Vivian Marlowe
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global volunteer organization that helps rehabilitate alcoholics, drug abusers, and compulsive gamblers. AA groups are typically self-supporting and decline outside contributions, with members making voluntary contributions to support their local groups. However, some AA groups are registered as nonprofit organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which means they are tax-exempt and can receive tax-deductible donations. These groups are required to file Form 990 with the IRS annually to maintain their tax-exempt status. This raises the question: are all AA groups required to apply for 501(c)(3) status, or is it optional?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Funding | Alcoholics Anonymous groups are funded through contributions from members, book sales, and literature sales. |
| Financial Reporting | Alcoholics Anonymous groups are required to file Form 990, an information return for organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status. |
| Tax Status | Alcoholics Anonymous groups are considered nonprofit organizations, with donations being tax-deductible. |
| Independence | Alcoholics Anonymous is an independent, global volunteer organization with no alliances or endorsements of other groups or products. |
| Meetings | Meetings are organized by volunteer members, and there is no divide between clients and service providers, as most members inhabit both roles. |
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What You'll Learn
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc. is a non-profit organisation
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. is a non-profit organisation that operates in 180 countries. It is an international fellowship of people who have found a solution to a drinking problem. The organisation is nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and unaffiliated with any religion. Membership is open to anyone who wants to address their alcohol problem, with no age or education requirements.
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. is not affiliated with any outside organisations. The organisation specialises in addiction counselling, welfare, and referral services, including refugee, disaster, and temporary relief services. They also provide resources for professionals working with alcoholics, with a shared purpose of helping alcoholics stop drinking.
The organisation is funded through its members' own contributions and does not accept outside donations or corporate partnerships. As a non-profit, Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. is required to file Form 990, an annual information return for tax-exempt organisations, with the IRS. This form provides details of the organisation's activities, finances, and governance.
Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. has helped over two million alcoholics stop drinking. The key to their success is mutual support, with one alcoholic sharing their experience with another. The organisation also offers a variety of participation opportunities, including group meetings, which help ensure that support is readily available to those who reach out for help.
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Groups are self-supporting and independent
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global volunteer organization that helps rehabilitate alcoholics, drug abusers, and compulsive gamblers. AA groups are meant to be self-supporting and independent, declining outside contributions. The organization is supported by the voluntary contributions of its members, and book sales. AA groups are advised against soliciting funds from outside sources, including other agencies and hospitals, and are also discouraged from accepting large gifts or contributions that may carry obligations.
The Los Angeles Central Office of Alcoholics Anonymous is a nonprofit corporation registered under California law and approved as a Public Charity by the IRS under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to the Los Angeles Central Office are tax-deductible. The office provides services such as maintaining an online meeting directory, selling conference-approved literature, and fulfilling public information requests.
The Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc. is also a nonprofit organization that files Form 990, an information return that most organizations claiming federal tax-exempt status must file yearly with the IRS.
AA's independence and self-support are built into its model, with volunteerism playing a key role in the organization's functioning and members often taking on roles as sponsors or representatives at management meetings. The organization does not endorse any other organizations or products and does not engage in outside fundraising, advertising, or government contracts.
The AA's independence and self-support are also reflected in its refusal to cooperate with research studies on its effectiveness and its lack of spokespersons or press releases. The organization is funded through book sales, with its primary text, "Alcoholics Anonymous," selling for $7.
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Meetings are organised by volunteer members
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, peer-led mutual-aid fellowship with a focus on an abstinence-based recovery model from alcoholism. AA's spiritually inclined twelve-step program is intended to bring about an "entire psychic change" or spiritual awakening in the alcoholic's thinking. The program is free, non-hierarchical, apolitical, and unaffiliated with any religious, political, or economic entity.
AA meetings are organised by volunteer members, who also lead the meetings. The group's "leader" or "chair" opens the meeting, selects a topic for discussion, and facilitates the meeting. The topics for discussion are often derived from AA literature, such as the Big Book, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, As Bill Sees It, Daily Reflections, and the AA Grapevine.
The meetings are typically listed as "open" or "closed". Open meetings are available to anyone interested in AA's recovery program, including non-alcoholics who may attend as observers. Closed meetings are for AA members only or for those with a drinking problem who want to stop drinking. At both types of meetings, participants may be requested to confine their discussion to matters pertaining to recovery from alcoholism.
The entire structure of AA depends upon the participation and conscience of the individual groups and their members. AA groups are started by members who see a need for a new group in their area. The process involves finding other alcoholics who are interested, securing a meeting place, and obtaining AA literature and meeting lists. Once the group is established, they can announce their presence to neighbouring groups, the local intergroup office, district and area committees, and the General Service Office (GSO). The GSO provides support to new groups, including a complimentary handbook and literature.
The GSO also coordinates activities such as printing literature, responding to inquiries, and organizing conferences. The General Service Representatives (GSRs) are elected members of their home groups and act as a link between the group and AA as a whole. They attend district meetings and relay information between group members and the general service structure.
The AA program is based on the principle of peer-to-peer support. Calls from alcoholics seeking assistance are passed on to sober AA members who have volunteered to handle them. Many AA members have found that volunteering for service improves the quality of their recovery.
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AA groups do not endorse other organisations or products
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global volunteer organization that helps alcoholics recover from alcoholism. AA groups do not endorse other organizations or products. This principle is outlined in Tradition 6 of the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, which states that a group will not endorse outside organizations or causes. The 12 Traditions serve as guidelines to help AA groups navigate their relationships and maintain their primary spiritual goal. Tradition 6 helps keep the focus on the group and its members' recovery journeys.
AA groups' refusal to endorse outside organizations is to prevent misunderstandings and confusion. Many outside organizations have attempted to use the name of Alcoholics Anonymous to promote their own treatment programs. By not endorsing these groups, AA maintains its independence and integrity. While individual members may recommend or be employed by outside organizations, the group as a whole avoids associating its name with them, especially professional treatment facilities or therapists.
AA groups are advised against using their platform for personal gain or public prestige. They prioritize anonymity, especially in the media, and emphasize that their mission is to help alcoholics on a non-professional level while avoiding publicity. AA meetings serve as a space for individuals to discuss their recovery from alcoholism, with a flexible format that may include personal storytelling, readings, or open discussions. The organization is entirely self-supporting, relying on voluntary contributions from its members and literature sales, without accepting external funding or contributions.
AA's structure allows local groups significant autonomy, with volunteer members organizing meetings and serving in various roles. The organization's publications division, aagrapevine.org, is the only part of AA with staff. AA members work as ""sponsors" to individual "sponsees," creating a unique dynamic where most people inhabit both roles at different times. This mutual support system ensures that the organization is supported by those it serves, creating a cycle of service and recovery.
While AA groups do not endorse other organizations or products, they cooperate with other entities when necessary. For example, Tradition 6 mentions that secondary aids like clubs or hospitals should be set apart from the group and managed independently. However, cooperation with these entities should never reach the level of affiliation or endorsement. AA groups strive to maintain their independence and focus on their primary purpose of supporting members in their recovery journeys.
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Contributions are tax-deductible
Donors who contribute to 501(c)(3) organizations may qualify for tax deductions that can help lower their taxable income. To be considered a public charity by the IRS, 501(c)(3) organizations must obtain at least one-third of their donated revenue from the public. Donations to public charities can be tax-deductible to the individual donor up to 60% of their income, although other tax and income circumstances can affect deductibility. For corporate donations, the limit is generally 10%.
For donations to be tax-deductible, they must be made before the end of the tax year. Checks must be mailed by December 31, and the date on the check must be the same as the mailing date. For stock donations, the date the transfer is processed determines the tax year for the donation. Credit and debit card donations can be claimed for the tax year in which they were given, regardless of when the bill is paid.
Donations made to non-qualified charities or nonprofits are not deductible. Donors should ask the organization about their qualification before making a contribution. Pledged or promised donations are not deductible, only money that is actually given qualifies for tax deductions. Money spent on fundraisers, such as bingo games or raffles, is also not deductible. Cash donations greater than $250 must be documented with a letter from the organization to be eligible for tax deductions.
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Frequently asked questions
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) groups are not required to apply for Form 501c3, as they are considered volunteer organizations. However, some AA groups choose to register as nonprofit organizations, such as the Alcoholics Anonymous Central Office of Los Angeles, which is a nonprofit corporation registered under California law and approved as a Public Charity by the IRS under section 501(c)(3).
Form 501(c)(3) is a section of the Internal Revenue Code that provides tax exemption for certain organizations. Organizations that are exempt under section 501(c)(3) are typically those that are religious, educational, charitable, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, or preventing cruelty to children or animals.
AA groups are typically funded through contributions from their own members, book sales, and literature collections. They do not engage in outside fundraising, advertising campaigns, government contracts, or corporate sponsorships.
