Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Journal Gazette | 10/31/2006 | Charities fear going bust with gaming changes

Journal Gazette | 10/31/2006 | Charities fear going bust with gaming changes: "Charities fear going bust with gaming changes
Rules require an all-volunteer staff
By Niki Kelly
The Journal Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS – Several Allen County non-profits worry that new rules could put them out of the charity gaming business – and therefore cost them thousands in operating dollars raised from the events.

Groups from northeast Indiana and around the state have filed public comment with the Indiana Gaming Commission about proposed rules the agency is in the process of adopting."

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Joplin Independent:Law sets up good deal for charities and donors

Joplin Independent:Law sets up good deal for charities and donors: "Law sets up good deal for charities and donors by: mariwinn
Updated: 2006-10-25 18:52:50-05
Blunt's Charitable Giving Act allows senior IRA savers to give tax free to favorite charities


Welcoming the news presented by Congressman Roy A. Blunt (left of podium) of the passage of the Charitable Giving Act of 2005 is Curt Betebenner, executive director-benefits of the Missouri Southern Foundation. Surrounding them from L-R are Bill Putnam of the Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri; John Tiede, Missouri Southern Foundation's director of major gifts/planning; Terri Heckmaster, executive director of the Freeman Foundation and David Dillon, director of the Mercy Regional Health Foundation."

OMB Watch - First Church Electioneering Bill Introduced in Senate

OMB Watch - First Church Electioneering Bill Introduced in Senate
First Church Electioneering Bill Introduced in Senate

On Sept. 27, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) introduced S.3957, the Religious Freedom Act of 2006, which would prevent houses of worship from losing their tax-exempt status if they speak out on "public issues, election contests, and pending legislation made in a theological or philosophical context." The bill was sparked by increased scrutiny on religious and charitable organizations as specific cases of possible partisan campaign intervention have come to light. Similar legislation has failed to pass in the House during this Congress.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Public Service Nonprofit to Get $20 Million From Founder - washingtonpost.com

Public Service Nonprofit to Get $20 Million From Founder - washingtonpost.com: "Public Service Nonprofit to Get $20 Million From Founder

By Stephen Barr
Tuesday, October 24, 2006; Page D04

Five years after founding the Partnership for Public Service, Connecticut businessman Samuel J. Heyman plans to provide additional seed money aimed at establishing the nonprofit organization as a long-term player in the federal community."

TODAYonline-Revamped Tan Chin Tuan Foundation seeks clarity in charity

TODAYonline: "Revamped Tan Chin Tuan Foundation seeks clarity in charity
Leong Wee Keat
weekeat@mediacorp.com.sg

IT WAS his money, and in the past, the late Dr Tan Chin Tuan alone would decide who his foundation would give it to, and how much.
.
But with the OCBC Bank founder's passing last November, the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation saw a need, moving forward, to institutionalise its decision-making process and professionalise the philanthropy organisation's workings.
.
With this in mind, the foundation — one of Singapore's oldest charitable foundations established in 1976 — recently completed a review of its appeal and work processes in an internal audit, with the aim of allowing it to be more effective in its giving.
.
Now, applicants who apply to the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation will need to set out clear and measurable targets to secure funding. Projects, especially larger ones, will be monitored to ensure that the social outcome targeted is achieved. After a project is completed, beneficiaries will have to submit final reports, which will be assessed on whether objectives are met. This assessment will affect future funding.
.

AFP > About AFP | AFP news & press releases > International Statement of Ethics Approved by 24 Countries

AFP > About AFP | AFP news & press releases > International Statement of Ethics Approved by 24 Countries: "International Statement of Ethics Approved by 24 Countries

(Oct. 23, 2006) The International Statement of Ethical Principles, a series of values and standards for the global fundraising community, was approved unanimously Monday, Oct. 16, at the fourth International Fundraising Summit in Noordwijkerhout, Holland.

The document, which was developed with input from more than 30 national fundraising associations around the world, is designed to be an overarching statement of macro-level principles that can unite all fundraisers.

Individual fundraisers will continue to subscribe to a particular local or national code of ethics, which will address key details and specific issues relevant to their region and code. The international statement will focus on shared principles, such as honesty, respect and transparency, and is flexible enough to accommodate political, cultural and legal differences. It also contains six standards of practice related to issues such as stewardship of donations, communications and compensation."
Tags:

ethics - Professional Fundraising

ethics - Professional Fundraising: "International fundraising community approves Code of Ethics

By Becky Slack

The International Statement of Ethical Principles has been formally accepted by 24 countries worldwide following the fourth International Fundraising Summit in Holland.

The document, which has been approved after four years of negotiations, aims to “foster the growth of a worldwide fundraising community dedicated to accountability, transparency and effectiveness”. It can accommodate political, cultural and legal differences, and focuses on five essential principles: honesty, respect, integrity, compassion, and transparency."
Tags:

bill - Charity Finance-Charities Bill nears the end of its journey(UK()

bill - Charity Finance: "Charities Bill nears the end of its journey

Ian Allsop

Stuart Etherington
The government expects the Charities Bill to be ready to receive Royal Assent by the end of the current session of parliament.

Richard Corden at the Office of the Third Sector made the statement after announcing that the Bill will complete its two remaining stages in the House of Commons tomorrow (Wednesday). The report stage, where amendments can be tabled and considered, will be followed by the Bill’s third reading, where only government tidying-up amendments can be considered."

Monday, October 23, 2006

Permanent tax-exempt status gives a huge boost to 529 college-savings plans - The Boston Globe

Permanent tax-exempt status gives a huge boost to 529 college-savings plans - The Boston Globe: "Permanent tax-exempt status gives a huge boost to 529 college-savings plans

By Michelle Singletary | October 21, 2006

Before members of Congress left for their summer break, they gave parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone trying to save for a child's college education a welcome break.

Included in the Pension Protection Act signed by President Bush in August was a provision to give permanent tax-exempt status to the 529 college savings plans."

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

MiamiHerald.com | 10/18/2006 | Frugal investor leaves $35.6 million to charity

MiamiHerald.com | 10/18/2006 | Frugal investor leaves $35.6 million to charity: "Frugal investor leaves $35.6 million to charity
By living frugally and investing smartly, a Coral Gables woman who died at 100 amassed $35.6 million earmarked for diabetes and cancer research.
BY FRED TASKER
ftasker@miamiherald.com

Eugenia Dodson came to Miami from Minnesota at age 20 in 1924, got work as a beautician at the Flagler Street Burdines, married well, invested wisely after her husband died, lived frugally to almost 101 and now has surprised her community by donating $35.6 million to local diabetes and cancer research."

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Suzi Leather: Running with the hares

SocietyGuardian.co.uk | Voluntary sector | Suzi Leather: Running with the hares: "Running with the hares

Suzi Leather
Wednesday October 18, 2006
The Guardian

When is a charity not a charity? When it doesn't deliver public benefit. That is a key concept of the charities bill clawing its tortuous way on to the statute books, after lengthy parliamentary debate."

Charitable-giving reform is long overdue - The Honolulu Advertiser

Charitable-giving reform is long overdue - The Honolulu Advertiser: "COMMENTARY
Charitable-giving reform is long overdue

By Frances R. Hill

A report issued last week by the minority staff of the Senate Finance Committee details how fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff exploited tax-exempt organizations, both sham nonprofits and otherwise-legitimate charities, to move money from clients he disdained to congressmen he hoped to influence."
Tags:

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

WebCPA | FASB Looks at M&A Accounting for Nonprofits

WebCPA | FASB Looks at M&A Accounting for Nonprofits: "FASB Looks at M&A Accounting for Nonprofits

Norwalk, Conn. (Oct. 11, 2006) - Improving the accounting and disclosures for mergers and acquisitions by non-profit organizations is the aim of two exposure drafts released by the Financial Accounting Standards Board."

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Online NewsHour: Report | Public Housing Tenants Evicted | October 5, 2006 | PBS

Online NewsHour: Report | Public Housing Tenants Evicted | October 5, 2006 | PBS: "MARLA BIG HORSE, Evictee: See, I need more boxes. Myrna? Or, Nicki, grab me just a couple little-bitty boxes.

LEE HOCHBERG, NewsHour Correspondent: They packed boxes to move, but Marla Big Horse, her 19-year-old son Adam, and 17-year-old daughter Myrna had no idea where they were going. The family has lived in this public housing unit in Denver for almost 20 years. They always paid their rent. But on the day we visited in August, Big Horse and her family had just been evicted.

MARLA BIG HORSE: I don't got no place to go. I don't got no family here. All I got's my kids. My circumstances, when it came down to it, is I'm homeless.

LEE HOCHBERG: They're one of the first low-income families in the country to lose their subsidized housing for violating a controversial federal law. It requires each family member perform 96 hours of unpaid volunteer service every year. The government said everyone in the Big Horse family fell short, so the family was kicked out."

Friday, October 06, 2006

FederalTimes.com=OPM proposes lifting cap on charities’ administrative costs

FederalTimes.com: "OPM proposes lifting cap on charities’ administrative costs
By ELISE CASTELLI
October 05, 2006
A plan to eliminate the cap on how much charities spend on administrative and fund-raising expenses is one of several proposed changes to the Combined Federal Campaign that concern some of the participating charities.
Currently, no organization within CFC can spend more than 25 percent of its revenue on administrative and fund-raising expenses. The Office of Personnel Management, which administers the government’s annual charity drive, proposes leaving it up to donors to use public reports to vet charities, according to the June 29 Federal Register."

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Panel questions NCAA's tax status | IndyStar.com

Panel questions NCAA's tax status | IndyStar.com: "

IndyStar.com Sports
October 5, 2006

Panel questions NCAA's tax status
U.S. lawmakers ask group to explain why college sports deserve educational exemption

Powered by Topix.net
By Mark Alesia
mark.alesia@indystar.com
A congressional committee sent NCAA President Myles Brand a pointed, eight-page letter this week, asking him to justify why college sports deserves its education-based tax exemption amid growing revenue and commercialism."

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Appalachian News Express-A W.Va. staple, federal pork gets some scrutiny

Appalachian News Express: "- Congress began its five-week hiatus after paying some attention to a practice that has become a claim of fame for Sen. Robert C. Byrd and Rep. Alan Mollohan, both D-W.Va. - the earmarking of federal funds for projects back home.

Legislation passed before the Saturday recess will create a public online database by 2008 to list most so-called “pork” appropriations that exceed $25,000. President Bush signed the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act into law on Tuesday."

OMB Welcomes Help From Anti-Pork Bloggers - washingtonpost.com

OMB Welcomes Help From Anti-Pork Bloggers - washingtonpost.com: "OMB Welcomes Help From Anti-Pork Bloggers

By Elizabeth Williamson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 4, 2006; Page A23

Call it the Office of Management and Blog-it.

The Office of Management and Budget is turning to bloggers for help in pushing the OMB's government reform plans after last week's success of its pet project, the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, also known as the Coburn-Obama bill."

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Charities, Churches and Politics

Charities, Churches and Politics: "Charities, Churches and Politics


The ban on political campaign activity by charities and churches was created by Congress 52 years ago. The Internal Revenue Service administers the tax laws written by Congress and has enforcement authority over tax-exempt organizations. Here is some background information on the political campaign activity ban and the latest IRS enforcement statistics regarding its adminstration of this congressional ban.

In 1954, Congress approved an amendment by Sen. Lyndon Johnson to prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations, which includes charities and churches, from engaging in any political campaign activity. To the extent Congress has revisited the ban over the years, it has in fact strengthened the ban. The most recent change came in 1987 when Congress amended the language to clarify that the prohibition also applies to statements opposing candidates.

Currently, the law prohibits political campaign activity by charities and churches by defining a 501(c)(3) organization as one 'which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.'"

Times Record News: Our Opinions

Times Record News: Our Opinions: "Our Opinion: Checks and unbalances

Sarbanes-Oxley-like legislation would hit nonprofits hard

October 3, 2006

When the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed, the intentions were good.
But the results have been mixed.

The intention was to stop the kinds of fraudulent practices that brought down Enron.
Some companies continue to find ways to get around the provisions.

Most of them have complied, however.
And at considerable cost.

The cost has been much higher than expected."

Monday, October 02, 2006

Treasury Issues Anti-Terrorist Guidelines for Charities

Treasury Issues Anti-Terrorist Guidelines for Charities: "Treasury Issues Anti-Terrorist Guidelines for Charities

Detailed steps established to assure charity money is not diverted to finance terrorism

By Elizabeth Kelleher
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington -- The U.S. Treasury Department issued voluntary guidelines for U.S.-based charities to follow to avoid connections to terrorist individuals or organizations.

The guidelines, released September 29, detail steps charities can take to assure proper board governance, accounting practices and transparency to donors. The guidelines recommend checking overseas grantees and key employees against lists issued by several countries to designate terrorism connections."