- 41 - Commissioner, 75 T.C. 337, 343 (1980); Aid to Artisans, Inc. v. Commissioner, 71 T.C. 202, 210-211 (1978). To determine whether the operational test has been satisfied, we look beyond “the four corners of the organization’s charter to discover 'the actual objects motivating the organization'”. American Campaign Academy v. Commissioner, supra at 1064. Although an organization might be engaged in only a single activity, that single activity might be directed toward multiple purposes, both exempt and nonexempt. If the nonexempt purpose is substantial in nature, the organization will not satisfy the operational test. See KJ’s Fund Raisers, Inc. v. Commissioner, 166 F.3d 1200 (2d Cir. 1998), affg. without published opinion T.C. Memo. 1997-424; Manning Association v. Commissioner, 93 T.C. 596, 603-605 (1989); American Campaign Academy v. Commissioner, supra at 1065; Copyright Clearance Ctr., Inc. v. Commissioner, 79 T.C. 793, 804 (1982). “The presence of a single * * * [non- exempt] purpose, if substantial in nature, will destroy the exemption regardless of the number or importance of truly * * * [exempt] purposes.” Better Bus. Bureau, Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279, 283 (1945). The fact that an organization engages in a trade or business is not conclusive of a substantial nonexempt purpose and does not, in and of itself, disqualify the organization from exemption under section 501(c)(3), provided the activity furthers orPage: Previous 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 Next
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