Section 1. PURPOSE

This notice provides interim guidance regarding the application of certain requirements enacted as part of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, Pub. L. No. 109–208, 120 Stat. 780 (2006) (“PPA”), that affect supporting organizations, donor advised funds, and private foundations that make grants to supporting organizations.

Sections 1231, 1241, 1242, 1243, and 1244 of the PPA add sections 509(f), 4943(f), 4958(c)(3), 4966, and 4967, to the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and amend sections 509(a)(3)(B), 4942(g)(4), and 4945(d)(4)(A) of the Code. The amendments to section 509(a)(3) and the addition of section 509(f) prescribe new requirements for supporting organizations. The addition of section 4943(f) defines the terms “Type III supporting organization” and “functionally integrated Type III supporting organization.” The amendments to sections 4942 and 4945 affect private foundations that make grants or similar payments to supporting organizations under certain circumstances. The amendments to section 4958, among other things, subject substantial contributors and persons related to them (as described in section 4958(c)(3)(B)) to new excise taxes if they engage in certain types of transactions with supporting organizations with which they have a relationship. New section 4966 imposes an excise tax on a sponsoring organization that maintains donor advised funds if it makes certain distributions from a donor advised fund. New section 4967 imposes excise taxes on certain distributions from a donor advised fund that provide more than an incidental benefit to a donor, a donor-advisor, or related persons (as described in sections 4967(d) and 4958(f)(7)).

This notice provides guidance on four aspects of the application of these new provisions of the Code. First, Section 3 provides criteria for private foundations that might make distributions to supporting organizations that can be used to determine for purposes of sections 4942(g)(4) and 4945(d)(4) whether an organization is a Type I, Type II, or functionally integrated Type III supporting organization. Section 3 also provides criteria for determining whether a supporting organization, or any of its supported organizations, are controlled by disqualified persons. Section 3 also provides similar guidance with respect to section 4966 for donor advised funds that make grants to supporting organizations. Second, Section 4 clarifies the date of applicability for the new section 4958(c)(3) excise tax on certain excess benefit transactions involving supporting organizations. Third, pursuant to the authority under new section 4966(d)(2)(C), Section 5.01 excludes certain employer-sponsored disaster relief funds from the definition of donor-advised fund. Fourth, Section 5.02 clarifies how the Internal Revenue Service (“Service”) will apply the new section 4966(a) excise taxes with respect to payments made pursuant to educational grants awarded prior to the date of enactment of the PPA.

This notice is intended to address a limited number of issues which require immediate guidance. The Service and the Department of Treasury (“Treasury”) expect to issue further guidance, including regulations, under these provisions of the PPA. The rules provided in this notice apply until further guidance is issued. This notice does not affect the substantive standards for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3). This notice also invites comments from the public regarding this notice and suggestions for future guidance implementing statutory changes under the PPA.