About MCRRC
Montgomery County Road Runners Club, Inc. (MCRRC) is a Maryland nonprofit corporation and a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization operating under the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) group tax exemption (Group Exemption No. 2702) that solicits and accepts charitable contributions.
Purpose of this Policy
This policy describes how MCRRC approaches charitable contributions, including how donations are solicited, how they are used, and MCRRC’s compliance posture with respect to state charitable solicitation registration laws.
Use of Charitable Contributions
Charitable contributions received by MCRRC are used to support the club’s mission of promoting running and fitness in the Montgomery County, Maryland community. Charitable contributions to MCRRC are generally undesignated. Undesignated gifts are applied at the discretion of the Board of Directors to the areas of greatest need in support of the club’s mission. MCRRC does not currently accept restricted gifts. If a donor wishes to make a contribution designated for a specific purpose, they should contact the Treasurer (treasurer@mcrrc.org) in advance to confirm that MCRRC is able to honor the restriction.
Tax Deductibility of Charitable Contributions
MCRRC is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code. Charitable contributions to MCRRC are generally deductible to the extent allowed by law, subject to applicable IRS limitations on charitable deductions.
MCRRC operates under the RRCA group tax exemption (Group Exemption No. 2702, IRS Determination Letter EIN 23-7360753). MCRRC’s individual EIN is 74-2112511. Donors should use EIN 74-2112511 when referencing MCRRC for tax purposes.
For contributions of $250 or more, MCRRC will provide a written acknowledgment.
MCRRC strongly encourages donors to consult a qualified tax advisor regarding the deductibility of any contribution.
How MCRRC Receives Charitable Contributions
Primary Sources: Race and Training Program Registrations
The primary means by which MCRRC receives charitable contributions is as an optional add-on at the time of registration for MCRRC-organized races and training programs. When a participant registers for an MCRRC race or training program through the club’s online registration platform (RunSignUp), they are offered the option to make a voluntary charitable contribution to MCRRC as part of the checkout process.
These donations are incidental to the registration transaction. The participant is registering to participate in a specific race or training program to be held in Montgomery County, Maryland. MCRRC does not condition participation on making a donation, nor does it set a required donation amount. The charitable contribution is entirely voluntary and supplemental.
Because race and training program registrations are the primary vehicle through which charitable contributions flow to MCRRC, the donor pool is overwhelmingly composed of individuals who are themselves participating in MCRRC events physically held in Maryland.
Secondary Source: MCRRC Website Donation Button
MCRRC maintains a general-purpose donation button on its public website (mcrrc.org). This button is available to any website visitor and allows for standalone charitable contributions outside of a race or training registration.
This channel is passive and secondary. MCRRC does not actively drive traffic to the donation page through advertising, targeted campaigns, or dedicated outbound outreach. The donation button is present as a convenience for members and supporters who wish to contribute to the club independent of a specific event.
Other Occasional Sources
On an infrequent basis, MCRRC may include a donation link in its communications, such as its weekly e-mail newsletter to its club members. These mentions are typically timed to coincide with nationally recognized charitable giving events such as “Giving Tuesday”. They are brief inclusions within the regular newsletter and not standalone solicitation emails.
MCRRC’s membership is concentrated in Montgomery County and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with the substantial majority of members residing in Maryland. These occasional newsletter mentions are not directed at the general public and are not part of a sustained fundraising campaign.
What MCRRC Does Not Do
MCRRC does not:
- Conduct direct mail fundraising campaigns
- Send standalone email solicitation campaigns to the general public requesting charitable contributions
- Employ or retain a professional fundraiser or solicitor
- Conduct telephone solicitation campaigns
- Actively market or advertise to residents of states other than Maryland for the purpose of obtaining charitable contributions
Charitable Solicitation Registration
MCRRC is registered as a charitable organization with the Office of the Secretary of State of Maryland, Charitable Organizations Division, as required by the Maryland Solicitations Act. Maryland registration is required because MCRRC is a Maryland nonprofit corporation, is domiciled in Maryland, and receives charitable contributions that exceed the $25,000 annual threshold established by Maryland law.
Many states require out-of-state charities to register before soliciting contributions from their residents. MCRRC has evaluated its obligations in other jurisdictions and has concluded that registration in those states is not required at this time.
The National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) has published the Charleston Principles, which provide guidance on when charitable solicitation by a nonprofit triggers registration in a given state. Under those principles, a charity is generally not required to register in a state if:
- It is a local or regional organization that does not specifically target residents of other states
- It does not receive contributions from residents of that state on a “repeated and ongoing” or “substantial” basis
- Its solicitation activities are not directed at out-of-state donors
MCRRC’s profile is consistent with all three conditions:
- MCRRC is a local running club serving Montgomery County, Maryland. Its races, training programs, and events are held in Maryland.
- MCRRC’s charitable contributions flow primarily through race and training program registrations for Maryland-based events. The donor pool is composed overwhelmingly of Maryland-based participants. Out-of-state contributions are incidental and not the product of active solicitation directed at other states.
- MCRRC’s website donation button is passive and it is not directed at any specific state or region.
- MCRRC’s occasional newsletter donation mentions are directed exclusively to club members, who are concentrated in Maryland.
- MCRRC does not use a professional fundraiser or solicitor.
(Updated July 2026)