The IRS approved the National Mustard Museum’s status as a 501(c)3 exempt organization. This means that donations to the National Mustard Museum are tax-deductible. However, your purchases of mustards and mustard memorabilia at our Museum Gift Shop or online store are not (sorry).
These are the most FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
regarding the nonprofit National Mustard Museum:
• Is the Mustard Museum really a nonprofit organization?
Yes. Here is the letter from the IRS confirming its status as a 501(c)3 charitable organization.
• Does that mean that purchases of mustard in the gift shop or online are tax-deductible charitable contributions?
No. The nonprofit National Mustard Museum does not sell mustard. The separate for-profit “MustardMuseum.com, LLC” is in the business of selling mustards.
• Why is the non-profit museum separate from the for-profit business?
Until February 2011, there was only the for-profit, which included the museum and its collection. Operating a museum is expensive and there was no way the for-profit could continue to maintain the museum through selling jars of mustard. The new non-profit incorporated as a Wisconsin not-for-profit corporation in February 2011 and applied for tax-exempt status with the IRS in April.
• I donated to the Mustard Museum earlier this year. Is that donation tax-deductible?
Yes. Donations made after the date of incorporation (February 4, 2011) are deductible even though the IRS did not grant our exemption until November 30, 2011.
• Why does the Mustard Museum need money?
For the same reasons all museums need money. For rent, utilities, acquisitions, maintenance, and capital improvements.
• Who owns the extensive collection of mustards and mustard memorabilia?
Right now the for-profit business owns the collection but the non-profit is in the process of buying it under an asset purchase agreement. It is important for the non-profit to own the collection in case something should happen to the business. The collection is valued at about $120,000 and the non-profit still has about $100,000 to go until it owns it.
• Who owns the building in which the non-profit museum is located?
The building was owned by HP Holdings, a Wisconsin LLC, but it is currently in receivership. The Museum would love to own its own building but that will take some serious money. (Anyone wanna buy a building?)
• How can I donate to the non-profit National Mustard Museum?
You can donate at different levels online (the funds will go to the non-profit National Mustard Museum): $25 (SMM25), $50 (SMM50), $100 (SMM100), $250 (SMM250), $500 (SMM500), $1,000 (SMM1000).
For larger donations, please call the Mustard Museum at 800-438-6878 and ask for Barry Levenson.
