Briggs v. Commissioner

72 T.C. 646, 1979 U.S. Tax Ct. LEXIS 93
United States Tax Court·Decided July 9, 1979·No. Docket No. 7550-76·Published·Cited by 26 cases

Opinion

Hall, Judge:

Respondent determined deficiencies in petitioner’s income tax as follows:

Year Deficiency
1968 . $74,040
1970 . 188,824
1971 . 63,883

Due to concessions by petitioner, the issues remaining are:

(1) Whether petitioner is entitled to a charitable contribution deduction in 1970 for property transferred to A Nation In One Foundation, Inc.

(2) If petitioner is entitled to a charitable contribution deduction, we must decide:

(a) the value of the gift; and

(b) whether A Nation In One Foundation, Inc., was a private foundation, a private operating foundation, or a public charity for purposes of determining the limitations applicable to the computation of the charitable deduction.

FINDINGS OF FACT

Some of the facts have been stipulated and are found accordingly.

Mitzi S. Briggs (petitioner) was a resident of Atherton, Calif., when she filed her petition.

Petitioner is a wealthy woman who regularly made substantial charitable gifts. During the early part of 1970, petitioner became aware of the occupation of Alcatraz Island in San Francisco Bay by a group of native American Indians who desired to establish a cultural, educational, and medical center (the center) for all native American Indians and Alaskan natives (native Americans). Petitioner was concerned about the growing militancy of the group; she wished to aid the native Americans in their efforts to establish the center, but through nonmilitant means.

In June 1970, petitioner was introduced to Clara B. Seele (Clara), a Cherokee Indian who was born on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Tulsa, Okla. Clara is a nonmilitant, religious person who held the position of medicine woman in her tribe. At the time she met petitioner, Clara resided in California. Clara was also interested in establishing the center.

Petitioner and Clara subsequently met with representatives from Stanford University in an attempt to interest the university in donating land for the center. However, the university would only consider a land lease. Due to restrictions on its property, the university estimated it would take 12 to 18 months of study and investigation to act on petitioner’s request. Because a gift from the university appeared extremely doubtful, petitioner decided to donate 184 acres of her own property — the Mount Hamilton Ranch (the ranch).

On July 31, 1970, petitioner met with Clara and a group of other native Americans who wished to establish the center. Petitioner told them that if a foundation were formed she would donate to it land on which the center could be built. The others at the meeting did not know what a foundation was or why one had to be formed. Petitioner explained that a foundation had to be formed if the group expected to raise contributions for construction of the center.

Petitioner subsequently chose Clara to be in charge of this gift. Petitioner was aware, however, that others interested in establishing the center resented Clara’s position of power. Petitioner was also aware that there was a tremendous amount of disunity at this time among the various factions of native Americans.

On August 12,1970, petitioner executed a deed conveying the ranch to “A Nation In One.” In spite of the absolute nature of this deed, it was intended by the parties to be subject to the conditions subsequent embodied in the agreement dated September 10, 1970, set forth below. This deed was recorded on August 17, 1970. It was later discovered that “A Nation In One Foundation, Inc.” (ANIOFI) should have been named as grantee. Consequently, on September 9,1970, A Nation In One deeded the property back to petitioner, and petitioner’s attorney prepared a corrected deed naming “A Nation In One Foundation, Inc., a California Corporation” as the grantee. Petitioner executed this deed on September 11, 1970, and it was recorded the same day.

At petitioner’s request, petitioner’s attorney concurrently prepared an agreement referring to this conveyance. The agreement was executed on Septmeber 10, 1970, by Clara and one other officer on behalf of ANIOFI and by petitioner. Clara retained the executed copies of this agreement (September 10 agreement); it was recorded by Clara on November 10, 1970, at petitioner’s request. The complete text of the agreement is as follows:

AGREEMENT
This Agreement made and entered into this 10th day of September, 1970, between MITZI S. BRIGGS, hereinafter referred to as “Briggs”, and A NATION IN ONE FOUNDATION, INC., hereinafter referred to as “Foundation”,
WITNESSETH
Whereas Briggs has on this date and contemporaneously herewith executed a deed conveying her propery located at Mt. Hamilton and Crothers Roads, San Jose, California, consisting of approximately 184.2 acres to A Nation In One Foundation, Inc.; and
Whereas the parties hereto wish to restrict the use of this property.
Now Therefore, the parties hereto agree that this conveyance is made by Mitzi S. Briggs and accepted by A Nation In One Foundation, Inc. upon the following conditions:-
1. That said property is restricted for the use and benefit of A Nation In One Foundation, Inc. only and is not to be sold, transferred or mortgaged by the Foundation, except that 11.466 acres of this property formerly under option to J. W. Sunzeri, may be sold to him by the Foundation, providing there is unanimous agreement to such a sale among the five (5) Directors of the Foundation, and except that the property may be exchanged as provided in paragraph 2 of this Agreement.
2. That said property shall be used by A Nation In One Foundation, Inc. for the establishment of a cultural center, educational center and medical center for the benefit of all Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives and shall also be used for any purpose which shall aid in the advancement and preservation and perpetuation of said Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives; provided that, if this property cannot be used by the Foundation as a cultural center, educational center and medical center because of County or City zoning restrictions, then and only then, this property may be exchanged by said Foundation for another property to be used by the Foundation for the establishment of said cultural center, educational center and medical center as well as for any purpose which shall aid in the advancement and preservation and perpetuation of the Native American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
3.

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72 T.C. 646 (U.S. Tax Court, 1979)