Frequently Asked Questions
This page answers common questions about donations, tax-deductibility, and the mission of the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego.
1. What is the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego as a nonprofit organization?
The Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego is legally incorporated in California as The Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego, Inc., a nonprofit religious organization.
We are an official Catholic ministry serving the Vietnamese Catholic faithful in San Diego and operate in coordination with the Catholic Diocese of San Diego for pastoral purposes.
2. Why can’t donors find the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego by EIN in standard nonprofit searches?
Rather than filing as a standalone 501(c)(3), the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego is recognized under the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Group Ruling. This group ruling provides federal tax-exempt status to official Catholic ministries operating under Catholic dioceses.
Because of this structure, our EIN may not appear in public IRS nonprofit search tools, even though donations are fully tax-deductible under U.S. law.
Our inclusion in the USCCB Group Ruling has been formally approved by the USCCB Office of General Counsel.
3. Are donations to the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego tax-deductible?
Yes. Donations to the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego are tax-deductible under U.S. law through the USCCB Group Ruling for Catholic organizations.
Many employers, corporate giving programs, and workplace donation platforms (such as Benevity) recognize this group ruling.
4. How is the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego related to the Catholic Diocese of San Diego?
The Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego is pastorally affiliated with the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. This means we operate as an official Catholic ministry under diocesan spiritual oversight.
However, we are independently incorporated as a nonprofit organization with our own governance and finances.
5. Is the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego affected by the Diocese of San Diego’s bankruptcy?
No. The Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego, Inc. is a separate legal entity from the Catholic Diocese of San Diego.
While we are pastorally affiliated with the Diocese, we are financially independent. Funds donated to our organization are used solely for our ministry and operations and are not part of, transferred to, or subject to the Diocese of San Diego’s bankruptcy proceedings.
7. Is “Cong Dong Cong Giao Viet Nam San Diego” a different organization?
No. “Cong Dong Cong Giao Viet Nam San Diego” is the Vietnamese name used to refer to the Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego.
Both names refer to the same legal organization: The Vietnamese Catholic Community of San Diego, Inc.
8. Where can donors find official documentation confirming your nonprofit status?
For transparency, we can provide official documentation confirming our inclusion in the USCCB Group Ruling, which establishes our federal tax-exempt status as an official Catholic ministry.
To avoid unnecessary redactions or alterations, this documentation is available upon request and can be shared in its original, unmodified form with donors, employers, or workplace giving administrators who require verification. Please contact us through our official contact info@vietcatholicsandiego.org to request a copy.