Center for Sacred Sciences

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Name(*)

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Email(*)

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Please answer the following questions about the proposed activity. This will help us determine whether the activity conforms to our mission statement and is in keeping with our non-profit status.

Title of Activity(*)

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Brief descriptive title of the proposed activity

Teacher(s) or Leader(s)(*)

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If applicable, who will be teaching or leading the activity?

Description(*)

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A paragraph or two describing the proposed activity, e.g., what will take place, what will be involved before, during, and after the activity, its purpose/goal, and any other details.

Date and time(*)

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Date(s) and time(s) the activity would take place

Location(*)

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Where the activity would take place

Number of participants(*)

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Indicate if there is a preferred size, or a minimum or maximum number of participants.

Registration(*)

No registration requiredRegistration will be handled by teacher/leader (workshops/seminars)Registration will be handled by CSS staff (retreats and year-long practitioners groups only)

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Who is invited/eligible to participate?(*)

General publicGreater CSS communityCurrent CSS members onlyOnly CSS members who qualify for introductory retreats [1]Only CSS members who qualify for advanced retreats [2]

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[1] CSS members who qualify for introductory retreats must: be currently enrolled in or have completed Foundations Studies; be currently enrolled in the CSS Distance Studies program and completed at least phase III of the course with a mentor; or have completed at least one year of practitioners’ group. [2] CSS members who qualify for advanced retreats must have completed at least one introductory retreat with CSS. Note: Without a compelling reason, CSS classes and events may not limit participation based on gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, age, or national origin. The board must approve exceptions to this policy.

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How does the activity directly serve the CSS mission?(*)

It preserves or promotes knowledge of gnosis testified to by the mystical traditions.It explains and interprets the teachings of the mystics of all religions in terms comprehensible to our modern, scientific age.It supports, engages in, and disseminates scholarly research leading to the establishment of a worldview in which science and mysticism are complementary modes of reality.It provides an opportunity for individuals to receive teachings and instruction in various disciplines and practices adapted from the great mystical traditions.It fosters and encourages the development of sacred communities of like-minded practitioners dedicated to enhancing their own spiritual practices and to serving the spiritual needs of humanity at large.The activity does not itself directly serve any part of the CSS charitable public mission described above; the event may require special consideration by the board.

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Check all that apply.

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Is the activity possibly a business or commercial activity that generates income?(*)

No, the activity does not generate any income from selling goods or services, charging admission, etc. There will be no charge to participants, but donations will be encouraged to support the CSS mission.Yes, the activity might generate income from selling goods or services, charging admission, etc. (Please provide details in the description of the event above.)

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The business activity satisfies the following allowable exception(s):(*)

The activity itself is directly and substantially related to (directly causes) furthering the CSS mission, and is not merely for producing income for CSS (even though the income could be used to further the mission).All goods sold will be donated to CSS, and all labor is performed by volunteers.The activity is not performed on a regular basis, i.e., is an infrequent event, such as a one-time benefit concert/dinner.The activity does not satisfy any of the above allowable exceptions; the IRS may consider the activity as producing unrelated business income. (Please connect with the CSS treasurer before continuing to develop this event.)

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Does the activity possibly result in a private benefit to anyone?(*)

No, the activity does not provide to any individual any private benefit (financial or otherwise).Yes, the activity might provide a private benefit to an individual (e.g., the person leading an event or a group using the building). (Please provide details in the description of the event above.)

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Private benefit is a broad concept that applies whenever any individual, whether associated with the organization or not, reaps a benefit that is not within keeping of the exempt purpose of the organization. Private benefit does not have to be financial. The IRS does not see private benefit in absolute terms. It is allowable when it is insubstantial or incidental to the main service being provided. It is not acceptable when a service or a financial transaction is purposefully aimed to benefit an individual or a narrowly defined group rather than the public.

Indicate type of private benefit:(*)

The private benefit is part of a public charitable benefit directed to the individual in their capacity as a member of a class of people served by the CSS mission.The private benefit is secondary and incidental to the accomplishment of the primary charitable purpose of the activity.The private benefit does not satisfy any of the above allowable exceptions; it may cause a problem.

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Might the activity possibly result in some private benefit to a CSS insider?(*)

No, the activity does not result in any private benefit being received by any CSS insider (e.g., a board member, teacher, staff, their family or their business).Yes, a CSS insider might privately benefits from the activity. (Please elaborate in the description of the event above.)

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Private inurement is an important part of private benefit and it happens when an insider — an individual who has significant influence over the organization — enters into an arrangement with the nonprofit and receives benefits greater than she or he provides in return. The most common example is excessive compensation, which the IRS condemns through Intermediate Sanctions, significant excise taxes. Insiders — referred to in IRS parlance as “disqualified persons” — can be high-level managers, board members, founders, major donors, highest paid employees, family members of the above, and a business where the listed persons own more than 35 percent of an interest. Private inurement is an absolute term. There is no de minimis restriction. If a nonprofit is organized to benefit an individual — even while fulfilling its tax-exempt purpose — it cannot be a tax-exempt organization. Under the state law, an organization may lose its nonprofit status.

Check any form of insider benefit that may apply:(*)

As a result of this activity, a CSS insider inappropriately benefits from CSS income or assets, directly or indirectly.The activity involves a transaction with a CSS insider that is in excess of a fair market value for goods or services provided to CSS by the insider.The activity results in some other kind of private benefit to a CSS insider that will need special consideration by the CSS board.

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If you are a sentient being, please click the box.(*)

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CSS Activity Proposal