Who can contribute to the SAEF ?

Any person, Committee or partnership may contribute to the SAEF. And all of the contributions are tax-deductible! Like any public charity, the SAEF may be named as a beneficiary in a personal will, and may be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy. If you would like to name the SAEF as a beneficiary of your estate or insurance policy, please consult with your attorney to make sure that your wishes are given proper legal effect.

Are there any restrictions on how the SAEF raises money?

The SAEF may raise money in the same ways as any other federally tax-exempt public charity. This includes individual donations and fundraisers. The SAEF Bylaws are intended to be flexible and permit it to: advertise for donations; solicit donations through mass mailings; give away small “token” items (such as buttons, imprinted pencils, etc.) in exchange for donations; and basically to raise money in any way that would be appropriate for a public charity.

Who controls the SAEF funds, and who decides how the money will be spent?

The SAEF and all of the funds donated to it are controlled by its Board and
Shesa-America. In a broad sense, the IRS has decided how the SAEF funds may be spent. In order to receive tax-exempt status, the SAEF had to meet very strict requirements regarding the distribution of moneys donated to it. Grants from the SAEF may be made only to other tax-exempt entities.

In a narrow sense, all SAEF expenditures (including grants) must be approved by a majority vote of a quorum of the Board.

Is it true that we can only use gains (i.e. interest and dividend income earned) from the SAEF to make grants?
Yes. The whole point of the SAEF is to generate funds in perpetuity. To achieve this only SOME of the interest and dividends from the SAEF will be used – the principal and rest of the earnings will remain in the SAEF, providing funds for Shesa-America’s charitable activities for generations to come.