Chapter Housing

New Resource Now Available for Chapter House Corporations!

 

Click here to download "A Guide to Fundraising for Housing" for Chapter House Corporations.  This new resource provides tips and best practices for successful fundraising, explains tax law and Pi Phi guidelines, and offers recommended reading and additional resources. Questions about this guide? Contact Teri Chadwick, Executive Director.

Why are there complicated rules around fundraising for Greek housing on college campuses?

There are many reasons why fundraising for Greek housing is complicated, and many people working to address the issue. Charitable dollars are restricted in their payment for construction and maintenance of a chapter house, but under existing tax law, the IRS has issued rulings approving funding for the following types of educational areas:

• Study rooms or study areas
• Libraries
• Computer rooms
• Leadership training rooms
• Audio visual rooms
• Furniture and equipment for educational areas
• Operating fund for educational areas
• Computers, desks and chairs in rooms

How can Pi Beta Phi Foundation help with chapter housing?

There are two mechanisms the Foundation now has in place to assist Chapter House Corporations with fundraising for housing:

• Educational Area Grant Program (EAGP)
  An EAGP agreement is a mechanism allowing the Foundation to be the conduit for charitable gifts raised by a Chapter House Corporation (CHC) for its capital campaign or project, especially projects of $250,000 or more. There are several factors to weigh when considering this option, but an EAGP agreement executed between your CHC and the Foundation can be an effective and useful tool to raise charitable gifts to support your housing campaign or project. Click here for more information.
   
• Chapter House Improvement Program (CHIP) Fund
  A CHIP Fund is a program establishing chapter-specific funds to reimburse a CHC for general qualified improvements and expenses, one time or annually. Alumnae can make tax-deductible contributions in support of their chapter directly to the Foundation, designated for their chapter’s CHIP. While types of qualifying expenditures may currently be limited, until tax law changes, a CHIP Fund can help meet the needs of both donors and CHCs. A gift of $10,000 is required in order to establish a CHIP fund, although ongoing donations may be of any amount. Individual alumnae, chapters or Chapter House Corporations may provide initial funds to establish a CHIP. Click here for more information.