Benefit Concerts in U.S.-tax deductible?

Subject: RE: Benefit Concerts in U.S.-tax deductible?
From: GUEST,Kristoffer Ross
Date: 01 Mar 18 - 08:32 AM

Here's a quote from the Association of Fundraising professionals, which supports what we're thinking. You could only deduct if you pay more than the concert is worth, or donate the ticket back to the organization to resell. To me, $20 sound like FMV.

    "The tax-deductible or contributed portion of a ticket is the amount over and above the fair market value (FMV) of any benefits received. It is the responsibility of the organization putting on the event to determine the FMV and to inform the participants of the amount of the contributed portion.
    "The organization must make a good-faith estimate of what a comparable event would cost on an average day/night in a similar setting. The FMV of the event is deducted from the price of the ticket, and the remaining amount is the contributed portion. The host organization should inform participants in writing of the tax-deductible amount (either on the invitation or the receipt). The only way a donor may deduct the entire ticket price is to return the unused ticket to the host organization for resale."
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http://www.afpnet.org/ResourceCenter/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=3266
Best,
    Kristoffer

Subject: RE: Benefit Concerts in U.S.-tax deductible?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 11:36 PM

Hi, Kristoffer - that's my opinion, too, but I'm the minority-of-one opinion.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Benefit Concerts in U.S.-tax deductible?
From: GUEST,Kristoffer Ross
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 09:30 PM

Hi, Joe!
    I don't see how this would be any different than buying a ticket to the non-profit theater I work for- those are not tax-deductible.
    It MIGHT be if it were a $20 SUGGESTED donation, but letting anyone in, even if they don't pay. If there's no way to get in without paying $20, don't call it a donation.
I'd always say err to the cautious side- I doubt it would bring in many more people anyway.
    (I'm not in any way qualified to give legal advice, this is just the hunch of a young lad who's Tech Director in a Non-Profit.)
    Best,
Kristoffer Ross

Subject: Benefit Concerts in U.S.-tax deductible?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Feb 18 - 07:42 PM

I'm part of a group that wants to put on a concert to benefit an organization that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. We want to charge $20 per ticket, with all proceeds going to the organization. Some want to print "$20 tax-deductible donation" on the tickets and on flyers for the concert. Can we do that?

I thought that for admission to be tax-deductible, the buyer was not to receive anything of value in exchange for the ticket.

Now, I realize that the value of a Joe Offer performance is subject to debate, but many of the other performers are far more capable musicians than I. So, can we declare the admission tax-deductible, or not?

-Joe-