09/26/2026
Big news for the Outdoor Veterans family! We are officially recognized by the IRS as a Public Charity. 🇺🇸
Transparency is incredibly important to our board, so we want to share exactly what this means for our future and for you. Every 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization is classified as either a private foundation or a public charity. When nonprofits are formed, the IRS often defaults them to a private foundation status, which is typically a structure meant for organizations funded by a single wealthy family or large corporation.
But because of the incredible, broad-based support we receive from this community, we were able to prove that we belong to the public. The IRS requires a public charity to demonstrate that it genuinely serves the public interest and receives a substantial amount of funding from the general public rather than a single restricted source. You helped us meet that exact public support test.
Here is why this reclassification is a massive win for our mission:
Better Tax Benefits for Donors: Cash donations to a public charity are tax-deductible up to 60% of your adjusted gross income, compared to the much lower 30% cap under our old private foundation status. This means your support comes with stronger personal tax advantages.
Built for Direct Action: While private foundations are usually structured just to write grants and checks to other nonprofits, public charities are expected to run their own programs directly in the community. This perfectly aligns with our hands-on mission, whether we are taking 20+ veterans out on our weekend fishing retreats or stepping up to run local storm relief operations.
Lower Administrative Overhead: Private foundations are subject to strict operating restrictions, annual excise taxes on investment income, and incredibly complex reporting requirements. Operating as a public charity removes many of those burdensome hurdles, ensuring more time and money goes straight into our programs.
We couldn’t have made this transition without your continuous support and belief in what we are building. Thank you for making Outdoor Veterans what it is today.
