Our 501(c)(3) Commitment

Institutional Responsibility and Public Trust

The Chinese American Association of Commerce Foundation is organized as a nonprofit public benefit corporation under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

This status is not merely a tax designation. It is a legal and moral framework.

As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation exists exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. It does not operate for private gain, nor does it distribute earnings to individuals. All resources entrusted to the Foundation are held in furtherance of its public mission.

With this status comes responsibility.

The Foundation is governed by its Bylaws and by applicable federal and state regulations. Its Directors and Officers are bound by fiduciary duties of care, loyalty, and obedience. Decisions must be made through lawful deliberation, transparent procedures, and proper recordkeeping.

Nonprofit status requires more than compliance.

It requires institutional discipline.

It requires that authority be exercised with restraint.

That public trust be preserved with consistency.

That governance be guided by structure rather than personality.

The Foundation regards its 501(c)(3) status as a continuing commitment — not only to regulatory compliance, but to responsible stewardship, procedural integrity, and long-term public credibility.

Institutional strength is built not through declarations, but through adherence to principle.

The Foundation remains committed to that principle.

本會之 501(c)(3) 公益承諾

美國華商總會基金會依據美國《國內稅收法典》第 501(c)(3) 條款設立，為非牟利公益法人。

此身份不僅是一種稅務分類，更是一種法律與制度框架。

作為 501(c)(3) 組織，本基金會僅為慈善及教育宗旨而存在，不為任何個人或團體之私利運作，亦不得向個人分配盈餘。凡交託予基金會之資源，均應用於其公共使命之實現。

此身份同時承載責任。

基金會之運作須依章程及適用之聯邦與州法規進行。董事及職員須履行注意義務、忠實義務及守法義務。所有重大決策，均應透過合法會議、透明程序及完整紀錄予以確認。

非牟利身份不僅意味合規，更意味制度自律。

意味權力之行使應有所節制；

意味公共信任應長期維護；

意味治理應以制度為依歸，而非以個人為中心。

本基金會視其 501(c)(3) 身份為一項持續之承諾——不僅對法規負責，亦對制度誠信與公共信譽負責。

制度之力量，不在宣示，而在於原則之堅持。

本會願以此為長遠之準則。