Gifts Program (EMGP) – EMGP will match an employee’s cash donation to AZDBA dollar-for-dollar up to $5000.
• Intel Involved Matching Grant Volunteer Program (IIMGP) – IIMGP allows employees to donate their time volunteering for AZDBA – e.g. serving on the Board of Directors, serving on the Festival committee, volunteering at the Festival as a dock hand, corporate coaching/steering, etc… – then receive a matching grant of $10 per hour (min 20 hours) for every hour served.  They even cover the cost of travel to and from where ever you are doing the volunteering.

Each company is different, so AZDBA encourages you to check with your employee and community groups department to see what your company offers.   Larger companies will typically be able to do more than smaller ones as they have more money and resources at their disposal.

AZDBA is a 501(c)(3) but they are not your not your “traditional” charity.  The IRS has different categories of 501(c)(3)’s:

• Religious
• Educational
• Charitable
• Scientific
• Literary
• Testing for Public Safety
• to Foster National or International Amateur Sports Competition
• Prevention of Cruelty to Children or Animals Organizations

AZDBA fits under the “to Foster National Amateur Sports Competition” category, but some companies will only accept 501(c)(3)’s that are Charitable in nature – e.g. helping the homeless, feeding the poor, etc.   You will need to check with your companies policies to see if AZDBA meets their criteria.

AZDBA invites you to check with your company to see what they might offer to us in regards to being a 501(c)(3).   Chances are that if you belong to a large company/corporation – e.g. Honeywell,  AT&T, Intel, SRP/APS, Wells Fargo, etc… they will have programs in place where you can have an impact on AZDBA.   And through your donations of time and/or money to AZDBA, you can help continue the mission that AZDBA started to bring the sport of Dragon Boating to our wider community and to grow the sport one paddler at a time!

If you know the specific policies of your company/corporation, we invite you to fill in the details in this handy Google Sheet (AZDBA Corporate Employee Donation and Volunteer Program) so that others who also work in your company can be informed of their policies and can help earn AZDBA much needed funds to keep us on the water!