Legal Review Package
Your client is considering directing a Program-Related Investment (PRI) from their donor-advised fund into the Civic Engine Guaranty Fund LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. This package contains the key documents for your review.
The Fund pools investor capital in U.S. Treasury securities and uses that capital base to provide completion guarantees for qualifying sustainable housing developments in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Investor capital is never deployed directly into projects — it remains in Treasuries earning ~4.35% net annually.
Your client's DAF sponsor will need confirmation that this investment qualifies as a PRI under IRC Section 4944(c). We have prepared a PRI Qualification Opinion Template (Document 1.9) that addresses each of the four statutory tests.
Key questions for your review:
- 1. Does the Fund's structure satisfy all four PRI tests under IRC 4944(c)?
- 2. Does the ~4.35% return create any "significant purpose" issues for PRI qualification?
- 3. Are there self-dealing concerns under IRC 4941 or 4958 given the Manager/developer relationship?
- 4. Does your client's DAF sponsor impose additional requirements beyond the IRC tests?
We are available for a call at your convenience to discuss any questions.
Document Package
Key Structural Facts
| Fund Entity | Civic Engine Guaranty Fund LLC (Delaware) |
| Manager | Civic Engine Fund Management LLC (Delaware) |
| Manager Owner | Arnold Holdings LLC (Delaware, to be formed prior to Fund closing), 100% owned by Jonathan Arnold |
| Tax Status | Partnership (pass-through) |
| Offering Exemption | Rule 506(c), Regulation D |
| Investor Eligibility | Accredited investors (Rule 501(a)) |
| Collateral | 100% U.S. Treasury securities |
| Net Return | ~4.35% annualized (retained, compounding; based on current Treasury rates) |
| UBTI | None — Treasury interest excluded under IRC 512(b)(1) |
| Fund Term | 15 years + two 2-year extensions |
| Conflicts | Manager is wholly owned by Arnold Holdings LLC. Jonathan Arnold, who controls Arnold Holdings LLC, also controls Arnold Development Group, the developer of projects receiving Fund guarantees. |