Country Dance & Song Society > Affiliates > Nonprofit Exemption

Nonprofit Exemption

Federal nonprofit tax exempt (501(c)(3)) status is available for CDSS Affiliates in the US who meet certain guidelines. You must apply to receive this benefit. The annual fee is $75 (in addition to membership dues).

Benefits of nonprofit status

  • Receive discounted rental rates at some venues
  • Become eligible for some non-CDSS grant funding
  • Become eligible to receive tax-exempt donations
  • Become eligible for nonprofit bulk mail permits

Apply for nonprofit status

Please email this form to ben@cdss.org. You must meet these exemption guidelines to be eligible for nonprofit status.

Sample documents for nonprofit exemption

Info for annual filing

All affiliates are their own financial entities and must file with the IRS and CDSS annually, regardless of size or annual income. Failure to do so can result in having your 501(c)(3) status automatically revoked by the IRS. CDSS does not file a group return.

Groups with gross receipts under $50,000 can file the simple, quick, 990 e-Postcard. Additionally, you must send a financial report to CDSS that shows income and expenses (profit and loss statement) and total assets and liabilities (balance sheet). If you have a format or program you use for this, it’s fine to send us a report that way. Or, you can use the CDSS template.

Groups with gross receipts above $50,000 must file a full 990. This has sufficient information to satisfy CDSS’s requirements and can simply be forwarded to us.

This financial reporting is due to CDSS on the same schedule as it must be reported to the IRS: five months after the end of your financial year.

For information on how to file with the IRS, please visit their website. Here are some resources to help you file your IRS Form 990:

All documents should be emailed to ben@cdss.org or mailed to:
Country Dance & Song Society
116 Pleasant St., Suite 334
Easthampton, MA 01027

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