[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 7]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.509(a)-4]

[Page 123-136]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.509(a)-4  Supporting organizations.

    (a) In general. (1) Section 509(a)(3) excludes from the definition 
of private foundation those organizations which meet the requirements of 
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) thereof.
    (2) Section 509(a)(3)(A) provides that a section 509(a)(3) 
organization must be organized, and at all times thereafter operated, 
exclusively for the benefit of, to perform the functions of, or to carry 
out the purposes of one or more specified organizations described in 
section 509(a) (1) or (2). Section 509(a)(3)(A) describes the nature of 
the support or benefit which a section 509(a)(3) organization must 
provide to one or more section 509(a) (1) or (2) organizations. For 
purposes of section 509(a)(3)(A), paragraph (b) of this section 
generally describes the organizational and operational tests; paragraph 
(c) of this section describes permissible purposes under the 
organizational test; paragraph (d) of this section describes the 
requirement of supporting or benefiting one or more specified publicly 
supported organizations; and paragraph (e) of this section describes 
permissible beneficiaries and activities under the operational test.
    (3) Section 509(a)(3)(B) provides that a section 509(a)(3) 
organization must be operated, supervised, or controlled by or in 
connection with one or more organizations described in section 509(a) 
(1) or (2). Section 509(a)(3)(B) and paragraph (f) of this section 
describe the nature of the relationship which must exist between the 
section 509(a)(3) and section 509(a) (1) or (2) organizations. For 
purposes of section 509(a)(3)(B), paragraph (g) of this section defines 
operated, supervised, or controlled by; paragraph (h) of this section 
defines supervised or controlled in connection with; and paragraph (i) 
of this section defines operated in connection with.
    (4) Section 509(a)(3)(C) provides that a section 509(a)(3) 
organization must not be controlled directly or indirectly by 
disqualified persons (other than foundation managers or organizations 
described in section 509(a) (1) or (2)). Section 509(a)(3)(C) and 
paragraph (j) of this section prescribe a limitation on the control over 
the section 509(a)(3) organization.
    (5) For purposes of this section, the term supporting organization 
means either an organization described in section 509(a)(3) or an 
organization seeking section 509(a)(3) status, depending upon its 
context. For purposes of this section, the term publicly supported 
organization means an organization described in section 509(a) (1) or 
(2).
    (b) Organizational and operational tests. (1) Under subparagraph (A) 
of section 509(a)(3), in order to qualify as a supporting organization, 
an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for the 
benefit of, to perform the functions of, or to carry out the purposes of 
(hereinafter referred to in this section as being organized and operated 
to support or benefit) one or more specified publicly supported 
organizations. If an organization fails to meet either the 
organizational or the

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operational test, it cannot qualify as a supporting organization.
    (2) In the case of supporting organizations created prior to January 
1, 1970, the organizational and operational tests shall apply as of 
January 1, 1970. Therefore, even though the original articles of 
organization did not limit its purposes to those required under section 
509(a)(3)(A) and even though it operated before January 1, 1970, for 
some purpose other than those required under section 509(a)(3)(A), an 
organization will satisfy the organizational and operational tests if, 
on January 1, 1970, and at all times thereafter, it is so constituted as 
to comply with these tests. For the special rules pertaining to the 
application of the organizational and operational tests to organizations 
terminating their private foundation status under the 12-month or 60-
month termination period provided under section 507(b)(1)(B) by becoming 
public under section 509(a)(3), see the regulations under section 
507(b).
    (c) Organizational test--(1) In general. An organization is 
organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in 
section 509(a)(3)(A) only if its articles of organization (as defined in 
Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(2)):
    (i) Limit the purposes of such organization to one or more of the 
purposes set forth in section 509(a)(3)(A);
    (ii) Do not expressly empower the organization to engage in 
activities which are not in furtherance of the purposes referred to in 
subdivision (i) of this subparagraph;
    (iii) State the specified publicly supported organizations on whose 
behalf such organization is to be operated (within the meaning of 
paragraph (d) of this section); and
    (iv) Do not expressly empower the organization to operate to support 
or benefit any organization other than the specified publicly supported 
organizations referred to in subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph.
    (2) Purposes. In meeting the organizational test, the organization's 
purposes, as stated in its articles, may be as broad as, or more 
specific than, the purposes set forth in section 509(a)(3)(A). 
Therefore, an organization which, by the terms of its articles, is 
formed for the benefit of one or more specified publicly supported 
organizations shall, if it otherwise meets the other requirements of 
this paragraph, be considered to have met the organizational test. 
Similarly, articles which state that an organization is formed to 
perform the publishing functions of a specified university are 
sufficient to comply with the organizational test. An organization which 
is operated, supervised, or controlled by (within the meaning of 
paragraph (g) of this section) or supervised or controlled in connection 
with (within the meaning of paragraph (h) of this section) one or more 
sections 509(a) (1) or (2) organizations to carry out the purposes of 
such organizations, will be considered as meeting the requirements of 
this paragraph if the purposes set forth in its articles are similar to, 
but no broader than, the purposes set forth in the articles of its 
controlling section 509(a) (1) or (2) organizations. If, however, the 
organization by which it is operated, supervised, or controlled is a 
publicly supported section 501(c) (4), (5), or (6) organization (deemed 
to be a section 509(a)(2) organization for purposes of section 509(a)(3) 
under the provisions of section 509(a)), the supporting organization 
will be considered as meeting the requirements of this paragraph if its 
articles require it to carry on charitable, etc., activities within the 
meaning of section 170(c)(2).
    (3) Limitations. An organization is not organized exclusively for 
the purposes set forth in section 509(a)(3)(A) if its articles expressly 
permit it to operate to support or benefit any organization other than 
those specified publicly supported organizations referred to in 
subparagraph (1)(iii) of this paragraph. Thus, for example, an 
organization will not meet the organizational test under section 
509(a)(3)(A) if its articles expressly empower it to pay over any part 
of its income to, or perform any service for, any organization other 
than those publicly supported organizations specified in its articles 
(within the meaning of paragraph (d) of this section). The fact that the 
actual operations of such organization have been exclusively for the 
benefit of the specified publicly supported organizations shall not be 
sufficient to permit it to meet the organizational test.

[[Page 125]]

    (d) Specified organizations--(1) In general. In order to meet the 
requirements of section 509(a)(3)(A), an organization must be organized 
and operated exclusively to support or benefit one or more specified 
publicly supported organizations. The manner in which the publicly 
supported organizations must be specified in the articles for purposes 
of section 509(a)(3)(A) will depend upon whether the supporting 
organization is operated, supervised, or controlled by or supervised or 
controlled in connection with (within the meaning of paragraphs (g) and 
(h) of this section) such organizations or whether it is operated in 
connection with (within the meaning of paragraph (i) of this section) 
such organizations.
    (2) Nondesignated publicly supported organizations; requirements. 
(i) Except as provided in subdivision (iv) of this subparagraph, in 
order to meet the requirements of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, 
the articles of the supporting organization must designate each of the 
specified organizations by name unless:
    (a) The supporting organization is operated, supervised, or 
controlled by (within the meaning of paragraph (g) of this section), or 
is supervised or controlled in connection with (within the meaning of 
paragraph (h) of this section) one or more publicly supported 
organizations; and
    (b) The articles of organization of the supporting organization 
require that it be operated to support or benefit one or more 
beneficiary organizations which are designated by class or purpose and 
which include:
    (1) The publicly supported organizations referred to in (a) of this 
subdivision (without designating such organizations by name); or
    (2) Publicly supported organizations which are closely related in 
purpose or function to those publicly supported organizations referred 
to in subdivision (i)(a) or this subparagraph (without designating such 
organization by name).
    (ii) If a supporting organization is described in subdivision (i)(a) 
of this subparagraph, it will not be considered as failing to meet the 
requirements of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph that the publicly 
supported organizations be specified merely because its articles of 
organization permit the conditions described in subparagraphs (3) (i), 
(ii), and (iii) and (4)(i) (a) and (b) of this paragraph.
    (iii) This subparagraph may be illustrated by the following 
examples:

    Example 1. X is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) which 
operates for the benefit of institutions of higher learning in the State 
of Y. X is controlled by these institutions (within the meaning of 
paragraph (g) of this section) and such institutions are all section 
509(a)(1) organizations. X's articles will meet the organizational test 
if they require X to operate for the benefit of institutions of higher 
learning or educational organizations in the State of Y (without naming 
each institution). X's articles would also meet the organizational test 
if they provided for the giving of scholarships to enable students to 
attend institutions of higher learning but only in the State of Y.
    Example 2. M is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) which 
was organized and operated by representatives of N church to run a home 
for the aged. M is controlled (within the meaning of paragraph (g) of 
this section) by N church, a section 509(a)(1) organization. The care of 
the sick and the aged are longstanding temporal functions and purposes 
of organized religion. By operating a home for the aged, M is operating 
to support or benefit N church in carrying out one of its temporal 
purposes. Thus M's articles will meet the organizational test if they 
require M to care for the aged since M is operating to support one of N 
church's purposes (without designating N church by name).

    (iv) A supporting organization will meet the requirements of 
subparagraph (1) of this paragraph even though its articles do not 
designate each of the specified organizations by name if:
    (a) There has been an historic and continuing relationship between 
the supporting organization and the section 509(a) (1) or (2) 
organizations, and
    (b) By reason of such relationship, there has developed a 
substantial identity of interests between such organizations.
    (3) Nondesignated publicly supported organizations; scope of rule. 
If the requirements of subparagraph (2)(i) (a) of this paragraph are 
met, a supporting organization will not be considered as failing the 
test of being organized for the benefit of specified organizations 
solely because its articles:
    (i) Permit the substitution of one publicly supported organization 
within

[[Page 126]]

a designated class for another publicly supported organization either in 
the same or a different class designated in the articles;
    (ii) Permit the supporting organization to operate for the benefit 
of new or additional publicly supported organizations of the same or a 
different class designated in the articles; or
    (iii) Permit the supporting organization to vary the amount of its 
support among different publicly supported organizations within the 
class or classes of organizations designated by the articles.

For example, X is an organization which operates for the benefit of 
private colleges in the State of Y. If X is controlled by these colleges 
(within the meaning of paragraph (g) of this section) and such colleges 
are all section 509(a)(1) organizations, X's articles will meet the 
organization test even if they permit X to operate for the benefit of 
any new colleges created in State Y in addition to the existing colleges 
or in lieu of one which has ceased to operate, or if they permit X to 
vary its support by paying more to one college than to another in a 
particular year.
    (4) Designated publicly supported organizations. (i) If an 
organization is organized and operated to support one or more publicly 
supported organizations and it is operated in connection with such 
organization or organizations, then, except as provided in subparagraph 
(2)(iv) of this paragraph, its articles of organization must, for 
purposes of satisfying the organizational test under section 
509(a)(3)(A), designate the specified organizations by name. Under the 
circumstances described in this subparagraph, a supporting organization 
which has one or more specified organizations designated by name in its 
articles, will not be considered as failing the test of being organized 
for the benefit of specified organizations solely because its articles:
    (a) Permit a publicly supported organization which is designated by 
class or purpose, rather than by name, to be substituted for the 
publicly supported organization or organizations designated by name in 
the articles, but only if such substitution is conditioned upon the 
occurrence of an event which is beyond the control of the supporting 
organization, such as loss of exemption, substantial failure or 
abandonment of operations, or dissolution of the publicly supported 
organization or organizations designated in the articles;
    (b) Permit the supporting organization to operate for the benefit of 
a beneficiary organization which is not a publicly supported 
organization, but only if such supporting organization is currently 
operating for the benefit of a publicly supported organization and the 
possibility of its operating for the benefit of other than a publicly 
supported organization is a remote contingency; or
    (c) Permit the supporting organization to vary the amount of its 
support between different designated organizations, so long as it meets 
the requirements of the integral part test set forth in paragraph (i)(3) 
of this section with respect to at least one beneficiary organization.
    (ii) If the beneficiary organization referred to in subdivision 
(i)(b) of this subparagraph is not a publicly supported organization, 
the supporting organization will not then meet the operational test of 
paragraph (e)(1) of this section. Therefore, if a supporting 
organization substituted in accordance with such subdivision (i)(b) a 
beneficiary other than a publicly supported organization and operated in 
support of such beneficiary organization, the supporting organization 
would not be described in section 509(a)(3).
    (iii) This subparagraph may be illustrated by the following example:

    Example. X is a charitable trust described in section 4947(a)(1) 
organized in 1968. Under the terms of its trust instrument, X's trustees 
are required to pay over all of X's annual income to M University 
Medical School for urological research. If M University Medical School 
is unable or unwilling to devote these funds to urological research, the 
trustees are required to pay all of such income to N University Medical 
School. However if N University Medical School is also unable or 
unwilling to devote these funds to urological research, X's trustees are 
directed to choose a similar organization willing to apply X's funds for 
urological research. From 1968 to 1973, X pays all of its net income to 
M University Medical School pursuant to the terms of the trust. M and N 
are publicly supported organizations. Although the contingent 
remainderman may not be a publicly

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supported organization, the possibility that X may operate for the 
benefit of other than a publicly supported organization is, in 1973, a 
remote possibility, and X will be considered as operating for the 
benefit of a specified publicly supported organization under subdivision 
(i)(b) of this subparagraph. However, if, at some future date, X 
actually substituted a nonpublicly supported organization as 
beneficiary, X would fail the requirements of the operational test set 
forth in paragraph (e)(1) of this section.

    (e) Operational test--(1) Permissible beneficiaries. A supporting 
organization will be regarded as operated exclusively to support one or 
more specified publicly supported organizations (hereinafter referred to 
as the operational test) only if it engages solely in activities which 
support or benefit the specified publicly supported organizations. Such 
activities may include making payments to or for the use of, or 
providing services or facilities for, individual members of the 
charitable class benefited by the specified publicly supported 
organization. A supporting organization may also, for example, make a 
payment indirectly through another unrelated organization to a member of 
a charitable class benefited by the specified publicly supported 
organization, but only if such a payment constitutes a grant to an 
individual rather than a grant to an organization. In determining 
whether a grant is indirectly to an individual rather than to an 
organization the same standard shall be applied as in Sec. 53.4945-
4(a)(4) of this chapter. Similarly, an organization will be regarded as 
operated exclusively to support or benefit one or more specified 
publicly supported organizations even if it supports or benefits an 
organization, other than a private foundation, which is described in 
section 501(c)(3) and is operated, supervised, or controlled directly by 
or in connection with such publicly supported organizations, or which is 
described in section 511(a)(2)(B). However, an organization will not be 
regarded as operated exclusively if any part of its activities is in 
furtherance of a purpose other than supporting or benefiting one or more 
specified publicly supported organizations.
    (2) Permissible activities. A supporting organization is not 
required to pay over its income to the publicly supported organizations 
in order to meet the operational test. It may satisfy the test by using 
its income to carry on an independent activity or program which supports 
or benefits the specified publicly supported organizations. All such 
support must, however, be limited to permissible beneficiaries in 
accordance with subparagraph (1) of this paragraph. The supporting 
organization may also engage in fund raising activities, such as 
solicitations, fund raising dinners, and unrelated trade or business to 
raise funds for the publicly supported organizations, or for the 
permissible beneficiaries.
    (3) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    Example 1. M is a separately incorporated alumni association of X 
University and is an organization described in section 501(c)(3). X 
University is designated in M's articles as the sole beneficiary of its 
support. M uses all of its dues and income to support its own program of 
educational activities for alumni, faculty, and students of X University 
and to encourage alumni to maintain a close relationship with the 
university and to make contributions to it. M does not distribute any of 
its income directly to X for the latter's general purposes. M pays no 
part of its funds to, or for the benefit of, any organization other than 
X. Under these circumstances, M is considered as operated exclusively to 
perform the functions and carry out the purpose of X. Although it does 
not pay over any of its funds to X, it carries on a program which both 
supports and benefits X.
    Example 2. N is a separately incorporated religious and educational 
organization described in section 501(c)(3). It was formed and is 
operated by Y Church to provide religious training for the members of 
the church. While it does not maintain a regular faculty, N conducts a 
Sunday school, weekly adult education lectures on religious subjects, 
and other similar activities for the benefit of the church members. All 
of its funds are disbursed in furtherance of such activities and no part 
of its funds is paid to, or for the benefit of, any organization other 
than Y Church. N is considered as operated exclusively to perform the 
educational functions of Y Church and to carry out its religious 
purposes by providing various forms of religious instruction.
    Example 3. P is an organization described in section 501(c)(3). Its 
primary activity is providing financial assistance to S, a publicly 
supported organization which aids underdeveloped nations in Central 
America. P's articles of organization designate S as the

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principal recipient of P's assistance. However, P also makes a small 
annual general purpose grant to T, a private foundation engaged in work 
similar to that carried on by S. T performs a particular function that 
assists in the overall aid program carried on by S. Even though P is 
operating primarily for the benefit of S, a specified publicly supported 
organization, it is not considered as operated exclusively for the 
purposes set forth in section 509(a)(3)(A). The grant to T, a private 
foundation, prevents it from complying with the operational test under 
section 509(a)(3)(A).
    Example 4. Assume the same facts as example 3, except that T is a 
section 501(c)(3) organization other than a private foundation and is 
operated in connection with S. Under these circumstances, P will be 
considered as operated exclusively to support S within the meaning of 
section 509(a)(3)(A).
    Example 5. Assume the same facts as example 3 except that instead of 
the annual general purpose grant made to T, each grant made by P to T is 
specifically earmarked for the training of social workers and teachers, 
designated by name, from Central America. Under these circumstances, P's 
grants to T would be treated as grants to the individual social workers 
and teachers under section 4945(d)(3) and Sec. 53.4945-4(a)(4), rather 
than as grants to T under section 4945(d)(4). These social workers and 
teachers are part of the charitable class benefitted by S. P would thus 
be considered as operating exclusively to support S within the meaning 
of section 509(a)(3)(A).

    (f) Nature of relationship required between organizations--(1) In 
general. Section 509(a)(3)(B) describes the nature of the relationship 
required between a section 501(c)(3) organization and one or more 
publicly supported organizations in order for such section 501(c)(3) 
organization to qualify under the provisions of section 509(a)(3). To 
meet the requirements of section 509(a)(3), an organization must be 
operated, supervised, or controlled by or in connection with one or more 
publicly supported organizations. If an organization does not stand in 
one of such relationships (as provided in this paragraph) to one or more 
publicly supported organizations, it is not an organization described in 
section 509(a)(3).
    (2) Types of relationships. Section 509(a)(3)(B) sets forth three 
different types of relationships, one of which must be met in order to 
meet the requirements of subparagraph (1) of this paragraph. Thus, a 
supporting organization may be:
    (i) Operated, supervised, or controlled by,
    (ii) Supervised or controlled in connection with, or
    (iii) Operated in connection with, one or more publicly supported 
organizations.
    (3) Requirements of relationships. Although more than one type of 
relationship may exist in any one case, any relationship described in 
section 509(a)(3)(B) must insure that:
    (i) The supporting organization will be responsive to the needs of 
demands of one or more publicly supported organizations; and
    (ii) The supporting organization will constitute an integral part 
of, or maintain a significant involvement in, the operations of one or 
more publicly supported organizations.
    (4) General description of relationships. In the case of supporting 
organizations which are operated, supervised, or controlled by one or 
more publicly supported organizations, the distinguishing feature of 
this type of relationship is the presence of a substantial degree of 
direction by the publicly supported organizations over the conduct of 
the supporting organization, as described in paragraph (g) of this 
section. In the case of supporting organizations which are supervised or 
controlled in connection with one or more publicly supported 
organizations, the distinguishing feature is the presence of common 
supervision or control among the governing bodies of all organizations 
involved, such as the presence of common directors, as described in 
paragraph (h) of this section. In the case of a supporting organization 
which is operated in connection with one or more publicly supported 
organizations, the distinguishing feature is that the supporting 
organization is responsive to, and significantly involved in the 
operations of, the publicly supported organization, as described in 
paragraph (i) of this section.
    (g) Meaning of operated, supervised, or controlled by. (1)(i) Each 
of the items operated by, supervised by, and controlled by, as used in 
section 509(a)(3)(B), presupposes a substantial degree of direction over 
the policies, programs, and activities of a supporting organization

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by one or more publicly supported organizations. The relationship 
required under any one of these terms is comparable to that of a parent 
and subsidiary, where the subsidiary is under the direction of, and 
accountable or responsible to, the parent organization. This 
relationship is established by the fact that a majority of the officers, 
directors, or trustees of the supporting organization are appointed or 
elected by the governing body, members of the governing body, officers 
acting in their official capacity, or the membership of one or more 
publicly supported organizations.
    (ii) A supporting organization may be operated, supervised, or 
controlled by one or more publicly supported organizations within the 
meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B) even though its governing body is not 
comprised of representatives of the specified publicly supported 
organizations for whose benefit it is operated within the meaning of 
section 509(a)(3)(A). A supporting organization may be operated, 
supervised, or controlled by one or more publicly supported 
organizations (within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B)) and be 
operated for the benefit of one or more different publicly supported 
organizations (within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(A)) only if it 
can be demonstrated that the purposes of the former organizations are 
carried out by benefitting the latter organizations.
    (2) The provisions of this paragraph may be illustrated by the 
following examples:

    Example 1. X is a university press which is organized and operated 
as a nonstock educational corporation to perform the publishing and 
printing for M University, a publicly supported organization. Control of 
X is vested in a Board of Governors appointed by the Board of Trustees 
of M University upon the recommendation of the president of the 
university. X is considered to be operated, supervised, or controlled by 
M University within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B).
    Example 2. Y Council was organized under the joint sponsorship of 
seven independent publicly supported organizations, each of which is 
dedicated to the advancement of knowledge in a particular field of 
social science. The sponsoring organizations organized Y Council as a 
means of pooling their ideas and resources for the attainment of common 
objectives, including the conducting of scholarly studies and formal 
discussions in various fields of social science. Under Y Council's by-
laws, each of the seven sponsoring organizations elects three members to 
Y's board of trustees for 3-year terms. Y's board also includes the 
president of Y Council and eight other individuals elected at large by 
the board. Pursuant to policies established or approved by the board, Y 
Council engages in research, planning, and evaluation in the social 
sciences and sponsors or arranges conferences, seminars, and similar 
programs for scholars and social scientists. It carries out these 
activities through its own full-time professional staff, through a part-
time committee of scholars, and through grant recipients. Under the 
above circumstances, Y Council is subject to a substantial degree of 
direction by the sponsoring publicly supported organizations. It is 
therefore considered to be operated, supervised, or controlled by such 
sponsoring organizations within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B).
    Example 3. Z is a charitable trust created by A in 1972. It has 
three trustees, all of whom are appointed by M University, a publicly 
supported organization. The trust was organized and is operated to pay 
over all of its net income for medical research to N, O, and P, each of 
which is specified in the trust, is a hospital described in section 
509(a)(1), and is located in the same city as M. Members of M's biology 
department are permitted to use the research facilities of N, O, and P. 
Under subparagraph (1)(ii) of this paragraph, Z is considered to be 
operated, supervised, or controlled by M within the meaning of section 
509(a)(3)(B), even though it is operated for the benefit of N, O, and P 
within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(A).

    (h) Meaning of supervised or controlled in connection with. (1) In 
order for a supporting organization to be supervised or controlled in 
connection with one or more publicly supported organizations, there must 
be common supervision or control by the persons supervising or 
controlling both the supporting organization and the publicly supported 
organizations to insure that the supporting organization will be 
responsive to the needs and requirements of the publicly supported 
organizations. Therefore, in order to meet such requirement, the control 
or management of the supporting organization must be vested in the same 
persons that control or manage the publicly supported organizations.
    (2) A supporting organization will not be considered to be 
supervised or controlled in connection with one or more publicly 
supported organizations if

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such organization merely makes payments (mandatory or discretionary) to 
one or more named publicly supported organizations, even if the 
obligation to make payments to the named beneficiaries is enforceable 
under State law by such beneficiaries and the supporting organization's 
governing instrument contains provisions whose effect is described in 
section 508(e)(1) (A) and (B). Such arrangements do not provide a 
sufficient connection between the payor organization and the needs and 
requirements of the publicly supported organizations to constitute 
supervision or control in connection with such organizations.
    (3) The provisions of this paragraph may be illustrated by the 
following examples:

    Example 1. A, a philanthropist, founded X school for orphan boys (a 
publicly supported organization). At the same time A founded X school, 
he also established Y trust into which he transferred all of the 
operating assets of the school, together with a substantial endowment 
for it. Under the provisions of the trust instrument, the same persons 
who control and manage the school also control and manage the trust. The 
sole function of Y trust is to hold legal title to X school's operating 
and endowment assets, to invest the endowment assets and to apply the 
income from the endowment to the benefit of the school in accordance 
with direction from the school's governing body. Under these 
circumstances, Y trust is organized and operated for the benefit of X 
school and is supervised or controlled in connection with such 
organization within the meaning of section 509(a)(3). The fact that the 
same persons control both X and Y insures Y's responsiveness to X's 
needs.
    Example 2. In 1972, B, a philanthropist, created P, a charitable 
trust for the benefit of Z, a symphony orchestra described in section 
509(a)(2). B transferred 100 shares of common stock to P. Under the 
terms of the trust instrument, the trustees (none of whom is under the 
control of B) were required to pay over all of the income produced by 
the trust assets to Z. The governing instrument of P contains certain 
provisions whose effect is described in section 508(e)(1) (A) and (B). 
Under applicable State law, Z can enforce the provisions of the trust 
instrument and compel payment to Z in a court of equity. There is no 
relationship between the trustees of P and the governing body of Z. 
Under these circumstances P is not supervised or controlled in 
connection with a publicly supported organization. Because of the lack 
of any common supervision or control by the trustees of P and the 
governing body of Z, P is not supervised or controlled in connection 
with Z within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B).
    Example 3. T is a charitable trust described in section 501(c)(3) 
and created under the will of D. Prior to his death, D was a leader and 
very active in C church, a publicly supported organization. D created T 
to perpetuate his interest in, and assistance to, C. The sole purpose of 
T was to provide financial support for C and its related institutions. 
All of the original named trustees of T are members of C, are leaders in 
C, and hold important offices in one or more of C's related 
institutions. Successor trustees of T are by the terms of the charitable 
trust instrument to be chosen by the remaining trustees and are also to 
be members of C. All of the original trustees have represented that any 
successor trustee will be a leader in C and will hold an important 
office in one or more of C's related institutions. By reason of the 
foregoing relationship T and its trustees are responsive to the needs 
and requirements of C and its related institutions. Under these 
circumstances, T trust is organized and operated for the benefit of C 
and is supervised or controlled in connection with C and its related 
institutions within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B).

    (i) Meaning of operated in connection with--(1) General rule. (i) 
Except as provided in subdivisions (ii) and (iii) of this subparagraph 
and subparagraph (4) of this paragraph, a supporting organization will 
be considered as being operated in connection with one or more publicly 
supported organizations only if it meets the responsiveness test which 
is defined in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph and the integral part 
test which is defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph.
    (ii) In the case of an organization which was supporting or 
benefiting one or more publicly supported organizations before November 
20, 1970, additional facts and circumstances, such as a historic and 
continuing relationship between organizations, may be taken into 
account, in addition to the factors described in subparagraph (2) of 
this paragraph, to establish compliance with the responsiveness test.
    (iii) If:
    (a) A supporting organization can establish that it has met the 
integral part test set forth in subparagraph (3)(iii) of this paragraph 
for any 5-year period, and
    (b) Such organization cannot meet the requirements of such test for 
its

[[Page 131]]

current taxable year solely because the amount received by one or more 
of the publicly supported beneficiary organizations from such supporting 
organization is no longer sufficient, with respect to such beneficiary 
organizations, to satisfy subparagraph (3)(iii) of this paragraph, and
    (c) There has been a historic and continuing relationship of support 
between such organizations between the end of such 5-year period and the 
taxable year in question,

then such supporting organization will be considered as meeting the 
requirements of the integral part test in subparagraph (3)(iii) of this 
paragraph for such taxable year.
    (2) Responsiveness test. (i) For purposes of this paragraph, a 
supporting organization will be considered to meet the responsiveness 
test if the organization is responsive to the needs or demands of the 
publicly supported organizations within the meaning of this 
subparagraph. In order to meet this test, either subdivision (ii) or 
subdivision (iii) of this subparagraph must be satisfied.
    (ii)(a) One or more officers, directors, or trustees of the 
supporting organization are elected or appointed by the officers, 
directors, trustees, or membership of the publicly supported 
organizations;
    (b) One or more members of the governing bodies of the publicly 
supported organizations are also officers, directors, or trustees of, or 
hold other important offices in, the supporting organization; or
    (c) The officers, directors, or trustees of the supporting 
organization maintain a close and continuous working relationship with 
the officers, directors, or trustees of the publicly supported 
organizations; and
    (d) By reason of (a), (b), or (c) of this subdivision, the officers, 
directors or trustees of the publicly supported organizations have a 
significant voice in the investment policies of the supporting 
organization, the timing of grants, the manner of making them, and the 
selection of recipients by such supporting organization, and in 
otherwise directing the use of the income or assets of such supporting 
organization.
    (iii)(a) The supporting organization is a charitable trust under 
State law;
    (b) Each specified publicly supported organization is a named 
beneficiary under such charitable trust's governing instrument; and
    (c) The beneficiary organization has the power to enforce the trust 
and compel an accounting under State law.
    (3) Integral part test; general rule. (i) For purposes of this 
paragraph, a supporting organization will be considered to meet the 
integral part test if it maintains a significant involvement in the 
operations of one or more publicly supported organizations and such 
publicly supported organizations are in turn dependent upon the 
supporting organization for the type of support which it provides. In 
order to meet this test, either subdivision (ii) or subdivision (iii) of 
this subparagraph must be satisfied.
    (ii) The activities engaged in for or on behalf of the publicly 
supported organizations are activities to perform the functions of, or 
to carry out the purposes of, such organizations, and, but for the 
involvement of the supporting organization, would normally be engaged in 
by the publicly supported organizations themselves.
    (iii) (a) The supporting organization makes payments of 
substantially all of its income to or for the use of one or more 
publicly supported organizations, and the amount of support received by 
one or more of such publicly supported organizations is sufficient to 
insure the attentiveness of such organizations to the operations of the 
supporting organization. In addition, a substantial amount of the total 
support of the supporting organization must go to those publicly 
supported organizations which meet the attentiveness requirement of this 
subdivision with respect to such supporting organization. Except as 
provided in (b) of this subdivision, the amount of support received by a 
publicly supported organization must represent a sufficient part of the 
organization's total support so as to insure such attentiveness. In 
applying the preceding sentence, if such supporting organization makes 
payments to, or for the use of, a particular department or school of a 
university, hospital or church, the total support of the department or 
school shall be substituted for

[[Page 132]]

the total support of the beneficiary organization.
    (b) Even where the amount of support received by a publicly 
supported beneficiary organization does not represent a sufficient part 
of the beneficiary organization's total support, the amount of support 
received from a supporting organization may be sufficient to meet the 
requirements of this subdivision if it can be demonstrated that in order 
to avoid the interruption of the carrying on of a particular function or 
activity, the beneficiary organization will be sufficiently attentive to 
the operations of the supporting organization. This may be the case 
where either the supporting organization or the beneficiary organization 
earmarks the support received from the supporting organization for a 
particular program or activity, even if such program or activity is not 
the beneficiary organization's primary program or activity so long as 
such program or activity is a substantial one.
    (c) This subdivision may be illustrated by the following examples:

    Example 1. X, an organization described in section 501(c)(3), pays 
over all of its annual net income to Y, a museum described in section 
509(a)(2). X meets the responsiveness test described in subparagraph (2) 
of this paragraph. In recent years, Y has earmarked the income received 
from X to underwrite the cost of carrying on a chamber music series 
consisting of 12 performances a year which are performed for the general 
public free of charge at its premises. Because of the expense involved 
in carrying on these recitals, Y is dependent upon the income from X for 
their continuation. Under these circumstances, X will be treated as 
providing Y with a sufficient portion of Y's total support to assure Y's 
attentiveness to X's operations, even though the chamber music series is 
not the primary part of Y's activities.
    Example 2. M, an organization described in section 501(c)(3), pays 
over all of its annual net income to the Law School of N University, a 
publicly supported organization. M meets the responsiveness test 
described in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph. M has earmarked the 
income paid over to N's Law School to endow a chair in its Department of 
International Law. Without M's continued support, N might not continue 
to maintain this chair. Under these circumstances, M will be treated as 
providing N with a sufficient portion of N's total support to assure N's 
attentiveness to M's operations.

    (d) All pertinent factors, including the number of beneficiaries, 
the length and nature of the relationship between the beneficiary and 
supporting organization and the purpose to which the funds are put (as 
illustrated by subdivision (iii) (b) and (c) of this subparagraph), will 
be considered in determining whether the amount of support received by a 
publicly supported beneficiary organization is sufficient to insure the 
attentiveness of such organization to the operations of the supporting 
organization. Normally the attentiveness of a beneficiary organization 
is motivated by reason of the amounts received from the supporting 
organization. Thus, the more substantial the amount involved, in terms 
of a percentage of the publicly supported organization's total support 
the greater the likelihood that the required degree of attentiveness 
will be present. However, in determining whether the amount received 
from the supporting organization is sufficient to insure the 
attentiveness of the beneficiary organization to the operations of the 
supporting organization (including attentiveness to the nature and yield 
of such supporting organization's investments), evidence of actual 
attentiveness by the beneficiary organization is of almost equal 
importance. An example of acceptable evidence of actual attentiveness is 
the imposition of a requirement that the supporting organization furnish 
reports at least annually for taxable years beginning after December 31, 
1971, to the beneficiary organization to assist such beneficiary 
organization in insuring that the supporting organization has invested 
its endowment in assets productive of a reasonable rate of return 
(taking appreciation into account) and has not engaged in any activity 
which would give rise to liability for a tax imposed under sections 
4941, 4943, 4944, or 4945 if such organization were a private 
foundation. The imposition of such requirement within 120 days after 
October 16, 1972, will be deemed to have retroactive effect to January 
1, 1970, for purposes of determining whether a supporting organization 
has met the requirements of this subdivision for its first two taxable 
years beginning after December 31,

[[Page 133]]

1969. The imposition of such requirement is, however, merely one of the 
factors in determining whether a supporting organization is complying 
with this subdivision and the absence of such requirement will not 
preclude an organization from classification as a supporting 
organization based on other factors.
    (e) However, where none of the beneficiary organizations is 
dependent upon the supporting organization for a sufficient amount of 
the beneficiary organization's support within the meaning of this 
subdivision, the requirements of this subparagraph will not be 
satisfied, even though such beneficiary organizations have enforceable 
rights against such organization under State law.
    (4) Integral part test; transitional rule. (i) A trust (whether or 
not exempt from taxation under section 501(a)) which on November 20, 
1970, has met and continues to meet the requirements of subdivisions 
(ii) through (vi) of this subparagraph shall be treated as meeting the 
requirements of the integral part test (whether or not it meets the 
requirements of subparagraph (3) (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph) if for 
taxable years beginning after October 16, 1972, the trustee of such 
trust makes annual written reports to all of the beneficiary publicly 
supported organizations with respect to such trust setting forth a 
description of the assets of the trust, including a detailed list of the 
assets and the income produced by such assets. A trust organization 
which meets the requirements of this subparagraph may request a ruling 
that it is described in section 509(a)(3) in such manner as the 
Commissioner may prescribe.
    (ii) All the unexpired interests in the trust are devoted to one or 
more purposes described in section 170(c) (1) or (2)(B) and a deduction 
was allowed with respect to such interests under section 170, 545(b)(2), 
556(b)(2), 642(c), 2055, 2106(a)(2), 2522, or corresponding provisions 
of prior law (or would have been allowed such a deduction if the trust 
had not been created before 1913).
    (iii) The trust was created prior to November 20, 1970, and did not 
receive any grant, contribution, bequest or other transfer on or after 
such date. For purpose of this subdivision, a split-interest trust 
described in section 4947(a)(2) which was created prior to November 20, 
1970, which was irrevocable on such date, and which becomes a charitable 
trust described in section 4947(a)(1) after such date shall be treated 
as having been created prior to such date;
    (iv) The trust is required by its governing instrument to distribute 
all of its net income currently to a designated publicly supported 
beneficiary organization. Where more than one publicly supported 
beneficiary organization is designated in the governing instrument of a 
trust, all of the net income must be distributable and must be 
distributed currently to each of such beneficiary organizations in fixed 
shares pursuant to such governing instrument. For purposes of this 
subdivision, the governing instrument of a charitable trust shall be 
treated as requiring distribution to a designated beneficiary 
organization where the trust instrument describes the charitable purpose 
of the trust so completely that such description can apply to only one 
existing beneficiary organization and is of sufficient particularity as 
to vest in such organization rights against the trust enforceable in a 
court possessing equitable powers;
    (v) The trustee of the trust does not have discretion to vary either 
the beneficiaries or the amounts payable to the beneficiaries. For 
purposes of this subdivision, a trustee shall not be treated as having 
such discretion where the trustee has discretion to make payments of 
principal to the single section 509(a) (1) or (2) organization that is 
currently entitled to receive all of the trust's income or where the 
trust instrument provides that the trustee may cease making income 
payments to a particular charitable beneficiary in the event of certain 
specific occurrences, such as the loss of exemption under section 
501(c)(3) or classification under section 509(a) (1) or (2) by the 
beneficiary or the failure of the beneficiary to carry out its 
charitable purpose properly;
    (vi) None of the trustees would be disqualified persons within the 
meaning of section 4946(a) (other than foundation managers under 
4946(a)(1)(B)) with respect to the trust if such trust were treated as a 
private foundation.

[[Page 134]]

    (5) Examples. The provisions of this paragraph may be illustrated by 
the following examples:

    Example 1. N is a nonprofit publishing organization described in 
section 501(c)(3). It does all of the publishing and printing for the 
churches of a particular denomination (which are publicly supported 
organizations). Control of the organization is vested in a five-man 
Board of Directors, which includes one church official and four lay 
members of the congregations of that denomination. N does no other 
printing or publishing. It publishes all of the churches' religious as 
well as secular tracts and materials. Under these circumstances, N is 
considered as being operated in connection with a number of publicly 
supported organizations. Publishing religious literature is an integral 
part of the churches' activities; it is carried on by N on behalf of the 
churches, and there is sufficient direction of N's activities by the 
churches to insure responsiveness by N to their needs.
    Example 2. O, an alumni association described in section 501(c)(3), 
was formed to promote a spirit of loyalty among graduates of Y 
University, a publicly supported organization, and to effect united 
action in promoting the general welfare of the university. A special 
committee of Y's governing board meets with O and makes recommendations 
as to the allocation of O's program of gifts and scholarships to the 
university and its students. O also provides certain functions which 
would otherwise be part of Y's functions, such as maintaining records of 
alumni. O publishes a bulletin to keep alumni aware of the activities of 
the university. Under these circumstances O is considered to be operated 
in connection with Y within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)(B).
    Example 3. P is a trust created under the will of A for the purpose 
of furthering musical education. As a means of accomplishing its 
purposes P founded X, a school of music described in section 509(a)(1). 
The trust instrument is thereafter amended to name X specifically as the 
beneficiary of the trust. X can enforce its equitable rights as trust 
beneficiary under State law. Members of the governing body of X form a 
minority of the foundation managers of P. For many years the 
organizations have been operated in close association with each other. P 
provides the principal endowment fund for the operation of X. In 
addition, while the governing body of X concerns itself with artistic 
policies, the foundation managers of P handle the budgetary concerns of 
X. X's annual budget is prepared with the assistance of P's foundation 
managers and is approved by P. Under these circumstances, P is 
considered to be operated in connection with X within the meaning of 
section 509(a)(3)(B).
    Example 4. Q is a charitable trust described in section 501(c)(3) 
and created under the will of C. Prior to his death, C built H Hospital 
and deeded it to I University for use as a training and clinical 
facility for I's medical school. Both H and I are publicly supported 
organizations. C created Q to perpetuate his interest in, and assistance 
to, H Hospital. The sole purpose of Q was to provide financial support 
for H, the beneficiary organization named in C's will. H can enforce its 
equitable rights as trust beneficiary under State law. After the death 
of C, Q continued to provide substantial support for H. It was primarily 
responsible for the erecting of a new hospital building, as well as the 
construction of other facilities for the hospital. In addition, each 
medical department of H indicates during the year what its greatest 
needs are. Once these requests are approved by the medical director of I 
University's Medical School, they are presented to Q, and subject to the 
amount of Q's income (all of which is applied to H), these requests are 
honored and the new equipment of facility is supplied through Q's funds. 
The governing body of Q and those of H and I are completely independent. 
However, based on the above facts, Q is responsive to the needs of H, Q 
maintains a substantial involvement in the conduct of H, and H is 
substantially dependent upon the receipt of support from Q. Accordingly, 
Q is operated in connection with one or more section 509(a)(1) 
organizations within the meaning of section 509(a)(3)B).
    Example 5. R is a charitable trust created under the will of B, who 
died in 1971. Its purpose is to hold assets as an endowment for S, a 
hospital, T, a university, and U, a national medical research 
organization (all being publicly supported organizations and 
specifically named in the trust instrument), and to distribute all of 
the income each year in equal shares among the three named 
beneficiaries. S, T, and U have certain enforceable rights against R 
under State law, including the right to compel an accounting. Except for 
making these annual payments, the trustees of R have no further contacts 
or relationships with S, T, or U. The payments by R to such 
organizations do not comprise a sufficient amount of support to meet the 
requirements of subparagraph (3) of this paragraph for any of these 
organizations. Although R meets the responsiveness test described in 
subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, it does not meet the integral part 
test described in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph. R is not, 
therefore, considered as operated in connection with one or more 
publicly supported organizations within the meaning of section 
509(a)(3)B). However, if B had died prior to November 20, 1970, R could, 
upon meeting all of the requirements of subparagraph (4) of this 
paragraph, be considered as operated in connection with one or more of 
publicly supported organizations within the meaning of section 
509(a)(3)(B).

[[Page 135]]

    Example 6. S is a charitable trust described in section 501(c)(3). S 
was created under the will of C in 1910 for the purpose of providing 
aged and indigent women with care and shelter. Prior to his death in 
1910, C helped to create T, a home for aged women, through a substantial 
inter vivos contribution. Although T is not specifically named in C's 
will, the trustees of S (who are completely independent of T) have paid 
over all of S's income to T in furtherance of the trust's purposes since 
the death of C. S establishes that between 1910 and 1955, the amount of 
support received by T from S was sufficient support to satisfy the 
provisions of Sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii). In 1956, T merged with U, a 
home for aged and indigent men, and V, a nursing home. S continued to 
pay all its income to W, the organization resulting from the merger of 
T, U, and V. However, as a result of the merger and certain changes in 
the methods of financing the operations, the payments made by S after 
1955 no longer were sufficient to satisfy the integral part test of 
Sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii). W qualifies as an organization described in 
section 509(a)(2). For the taxable year 1971, S meets the responsiveness 
test under Sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(2)(ii). Although W is not a named 
beneficiary under S's governing instrument, pursuant to Sec. 1.509(a)-
4(i)(1)(ii) the historic and continuing relationship between the 
organizations will be taken into account to establish compliance with 
the responsiveness test. Furthermore, pursuant to Sec. 1.509(a)-
4(i)(1)(iii), under the facts set forth above, the integral part test 
under Sec. 1.509(a)-4(i)(3)(iii) will be considered as being satisfied 
for the taxable year 1971. Thus S will be considered as operated in 
connection with W for the taxable year 1971.

    (j) Control by disqualified persons-- (1) In general. Under the 
provisions of section 509(a)(3)(C) a supporting organization may not be 
controlled directly or indirectly by one or more disqualified persons 
(as defined in section 4946) other than foundation managers and other 
than one or more publicly supported organizations. If a person who is a 
disqualified person with respect to a supporting organization, such as a 
substantial contributor to the supporting organization, is appointed or 
designated as a foundation manager of the supporting organization by a 
publicly supported beneficiary organization to serve as the 
representative of such publicly supported organization, then for 
purposes of this paragraph such person will be regarded as a 
disqualified person, rather than as a representative of the publicly 
supported organization. An organization will be considered controlled, 
for purposes of section 509(a)(3)(C), if the disqualified persons, by 
aggregating their votes or positions of authority, may require such 
organization to perform any act which significantly affects its 
operation or may prevent such organization from performing such act. 
This includes, but is not limited to, the right of any substantial 
contributor or his spouse to designate annually the recipients, from 
among the publicly supported organizations of the income attributable to 
his contribution to the supporting organization. Except as provided in 
subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, a supporting organization will be 
considered to be controlled directly or indirectly by one or more 
disqualified persons if the voting power of such persons is 50 percent 
or more of the total voting power of the organization's governing body 
or if one or more of such persons have the right to exercise veto power 
over the actions of the organization. Thus, if the governing body of a 
foundation is composed of five trustees, none of whom has a veto power 
over the actions of the foundation, and no more than two trustees are at 
any time disqualified persons, such foundation will not be considered to 
be controlled directly or indirectly by one or more disqualified persons 
by reason of this fact alone. However, all pertinent facts and 
circumstances including the nature, diversity, and income yield of an 
organization's holdings, the length of time particular stocks, 
securities, or other assets are retained, and its manner of exercising 
its voting rights with respect to stocks in which members of its 
governing body also have some interest, will be taken into consideration 
in determining whether a disqualified person does in fact indirectly 
control an organization.
    (2) Proof of independent control. Notwithstanding subparagraph (1) 
of this paragraph, an organization shall be permitted to establish to 
the satisfaction of the Commissioner that disqualified persons do not 
directly or indirectly control it. For example, in the case of a 
religious organization operated in connection with a church, the fact 
that the majority of the organization's governing body is composed of

[[Page 136]]

lay persons who are substantial contributors to the organization will 
not disqualify the organization under section 509(a)(3)(C) if a 
representative of the church, such as a bishop or other official, has 
control over the policies and decisions of the organization.
    (k) Organizations operated in conjunction with certain section 
501(c) (4), (5), or (6) organizations. (1) For purposes of section 
509(a)(3), an organization which is operated in conjunction with an 
organization described in section 501(c) (4), (5), or (6) (such as a 
social welfare organization, labor or agricultural organization, 
business league, or real estate board) shall, if it otherwise meets the 
requirements of section 509(a)(3), be considered an organization 
described in section 509(a)(3) if such section 501(c) (4), (5), or (6) 
organization would be described in section 509(a)(2) if it were an 
organization described in section 501(c)(3). The section 501(c) (4), 
(5), or (6) organization, which the supporting organization is operating 
in conjunction with, must therefore meet the one-third tests of a 
publicly supported organization set forth in section 509(a)(2).
    (2) This paragraph may be illustrated by the following example:

    Example. X medical association, described in section 501(c)(6), is 
supported by membership dues and funds resulting from the performance of 
its exempt activities. This support, which is entirely from permitted 
sources, constitutes more than one-third of X's support. X does not 
normally receive more than one-third of its support from items described 
in section 509(a)(2)(B). X organized and operated an endowment fund for 
the sole purpose of furthering medical education. The fund is an 
organization described in section 501(c)(3). Since more than one-third 
of X's support is derived from membership dues and from funds resulting 
from the performance of exempt purposes (all of which are from permitted 
sources) and not more than one-third of its support is from items 
described in section 509(a)(2)(B), it would be a publicly supported 
organization described in section 509(a)(2) if it were described in 
section 501(c)(3) rather than section 501(c)(6). Accordingly, if the 
fund otherwise meets the requirements of section 509(a)(3) with respect 
to X, it will be considered an organization described in section 
509(a)(3).

[T.D. 7212, 37 FR 21916, Oct. 17, 1972, as amended by T.D. 7784, 46 FR 
37890, July 23, 1981]