Caner Funds board proposes separate nonprofit, seeks 501(c)(3) and EITC status to expand fundraising

Tom Wilson, president of the Caner Funds board, told the Upper Adams School District Curriculum and Extracurricular Committee that the volunteer organization plans to form a separate charitable foundation, obtain federal 501(c)(3) status and apply for designation under Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program to expand fundraising capacity.

"We want to become a foundation," Wilson said, and described three steps the group is pursuing: (1) designate the Caner Funds as a nonprofit organization, (2) obtain 501(c)(3) recognition from the IRS and (3) seek EITC designation. He emphasized that becoming a 501(c)(3) would make the organization eligible for a wider range of grants and would offer legal protection to volunteer officers.

The Caner Funds currently include endowed funds held at the Adams County Community Foundation and a non‑endowed ‘‘giving spree’’ fund that provides money for classroom grants and other one‑time supports. Wilson said endowed gifts remain managed by the community foundation and cannot be spent down immediately; a separate foundation would hold operating funds and grant dollars that the Caner Funds could deploy immediately.

Amanda Markle, head of the Caner Funds’ distribution committee, urged the board to support the plan so the organization can pursue larger donors and grants. "We had 39 grant applications and they are phenomenal," Markle said, arguing that the Caner Funds lack the current capacity to pursue major gifts and institutional grant programs.

In the committee Q&A, members asked whether existing endowed accounts would be moved to the new foundation. Wilson said they would remain with the Adams County Community Foundation and continue to generate distributions as before; the proposed foundation would add a separate checking account and fundraising capacity for immediate needs. Acting Superintendent Dr. Bell offered to present the board’s support request formally and described anticipated legal and filing costs.

Wilson estimated a turnkey service to prepare formation paperwork could be ‘‘somewhere south of $2,500’’ for the basic filings, but he said additional solicitor support and paralegal work would be needed for full 501(c)(3) and EITC applications. The Caner Funds asked the board to consider covering application and reasonable legal fees to complete nonprofit and tax‑credit registration; the committee received the presentation and discussion but did not take a formal vote on funding the legal fees at the meeting.

The Caner Funds’ stated goal is to expand support for classroom grants, scholarships and targeted student needs without increasing district taxes. The group emphasized that the advocacy and fundraising work would be separate from the district’s endowment accounts held at the Adams County Community Foundation.

Next steps: staff and Caner Funds representatives will return with more detailed cost estimates and draft documents if the board wants to consider contributing toward formation costs or solicitor fees.