Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America (“BMM”), a non-profit organization, is holding its biennial Convention in San Jose, California, from 27 June 2024 to 30 June 2024 (“Convention”) in collaboration with the Maharashtra Mandal Bay Area (“MMBA”), a non-profit organization. MMBA is playing the host for the Convention and in order to prepare for it, MMBA has formed a distinct BMM2024 Committee (“Committee”) which has in turn formed several committees to make the preparatory process more efficient.
General FAQs
Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) umbrella organization that was established in 1981. BMM represents 54 Maharashtrian organizations across North America in major cities.
One of the most significant events organized by BMM every alternate year, BMM Convention brings together thousands of Marathi people from around the world for a 3 day celebration of Marathi culture, language, and identity.
After 25 years, one of the most significant celebrations of Maharashtrian Culture, Customs, and Community – Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal (BMM) comes to the global center of tech and innovation – the Bay Area!
The global Maharashtrian community has maintained its cultural identity while integrating into a foreign culture. The BMM2024 Bay Area Convention celebrates this evolving Maharashtrian identity and its promises for future generations.
In the true community spirit, we envision the convention to be a platform for Marathi-speaking individuals and their families to unite, network, and celebrate their shared heritage of art, music, dance, customs, and cuisine.
In the Bay Area, the local mandals that are associated with BMM are MMBA, EBMM, CalAA, Swarsudha, and MMSAC. This convention will be held June 27-June 30, 2024 at San Jose Convention Center, California.
The mission of BMM is to provide effective collaboration between all the associated mandals to operate projects and events that promote Marathi culture and language. BMM also provides a common platform for the Marathi community to come together, celebrate their rich cultural heritage, and contribute to the wider community.
Donations FAQs
- A donation made to ‘BMM2024’ will be treated as a donation to MMBA, and will become tax-deductible. It is suggested that a competent tax advisor be consulted in order to properly avail of the tax deduction in the amount indicated in the benefits section. The amount is calculated on a good faith estimate of the “fair market value” for the services offered.
- BMM2024 reserves the right to change these rules without notice.
- BMM2024 has partnered with TUGOZ LLC to offer ticket booking services.
- TUGOZ does not rent or sell personal information to third parties.
Yes, donations made to BMM2024 a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization are tax-deductible.
Maharashtra Mandal-Bay Area DBA BMM2024 is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with details shown below:
Charitable Tax ID/FEIN: 94-2986211
Yes, we accept donations from charitable trusts, just as you can receive any other donations from individual donors, corporations, and other organizations.
Yes, donations can be received from an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) as a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) under the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) program. The QCD is a transfer of funds from your IRA custodian payable directly to the qualified charity. Amount transferred as QCD can be counted toward satisfying your RMD for the year. The QCD program allows individuals who are age 70½ or older to donate up to $100,000 per year directly from their IRA to a qualified nonprofit organization like BMM2024 without having to count the distribution as taxable income.
Yes, you should receive a receipt for your donation that will include the following information
- Name of the donor
- Date of the donation received
- Non-profit organization details (Name & TaxID)
- Statement of non-profit organization’s 501(c)(3) status
- Amount donated with clear classification between FMV (Fair Market Value) and tax deductible amount
This receipt can be used to claim your tax deduction.
*FMV will be based on package purchase and includes the cost of tickets, hotel, banquet, sofa, etc.
See table below for an example. It shows what is purchased with the Platinum Package and the amount donated. Similarly, for the Diamond Package.
**Please note the above table is an estimation. We recommend you consult your tax advisors for the correct tax deductible percentage.
BMM2024 will email you the 2023 donation receipt by February 2024 for the 2023 tax filing season. Similarly, BMM2024 will email you the 2024 donation receipt by February 2025 for the 2024 tax filing season.
Yes, donations from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) can be directly donated by checks to BMM2024 as a QCD.
Please send an email to treasurer@bmm2024.org for instructions and mailing address.
Email individualdonors@bmm2024.org to receive payment instructions. Provide your name, phone number, donation amount, and your preferred payment method from the following list.
- Check
- ECheck/ACH
- Wire Transfer
- Zelle
- Donation packages are non-refundable and non-transferable but they can be upgraded.
- Upgrading from general registration to the Individual Donor Package will not be considered as cancellation of general registration. Upgrade date will be the registration date for new donor registration.
- All registration cancellation requests should be made in writing. Please send email to cancellation@bmm2024.org.
- The following cancellation fees will be charged PER PERSON.
- 50% of the registration fee if cancelled on or before February 29, 2024
- No cancellation and refunds after February 29, 2024
- The payment processing fee of 4% (2% for offline payments) will not be refunded.
- Ticket refunds will be processed only upon receiving an email request with justification, to refund the tickets, before the above date.
- Processing time for refunds will be 2-3 weeks and the refund will be issued in the same mode in which the online payment was made.
- Donations/tickets will be refunded in full (less any administration and processing charges) should the Convention get be canceled because of a decision by the Committee, or any force majeure event which would make the holding of the Convention for its entire duration, impossible, or is prohibited, or is against public interest as determined by the Committee. Force majeure events shall be the following: war, terrorism, civil or public unrest, pandemic, flood, hurricane, earthquake, or other such acts of God.
- Purchase of any ticket for the Convention shall mean acceptance by the purchaser or the attendee of all terms and conditions of the Convention, of hotel rules (if applicable), and all disclaimers.
Hotel Booking FAQ's
Every guest staying at a hotel arranged by the Committee or through the Convention registration process, is informed that the hotel common space is open to the public (including to other guests), and each guest is expected to maintain peace and decorum of these public spaces, and to use their own rooms responsibly. Every guest shall be deemed to have agreed to each of the following conditions, the breach of which shall be solely at the guest’s expense.
- The guest shall be liable for any damage to hotel property by such guest, or otherwise be solely responsible for any other violation of hotel rules.
- The guest shall be deemed to have indemnified the Committee, MMBA, and BMM, along with each of their respective members and volunteers, against any and all loss or injury suffered and costs incurred (including attorney and other professional fees) resulting from a guest’s actions.
- The guest agrees that should a guest’s violation of these Terms and Conditions or other Rules warrant protection of the rights, property, or services of the hotel or of another guest, the hotel and/or the Committee reserve the right to notify the police and other relevant authorities, or otherwise take appropriate remedial measures in their sole and absolute discretion.
- Should the hotel deem that a guest’s health or life is at serious risk, the hotel may seek emergency medical services including that of an ambulance in the hotel’s sole and absolute discretion.
- The guest understands that food offered within the Convention area may be offered at no extra charge (depending on the guest’s registration package). However, the guest shall be responsible for additional charges/fees, if any, for hotel services such as room service, alcoholic beverages, telephone, food or drink inside hotel premises, internet, gym, swimming pool, etc. Each guest should check both the services offered with the Convention registration and the hotel services.
- Guests are strongly urged to regularly check the Convention’s website for any change or update to these terms and conditions as all such subsequent changes and updates shall be binding on each guest.
- Hotel reservations are non-transferable but may be changed ONE TIME. You may request occupancy or room type change or change to another hotel from the available hotels selected by BMM2024 as long as rooms are still available.
- Hotel room rates may be different for rooms with 1 bed vs 2 beds. Hotels assume single or double occupancy only. In case, more than 2 adults share a room, there may be an additional ($10-$20) per person/per night charge. Please refer to rate details while making a reservation.
- Hotel rooms have been booked as a block under a BMM2024 group contract with severe penalties for cancellations. Hence only a limited # of requests for Hotel reservation changes can be supported until November 30, 2023. Please send email to hotels@bmm2024.org with details of changes requested.
- All Hotel cancellation requests should be made in writing. Please send email to hotels@bmm2024.org write ‘Hotel Cancelation Request Confirmation Number XXXX” in the Subject Line’.
- The following cancellation fees will be charged for EACH hotel reservation.
- 50% of the Hotel room charges, if cancelled on or before February 29, 2024
- No cancellation and refunds after February 29, 2024.
- The payment processing fee of 4% (2% for offline payments) will not be refunded.
- Hotel refunds will be processed only upon receiving an email request with justification, before the above date.
- Processing time for refunds will be 4-6 weeks and the refund will be issued in the same mode in which the online payment was made.
- Hotel room charges will be refunded in full (less any administration and processing charges) should the Convention get canceled because of a decision by the Committee, or any force majeure event which would make the holding of the Convention for its entire duration, impossible, or is prohibited, or is against public interest as determined by the Committee. Force majeure events shall be the following: war, terrorism, civil or public unrest, pandemic, flood, hurricane, earthquake, or other such acts of God.
- Purchase of any ticket for the Convention shall mean acceptance by the purchaser or the attendee of all terms and conditions of the Convention, of hotel rules (if applicable), and all disclaimers.