Business and Legal Issues

or, The Serious Stuff

As an official chapter, you are expected to represent the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Alumni Association. As such there are certain rules and regulations to abide by. (Yes, yes, it’s all very serious. But don’t worry, you’ll get to have some fun, too.) Business and legal issues are the questions most often asked about by chapter leaders. We recommend consultation with local legal, insurance and accounting professionals for a complete response to specific chapter business issues.

Usually, chapter funds come from two resources. One is event income used for chapter mailings, meetings and other expenses incidental to operating a chapter. The other is money raised for student support.

Operating funds are usually modest, just enough to cover the year's actual costs, and you should place them in a bank account using the chapter's taxpayer identification number. Use federal tax form SS-4 to get a number. The number has no effect on the chapter's tax status.

Chapter funds and individual officer funds should never be comingled. Keeping them separate reduces the liability of individual members and provides a mechanism for clearly tracking chapter income and expenses.

Set up chapter checking and savings (if appropriate) accounts with two authorized check signers. Require two signatures for checks over $500. Officers should include their titles when signing checks to reduce personal liability.

Each year prepare a general budget as well as a general budget for each chapter event or activity. At least annually, and perhaps more often, prepare financial statements and file a treasure’s report to WAA. A template treasurer’s report is available at uwalumni.com/clubleader. The treasurer should make regular reports at chapter meetings.

Chapters are not tax-exempt by virtue of their relationship with the alumni association, which is a 501(c)(3) educational tax-exempt organization. A chapter may choose to pursue recognition on its own as a tax exempt organization on the basis that it is an educational or social organization. It is recognition as an educational organization that allows donors to deduct scholarship contributions.

The recognition process requires professional assistance, and chapters should undertake it only if careful evaluation suggests a clear return on investment. If annual receipts total more than $5,000 and status as an educational organization is desired, the IRS requires chapters to apply for a 501(c)(3) exempt status. Typically, a tax-exempt status is useful when a chapter handles large sums on an annual and ongoing basis, because it allows gifts to the chapter to be tax-deductible for the donor. Of course, it also requires that chapters keep records, issue receipts for contributor income tax purposes, and file annual federal income tax returns.

The exemption also allows chapters to apply for nonprofit mail permits. In Wisconsin, some chapters will also benefit from additional liability protection for volunteer leaders of tax-exempt corporations.

All tax-exempt chapters grossing $25,000 or more per year from all sources of income are required to file IRS Form 990 annually. All tax-exempt chapters earning unrelated business income (e.g., merchandise sales) of $1,000 or more are required to file IRS Form 990T annually.

For chapters that are not tax-exempt, making donations payable to the UW Foundation or to the alumni association (not to the chapter) is the only way for the donor to receive a tax deduction. Forward all checks to the association so that individual receipts can be issued to support the deduction.

If an individual is getting anything for her or his scholarship contribution (a meal, for example) its market value must be subtracted from the total contribution, a

It is the obligation of each officer, board member or committee member to be aware of potential conflicts of interest involving personal financial transactions with the chapter. For example, if the chapter purchases food, beverages or other goods or services from the member, or a business where a member had a financial interest, that member should fully disclose that transaction to the board.

Thereafter, the officer, board member or committee member shall refrain from voting on or discussing matters related to that issue so as to avoid a conflict of interest.

The best protection a chapter has against legal liabilities is to use care and discretion in planning activities and to be sure that establishments with which it does business have adequate insurance coverage.

Alumni chapters providing a variety of activities for their members are exposed to various risks. Since it is not possible at the present time to provide a general liability policy to cover all alumni chapters, the information below should make you aware of the risks and suggest ways to deal with them.

First and foremost, WAA’s liability insurance does not cover alumni chapter programs. This is true because of the extreme diversity of chapter programs, and the fact that such coverage would be prohibitively expensive.

You should know that WAA cannot accept any liability for the actions or omissions of local chapter officers, or for liability that may arise if a chapter officer improperly carries out the activities of an alumni chapter in a negligent or reckless way.

In order to help local chapters limit potential legal liability, alumni chapters should:

• Be sure to use the services of a professional caterer or vendor whenever liquor or food is served at a chapter function. Individual directors and officers should ask their agents about the wisdom of obtaining additional personal liability coverage. Consult with your insurance agent when planning an activity to determine whether coverage is advisable or available for that kind of function. Chapters should consider getting liability coverage, including host liquor coverage and directors and officers (D&O) coverage. Consider the relative costs and benefits of annual coverage versus per-event coverage.
• Chapters may want to consider incorporating, as this helps restrict liability to the organization itself and to its directors and officers, rather than to every member. Members are still liable for their individual actions.
• In all areas of chapter operation, the key to avoiding liability is exercising care and using common sense in planning events. It is much better to avoid problems than to resolve them after they occur.

Wisconsin Alumni Association and it’s board of directors support the position the university has taken with respect to creating an environment that reduces or eliminates the adverse consequences of alcohol misuse. Furthermore, the purpose of this policy is to maximize safety and minimize the opportunity for liability that the university, university staff, volunteers and/or the alumni association may encounter should an accident occur at an off-campus alumni event.

Alcohol can be served at events that are hosted, sponsored, and/or supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Association, provided the alcohol is served and/or sold by a caterer/restaurant (third-party vendor) that is authorized and licensed to serve alcohol. Under no circumstances will “bring your own beer/alcohol” (BYOB) events be allowed.

Staff and volunteers must understand that the best protection against tragedy and legal liability is to use care and discretion in planning events. The following considerations should be used when planning events:

• Social activities at which the consumption of alcohol is the primary activity are not permitted.
• Food must be provided or available for purchase at events in which alcohol is being served.
• Non-alcoholic beverages must also be offered at events.
• Alcoholic beverages should not be served to minors, individuals who arrive intoxicated or individuals who become intoxicated at the event.
• Alcoholic beverages must be served by a qualified third-party alcohol server.
• Alcoholic beverages must not be served “self-service” style or by any other uncontrolled means.
• Alcoholic beverages must not be offered in a manner that promotes them as “free” or “without cost.”
• Alcoholic beverages must not be served by any volunteer or staff person representing the Association.
• If an instance should arise where a guest has consumed too much alcohol, staff and/or volunteers should notify the manager of the facility and ask him or her to handle the situation.

Events held on the property of the University of Wisconsin-Madison must follow established university policies and laws of the State of Wisconsin, which follow below. All alcohol served within this policy should be served by a caterer previously approved by the Wisconsin Alumni Association and the chief executive officer of the university. Consumption of alcoholic beverages on University of Wisconsin lands and buildings is regulated under Wisconsin Administrative Code UWS18.06(13):

The use or possession of alcoholic beverages is prohibited on all university premises, except in faculty and staff housing and as permitted by the chief executive officer, subject to statutory age restrictions. The chief executive officer may generally permit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages by promulgating institutional regulations in consultation with appropriate staff, or in specific instances by written permission.

This regulation extends to laboratories and individual offices. A university employee must agree to be present at and supervise any event where alcoholic beverages are served. Alcoholic beverages may not be served or consumed in academic, administrative, or research areas during usual business hours.