Sorry for the abbreviated reply earlier - I have not memorized the new standards (only 325 pages) yet :-), and I was not at my desk.
CASE shifted away from a specific reference to athletics as that was only a US thing. And, so, "seating considerations" is what you read about in the new book on pages 27, 269, and 270. I do not disagree that it's a bit confusing. That's a result of making it "global." And it does, now, put the responsibility on us to come up with a value. However, that has always been the IRS rule for non-athletics. The IRS only, originally (the 1980s) came up with a "special" rule for athletics. And then changed that rule to make it completely non-deductible a few years ago.
What CASE is doing is leveling the playing field for counting and apply seating consideration rules for all seating applications - regardless of what the IRS says. Here's a brief synopsis:
Preferential Seating
As this is largely a US issue, to make this topic more inclusive of the global audience, the new edition calls this "seating considerations" for arts and athletic events.
Preferential seating is a big issue for those schools that have large sports programs. Changes in the tax law in 2017, made these gifts no longer charitable deductions. At the time, the CASE Board of Trustees decided to leave this to the new Standards Working Group to figure out.
New Edition:
Included as a part of section 3.1.5: Tangible Donor Benefits/ Quid Pro Quo Contributions.
"3. Seating Considerations
"Some institutions provide donors with special access to seating as a result of their gifts. Examples include the opportunity to purchase preferential entrance or seating for arts or
athletics events.
"While the opportunity to purchase tickets in advance of the general public or in a more favorable location has some intrinsic value, it may not be clearly or easily quantifiable. In such cases the gift may be counted.
"When the value of benefits is known, institutions should reduce the value of the gift accordingly. Benefits may include the following: the fair market value of meals, reserved
parking, access to special events, advertising, or seat licenses. A donor may refuse all benefits when making the gift to avoid any reduction in value."
John
John H. Taylor
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