The Cougar Athletic Fund operates under the WSU Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization recognized as a public charity. In addition, gifts made to the Foundation qualify for the charitable contribution deduction under Section 170(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Service. 
 
Gifts that qualify for a full income tax deduction are those not associated with the right to purchase tickets for seating at university athletics events. This includes gifts made to capital projects, other special projects, athletics department operations, endowments, and the Annual Fund, where donors waive their rights to benefits.
 
According to current IRS regulations, gifts that are not tax-deductible are those that provide the right to purchase tickets for university athletics events. In addition, per-seat commitments, or suite lease commitments associated directly with home seating benefits may not be tax-deductible. 

Tax Savings Expired Information:

A key stimulus package expired on Dec. 31, 2021. 

• The universal charitable deduction is temporarily upgraded. The new deduction is $300 for single filers and $600 for married couples filing jointly. This is available to taxpayers who take the standard deduction. This tax incentive is available for cash gifts to qualified charities (but not to supporting organizations or donor advised funds).
• The cap on annual contributions for those who itemize increased from 60% to 100% of adjusted gross income for 2021. Any excess contributions available can be carried over to the next five years. (For corporations, the law raised the annual limit from 10% to 25% of taxable income.)

For more information regarding end-of-year giving, please visit the WSU Foundation website. As with any contribution, please consult your tax professional to determine the tax deductibility of your gift.