School Support Organizations

In collaboration with our attorney Mike Marshall of Evans Petree PC, the following information was prepared to assist organizations in Collierville in registering with the State of Tennessee to become School Support Organizations (SSO’s).

All organizations that support schools in Tennessee must be in compliance with TCA 49-2-206 (4)(A) which became effective July 1, 2008. As such, they are required to register as nonprofits with the State of Tennessee and are subject to audits by the Collierville Board of Education and the State Comptroller. SSO’s must be approved to operate by the Principal of the school they are affiliated with and/or the Superintendent of Collierville Schools. Each SSO must provide documentation to the Central Office of the district showing they are a registered nonprofit in good standing, have documented goals and objectives and have provided the names and contact information of their officers.

The law does not require a School Support Organization to become a 501 (c)(3) tax exempt organization. For certain organizations the benefits of becoming a 501 (c)(3) organization entity is important to enable donors to receive credit for tax deductible donations and also for sales tax exemption.