Earlier this year, SCCA Foundation Board of Directors Chairman Bob
Introne announced a split between the SCCA University (the U)
and the SCCA Foundation. The purpose of this article is to clarify
the whys and wherefores of the move, outline the relationship of
the two programs and illustrate the expanded benefit the move has
for SCCA members.
Simply stated, the decision to align the SCCA University under SCCA,
Inc. instead of the SCCA Foundation was made based on two
needs: 1) the need to focus support toward the population most served
by the service or activity; and 2) the need to make resources
available for long term growth and success.
The IRS, under its 501(c)(3) charitable structure, allows an organization
to provide service in a number of areas (education, disaster
relief, memorial funding, research and development, etc…), with
the common thread being the service or activity must exist for
the good of the general public (for SCCA, this is defined as non-SCCA
members). The IRS also allows donations to 501(c)(3) organizations
to be tax deductible so long as the raised funds support programs
aimed at serving the general public’s well-being.
When the SCCA University was created in response to the need for
national support in motorsports training and education, we envisioned
that the U would provide such knowledge to both the general public
and SCCA members. However, as the U continued to
develop and grow, it became apparent that it was SCCA members who
were the primary recipient of the U’s curriculum and benefit.
This finding meant that the U needed to be repositioned and, subsequently,
is what instigated the move.
The SCCA Foundation’s three areas of focus remain: learning,
safety and community outreach. As in the past, the Foundation will
continue to encourage the element of active learning in all programs
that it supports. This is because we believe that learning is the
catalyst for promoting awareness and excellence in automotive enthusiast
activities.
The learning focus of the Foundation supports the Formula SAE Collegiate
Program, particularly through the Carroll Smith Mentor’s
Cup and the Dr. Bob Woods Cup. The Foundation’s focus on safety
is best seen through our Safety Symposium series and the distribution
of Symposium DVDs.
The Community Outreach focus continues to explore avenues for a
national program addressing teen car control concerns and skills
development. Donations to the SCCA Foundation will support one or
more of these programs and are tax deductible.
So where does that leave the U? Concurrent with the discussion of
putting the U into SCCA, Inc., the topic of how we, at the national
level, can better support our Regions and Divisions was also discussed.
We believe that SCCA Regions, and the Divisions they
comprise, are the life blood of SCCA. We believe that so strongly
that we created the Region Development Department (RDD).
We’ve rededicated financial and personnel resources to the
RDD and we have now moved the SCCA University under the purview of
the RDD. This will allow us to further develop the education of our
members in leadership, volunteer management, the business of
motorsports and skills development in our competition venues and also
gives us a stronger, more consistent, long-term basis in which
to provide education and training for our members.
The relationship between the U and the Foundation is still very
strong as learning will always be a core element for both programs.
They will also continue to share an interest in automotive and motorsports
activities. Even though they are separated by the population
they serve, each will have ample opportunity to support the other.
The U can provide resources to Foundation supported programs,
and the Foundation can entertain University grant requests for program
funding.
Contributions made to the SCCA Foundation in support of its learning,
safety and community outreach programs are still tax
deductible. Donations can also be made directly to the SCCA University
programs in support of their continued growth and development.
However, donations to the University are not tax deductible.
Tax deduction or not, supporting one or both programs moves us closer
to a more dynamic and comprehensive motorsports community.
Your continued financial support, and steps like separating the University
from the Foundation, allows us to strengthen each
program, which benefits us all.
Barbara Lundquist, CVA
Director, SCCA Region Development
blundquist@scca.com
