For a number of years, the IRS has limited the deduction of gifts to all college athletic booster clubs, such as The Iron Dukes, to 80% of the donated amount if "seating priority for an event held on Duke's campus is accepted." Thus a donor of $1,000 could only deduct $800 on their federal taxes. Season ticket holders would have been impacted by the rule.
It is my understanding that the IRS guidelines now in place for calendar year 2018 restrict the allowable deduction for such gifts to zero per cent. That means there is now no tax deduction for donations to The Iron Dukes (within the area mentioned).
Without getting into the weeds with a discussion of "why" and "what" you may wish to donate, it is a valid issue for a donor to the Iron Dukes to consider the overall financial impact of this change.
So far as I can tell, there has been nothing official on the topic either sent to Iron Dukes members or posted on the web site.
Perhaps there are some (legal) loopholes, or grandfather clauses, or ??? out there.
If anyone has any knowledge of the true impact of this change on Iron Dukes contributors, your thoughts would be most welcome!
k
Universities have been trying but no luck so far. I know the Williams Fund conceded as much recently to my boss.
Nothing incites bodily violence quicker than a Duke fan turning in your direction and saying 'scoreboard.'
If you give $250 to the Gardens you get a calendar: http://gardens.duke.edu/support/gardens-membership