Tax-deductible giving for the projects that build your community.
Society 501 is a Washington State 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects donors with local government and civic organization projects through a transparent, governed, tax-advantaged giving platform. Whether you're a single named donor or a community of many, every dollar is fully tax-deductible and every gift is permanently recognized.
501(c)(3)
All donations fully tax-deductible
4
Giving instruments — Legacy, Crowd, Hybrid, GAP
2–7.5%
Fee — far below the 10–12% industry average
100%
Civic beneficiaries — local gov't & civic organizations
Who We Serve
Built for civic organizations.
Society 501 exists exclusively to serve local governments and civic organizations — the public institutions that build and improve community life but lack the 501(c)(3) status to receive tax-deductible donations directly. Local governments are not 501(c)(3) organizations. Without Society 501, a donor's gift to a civic project is not tax-deductible. We provide the 501(c)(3) umbrella — so your gift is fully deductible and every dollar reaches the project you care about.
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Cities & Counties
Municipal governments and county agencies with capital projects, park improvements, civic infrastructure, or community facilities needing philanthropic support.
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Park & Recreation Districts
Public park systems, recreation centers, trail networks, waterfront access projects, and open space improvements serving the broader community.
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Public Libraries
Public library systems seeking capital improvements, technology upgrades, community spaces, or collection expansions beyond their operating budget.
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School Districts
Public school districts with capital needs — athletic facilities, performing arts spaces, STEM labs, or campus improvements that benefit the whole community.
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Civic Organizations
Volunteer fire departments, civic associations, public safety organizations, and other civic entities serving a defined public benefit purpose.
?
Not sure?
If your organization serves a public benefit purpose but lacks 501(c)(3) status, contact us. Our board reviews every project individually.
Does your organization have a project?
Submit your project for board review. All submissions are confidential. No obligation.
The Process
Simple by design.
Society 501 bridges the gap between civic ambition and donor generosity — providing the 501(c)(3) infrastructure that local governments lack and the governance that donors deserve.
1
Project Listed
A city, park district, or civic organization submits a one-time project. Society 501's board verifies the charitable purpose and opens the fund.
2
Donors Give
One named donor or a community of many contributes through Society 501. All contributions are held in a governed escrow account. Every donor receives a tax receipt from Society 501.
3
Board Reviews
Society 501's Board independently verifies milestone completion and votes to approve disbursement. Both the donor and the board must authorize each release.
4
Community Wins
Project completed. Donors permanently recognized. Named donors receive naming rights. Fund closes and Society 501's role ends.
Funding Types
Four funds. One purpose.
Every Society 501 fund is designed for a single, defined, one-time civic project. The instruments differ only in donor structure.
Single Donor · Naming Rights
Legacy Gift Fund
2–3% administration fee
One donor funds the entire project. Full naming rights. A permanent legacy — a park, pavilion, or library wing that bears their name forever. The most cost-effective path to civic philanthropy at 2–3%, meaning 97–98 cents of every dollar reaches the project. Naming terms are formalized in a binding gift agreement with the beneficiary organization. The fund closes when the project is complete.
Many Donors · Community Recognition
Crowd Fund
7.5% administration fee
Tax-deductible civic crowdfunding — essentially a GoFundMe for local government, but with full IRS deductibility. Any number of donors, any amount, all recognized on a permanent donor wall. Unlike commercial crowdfunding platforms, every contribution to Society 501's Crowd Fund is fully tax-deductible. Unlike a DAF, donors know exactly where their money goes and see it used for a specific project they chose.
Lead Donor + Community
Hybrid Fund
Blended fee — based on split
A lead donor commits a significant anchor gift — perhaps 40–60% of the project cost — and the community is invited to complete the funding. The lead commitment is announced publicly, inspiring community participation. Recognition is structured by the board to honor both: a named primary feature alongside a community donor wall, or a co-named space. The fee is blended — 2–3% on the lead portion and 7.5% on the crowd portion, applied to total funds received.
Close a Funding Gap
GAP Fund
2–3% or 7.5% — depends on structure
The project is already substantially funded — through public grants, federal appropriations, or state funds — but has a defined remaining gap that stands between planning and ground-breaking. A single donor closing the entire gap earns full naming rights, even when the majority of the project was publicly funded. A crowd-funded gap receives community recognition. On a $12M project with $9.5M in grants, the $2.5M gap donor gets their name on the park — because without them, it doesn't get built.
Naming Rights
Your name. Your community. Forever.
Naming rights are a permanent record that someone cared enough to make something possible. Society 501's board structures recognition that is meaningful, appropriate, and lasting.
Full Naming Rights
Awarded when a single donor funds 100% via Legacy Gift, or when a single donor closes 100% of a publicly-funded project's gap. Sole credit for making it happen.
Shared Naming — Hybrid
The board crafts recognition honoring both the lead donor and the community — a named primary feature alongside a community donor wall, or creative co-naming.
Community Recognition — Crowd
Permanent donor recognition walls honoring every contributor, including anonymous donors. The community that built the project is remembered with it.
Anonymous Donors
Fully accommodated. Same tax receipts and escrow protections. Recognized as "Anonymous Friend of [Project Name]" on donor walls at their request.
Example Naming Structures
The Jane & Robert Chen Waterfront Park
Chen Family Pavilion · Citizens of Lake Forest Park Promenade
Built by the Community of Lake Forest Park — 2026
The Chen Family Waterfront · In Honor of All Who Gave
Lake Forest Park Waterfront — A Gift of the Chen Family
Board Discretion
All naming rights are subject to board approval and beneficiary consent, and are formalized in a written gift agreement binding on the beneficiary organization. The board ensures recognition is proportionate, appropriate, and lasting.
Governance
Two keys. Every disbursement.
Society 501 uses a dual-authorization escrow structure. No funds are released without both the donor's authorization and the board's approval. Donors retain meaningful control. The board exercises genuine discretion.
Key 1 — Donor
The donor releases the funds.
The donor — single or crowd — must authorize each disbursement. A donor who loses confidence can withhold. No DAF or commercial crowdfunding platform offers this right.
Key 2 — Society 501 Board
The board approves the release.
The Board independently verifies charitable use and approves each milestone release. Neither key alone moves funds. This satisfies the IRS requirement that fiscal sponsors exercise genuine discretion and control.
1
Donation Received
Funds deposited into Society 501 escrow. Tax receipt issued immediately. Principal held as a restricted asset.
2
Milestone Reached
Beneficiary notifies Society 501 that a project milestone has been reached and requests disbursement.
3
Board Reviews
Board independently reviews milestone documentation and votes to approve or decline the disbursement request.
4
Donor Authorizes
Donor is notified of board approval and asked to authorize release. Both authorizations required.
5
Funds Released
With both keys turned, funds disbursed to the beneficiary. Society 501 retains its administration fee.
Fee Structure
Transparent. Simple. Far below industry average.
Society 501's fees are calculated on total funds received — no hidden charges, no asset management fees. What you see is what you pay.
Fund
Donor Structure
Fee
Net to Project
Legacy Gift Fund
Single named donor
2–3%
97–98¢ per dollar
Crowd Fund
Community of donors
7.5%
92.5¢ per dollar
Hybrid Fund
Lead donor + crowd
Blended 2–7.5%
Depends on split
GAP Fund — Legacy
Single donor closes gap
2–3%
97–98¢ per dollar
GAP Fund — Crowd
Community closes gap
7.5%
92.5¢ per dollar
Comparable fiscal sponsors
10–12%
88–90¢ per dollar
Open Projects
Funding opportunities — open now.
The following civic projects are currently seeking donors. Express interest in any project — all conversations are confidential and there is no obligation.
GAP FundOpen
City of [Your City] · Washington State
Community Waterfront Park
A 1.9-acre public waterfront park on Lake Washington — the city's first public lake access. Design council-approved. State and federal grants secured 79% of the $12M cost. A single donor closing the gap earns full naming rights.
Total
$12,000,000
Secured
$9,500,000
Gap
$2,500,000
Secured79%
Crowd FundOpen
Park District · Washington State
Historic Bandstand Restoration
A beloved 1920s bandstand in the city's central park has fallen into disrepair. The Park District has approved the restoration plan. Every contributor permanently recognized on a donor plaque at the entrance.
Goal
$185,000
Raised
$42,000
Remaining
$143,000
Raised23%
Legacy GiftOpen
Public Library District · Washington State
Children's Wing Expansion
A $750,000 gift funds a new 3,200 sq ft children's wing — story room, technology lab, community reading space. Full naming rights available for the wing and principal spaces. Awaiting a named donor.
Gift Needed
$750,000
Fee
2–3%
Net to Library
$727,500+
Awaiting Named Donor—
Hybrid FundOpen
City Recreation Department · Washington State
All-Abilities Playground
A fully accessible playground designed for children of all abilities. Lead donor sought for 50% with naming rights. Community completes the funding. Board-crafted recognition honors both.
Total Goal
$420,000
Lead Gift
$210,000
Crowd Target
$210,000
Lead Gift Pending50/50 split
GAP FundFunded
County Fire District · Washington State
Station 7 Community Training Center
A volunteer fire department training room addition enabling community CPR and emergency preparedness classes. Federal SAFER grant covered 70%; community donors closed the 30% gap. Project funded and under construction.
Total
$380,000
Federal Grant
$266,000
Community
$114,000
Fully Funded100%
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List Your Project
Does your city or civic organization have a project that needs philanthropic support?
No projects match this filter.
Contact
Get in touch.
Whether you're a donor exploring civic giving, a city manager with a project, or just curious about what Society 501 can do for your community — we'd love to hear from you.
Email
bod@society501.org
We respond to all inquiries within 3 business days.
Website
society501.org
Location
Seattle, Washington
Society 501 is a Washington State 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. We serve civic organizations throughout Washington State.
For Civic Organizations
Ready to list a project?
Use the form on this page or click below to submit a project for board review. All submissions are confidential.
Express Interest
Tell us about your giving interest. All conversations are confidential and there is no obligation.
Register a Project
Submit your civic project for board review. All submissions are confidential. Our board reviews every project individually and will contact you within 5 business days.