Wash. State Capital’s Permit Law Dislodges Charity Food Giveaway – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Wash. State Capital’s Permit Law Dislodges Charity Food Giveaway – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: he Olympia, Wash., City Council passed legislation Tuesday to require paid permits for activities at municipally owned parking lots, sparking protests from a religious charity that uses one such lot to serve meals to the homeless, The Olympian reports.

Schumer Introduces Bill to Expand Charitable IRA Rollovers | Planned Giving Design Center

Schumer Introduces Bill to Expand Charitable IRA Rollovers | Planned Giving Design Center: Senate Finance Committee member Charles E. Schumer, D-NY has introduced S. 1772, the Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2013, which if passed would expand and extend without expiration the definition of tax-free IRA distributions made for charitable purposes for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2013. The current IRA rollover law, which allows outright transfers of up to $100,000 to qualified charities from IRA holders age 70 1/2 or older is scheduled to expire at the end of this year.

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times

Leaders Fight For Clear, Fair Political Activity Rules | The NonProfit Times: Imagine there is a law that mandates you cannot drive fast, but the speed limit is not posted: You have been given no definition of what it means to go fast. This is the situation charities face when it comes to political activity. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has failed to define what constitutes political activity, relying on the “facts and circumstances” of each case to decide whether an organization is participating in political activities.

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP

The Second Annual “Protect Giving Day” Invites You to Be the Charitable Deduction - Press - AFP: On Nov. 20, more than 200 attendees representing over 140 organizations participated in the Charitable Giving Coalition’s Protect Giving – DC Day.

In its second year, the Charitable Giving Coalition set out to continue the fight to preserve the full value of the charitable deduction by convincing Congress that WE are the charitable deduction. Broken out into 36 teams, they attended hundreds of meetings across the Hill, all portraying their connection to the charitable deduction.

Pittsburgh’s New Mayor Clashes with Nonprofit Coalition over PILOTs - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Pittsburgh’s New Mayor Clashes with Nonprofit Coalition over PILOTs - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: At the end of this year, the City of Pittsburgh’s accord with a coalition known as the Pittsburgh Public Service Fund will end, and it’s already caused friction between local nonprofits and the city’s newly elected mayor, Bill Peduto.

The fund—about $2.6 million this year—is comprised by voluntary contributions called PILOTs (payments in lieu of taxes) from about 40 tax-exempt nonprofits whose identities are known, while the amounts they contribute are not. Pittsburgh, while not the only city in America with PILOTs, probably has the largest, most well known, and most contentious program.

Sector urged to write to ministers in support of changes to lobbying bill | Third Sector

Sector urged to write to ministers in support of changes to lobbying bill | Third Sector: The Directory of Social Change says voluntary sector bodies should ask ministers and MPs to support an amendment by Lord Phillips of Sudbury

The Directory of Social Change is calling on voluntary sector organisations to write to government ministers and urge them to support an amendment to the lobbying bill that would exclude charities from key parts of the legislation.

NH panel gets look at draft gambling regulations - News Local New Hampshire - Boston.com

NH panel gets look at draft gambling regulations - News Local New Hampshire - Boston.com: The New Hampshire Gaming Regulatory Oversight Authority meets Friday to go over draft legislation that looks at rules to regulate a casino and possibly recommend changes to the state’s existing rules on charitable gaming. The panel believes charitable gaming regulations need to be tightened separately from legislation governing a casino.

Charity Commission chair calls for debate on definition of charity | Third Sector

Charity Commission chair calls for debate on definition of charity | Third Sector:



Charity Commission chair calls for debate on definition of charity

By Andy Ricketts, Third Sector Online, 14 November 2013
William Shawcross



William Shawcross, chair of the Charity Commission, has called for a debate on whether new definitions of charity are needed to highlight the differences between various types of charitable organisation.

In a speech in London made last night as part of the Lord Mayor’s Charity Leadership programme, which addresses challenges to the effectiveness of charities, Shawcross said there had been a "blurring of boundaries between charities and other types of organisation", which he said could undermine public trust in the concept of charity.

AICPA Comments on Form 990 | Planned Giving Design Center

AICPA Comments on Form 990 | Planned Giving Design Center: Writing on behalf of AICPA, Tax Executive Committee Chair Jeffrey A. Porter, CPA has submitted the institute's comments and recommendations regarding IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, and instructions.

Michigan charities fight to save poker rooms from new regulations | MLive.com

Michigan charities fight to save poker rooms from new regulations | MLive.com: LANSING — A lively crowd of nonprofit organization members and charity poker advocates gathered at the state Capitol to express their opposition to pro

Government snubs civil society group on lobbying bill

Government snubs civil society group on lobbying bill: A group of civil society organisations working to address concerns on the lobbying bill has said it is disappointed that Deputy Leader of the House Tom Brake was prevented by Leader of the House Andrew Lansley from giving evidence for its new report.

The Commission on Civil Society and Democratic Engagement, chaired by Lord Harries of Pentregrath, has published its final report on the lobbying bill, which will be presented to peers in the House of Lords today, one week before the controversial bill returns to the floor of the Lords for committee stage.

Vermont Supreme Court rules church camp must pay taxes | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com

Vermont Supreme Court rules church camp must pay taxes | Burlington Free Press | burlingtonfreepress.com: The Vermont Supreme Court affirmed a lower court order that a church group must pay property taxes to the town of Brownington for an overnight camp it owns in that town.

The end of charity poker rooms in Michigan? State regulators eye even stricter rules | MLive.com

The end of charity poker rooms in Michigan? State regulators eye even stricter rules | MLive.com: Michigan's charity gaming industry grew from less than $8 million in chip sales in fiscal year 2004 to more than $197 million in fiscal year 2011. Chip sales dipped to $184 million in fiscal 2012. The games have raised $103 million for charities in the past nine years, while poker rooms raked in $86 million and players won more than $680 million.

But much of that could come to a halt early next year if the Michigan Gaming Control Board goes through with proposed rule changes that would effectively eliminate permanent charity poker rooms. Officials say the rule changes address problems with gaming violations and crimes at some poker rooms while making sure charities' best interests are protected.

Time for not-for-profits to pay up? - Stowe Reporter | The hometown newspaper for Stowe,Vermont.: News

Time for not-for-profits to pay up? - Stowe Reporter | The hometown newspaper for Stowe,Vermont.: News: Should Vermont’s many not-for-profit organizations have to kick in some money toward state property taxes?

That’s one of the central questions a legislative study committee will attempt to answer as it looks at Vermont’s hodgepodge of property tax exemption statute

Melt the “charity chill” - Information, research and resources for fundraisers and their leaders

Melt the “charity chill” - Information, research and resources for fundraisers and their leaders: "Say “advocacy” around activists, and many people will picture confrontational stunts rather than strategic alliance-building behind the scenes. But the latter is one of the most effective tactics charities have adopted to tackle huge problems like passing laws against drunk driving, restricting smoking and toughening laws for equity.

Ken Wyman believes that charities must advocate. Charities represent millions of people whose expertise and voices belong in public policy discussions, he says."

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Foundations Should Work to Fix a Broken Washington - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Foundations Should Work to Fix a Broken Washington - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas:Robert Gallucci, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, suggests in an eloquent op-ed for this newspaper that foundations must step up to help make the case. It’s time, Mr. Gallucci argues, for foundations to do more to help create a “political system that is credible, transparent, and responsive to the needs of ordinary people.”

Will foundations accept Mr. Gallucci’s challenge?

A Nonpartisan Open Letter to Elected Officials - The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: One of the challenges about being nonpartisan is keeping focused on your ultimate goals and not getting sidetracked on short-term issues and partisan fighting.

The latest challenge in a long line of economic challenges is the government shutdown. I’ve written about the shutdown here on the AFP blog. We’re working with Congress and the White House to collect stories about the impact of the government shutdown on charitable programs and services.

Albany Nonprofits Signal Backing for Payments to City - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Albany Nonprofits Signal Backing for Payments to City - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Some of the largest nonprofit organizations in Albany, N.Y., appear ready to support a formalized program of voluntary payments in lieu of property taxes, according to The Times Union.

Shawcross says sector is happy with lobbying bill changes

Shawcross says sector is happy with lobbying bill changes: Charity Commission chair William Shawcross told an audience of charity lawyers yesterday that most of the voluntary sector was happy with the changes to the lobbying bill that have been proposed by the government.

New Jersey charities still can't sell raffle tickets online - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Breaking News

New Jersey charities still can't sell raffle tickets online - pressofAtlanticCity.com: Breaking News: New Jersey residents could begin gambling on the Internet this year. But they still won't be able to buy a raffle ticket online to support a local charity.

Nonprofit groups hoping to boost their fundraising dollars by adding an online component to annual raffles are being told by the state commission that regulates charity gambling that online ticket sales are illegal.

Lobbying bill amendments don’t go far enough, say umbrella bodies

Lobbying bill amendments don’t go far enough, say umbrella bodies: NCVO and Acevo issued a joint statement criticising the government's amendments to the controversial lobbying bill for not going far enough to protect charities' campaigning activity.

Tax Deductions for Charitable Contributions Getting Cut in Some States

Tax Deductions for Charitable Contributions Getting Cut in Some States: States that have tinkered with one of the most sacrosanct of all tax write-offs – state income tax deductions and credits for charitable contributions – have seen their local charities suffer the backlash. Their decisions offer insight for other states and for federal officials who are contemplating reducing or eliminating tax incentives for charitable giving.

Hospitals must be denied nonprofit status | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

Hospitals must be denied nonprofit status | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME: Mark Eves, D-North Berwick, is leading a series of roundtable talks with "lawmakers and other public officials" to solve upcoming problems in Maine caused by "powerful demographic forces."

Nonprofits Wait as Government Shutdown Looms - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofits Wait as Government Shutdown Looms - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: As Congress struggles to come to a broad budget agreement and avoid a government shutdown, many nonprofits are responding with a shrug.

Hudson Institute Panel Pessimistic on IRS Nonprofit Regulation - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Hudson Institute Panel Pessimistic on IRS Nonprofit Regulation - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: he Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., hosted a luncheon panel to discuss the IRS and nonprofit regulation. Despite its title, the panel called “IRS 501(c)(4) = SOS?” spent almost no time during the 90-minute event discussing social welfare organizations or their regulation. Instead, the panel gave a scathing review of current IRS nonprofit oversight and proposed varying levels of change.

Acting IRS Chief Touts Progress in Reforming Exempt Organizations Processes - Oversight - GovExec.com

Acting IRS Chief Touts Progress in Reforming Exempt Organizations Processes - Oversight - GovExec.com: Since taking over in May as acting chief of the Internal Revenue Service, Danny Werfel has presided over “a period of aggressive activity” that includes fresh leadership and promising policy reforms to ease the troubled agency forward from this spring’s scandal over alleged political targeting of conservative nonprofits.

Indian companies forced into charity | Sky News Australia

Indian companies forced into charity | Sky News Australia: ndia's government still struggles to provide reliable basic services to a majority of its citizens, trapping hundreds of millions of them in poverty. Now the country's richest firms have been told they must help.

Under the new amended Companies Act passed in August by parliament, large businesses have been asked to spend two per cent of their profits each year on 'Corporate Social Responsibility' (CSR).

'The idea is that if we could divert some corporate energy and the corporate way of doing business into our development sector, for a country like India it could help enormously,' the head of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Dr Bhaskar Chatterjee, explained.

Small N.Y. Town Clashes with Colleges Over Service Costs - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Small N.Y. Town Clashes with Colleges Over Service Costs - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Alfred, N.Y., a small upstate village with two colleges that account for 90 percent of its assessed property value, is taking a more aggressive tack in seeking payments in lieu of taxes from the institutions, The New York Times writes.

Texas Charity Shuttered By Authorities | The NonProfit Times

Texas Charity Shuttered By Authorities | The NonProfit Times: A Texas nonprofit that was not authorized to process immigration cases has been shuttered and its leaders ordered to pay restitution and penalties of more than a half-million dollars.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office announced that it secured an agreed final judgment and permanent injunction against Cristo Vive in Austin, Texas for providing unauthorized legal services in the Travis County area. The state filed an “enforcement action” in August 2012 against the organization for violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the Notary Public Act by unlawfully representing they were legally authorized to process immigration cases before federal authorities. State investigators later discovered that the defendants were neither licensed attorneys nor accredited to offer immigration-related legal services.

Charitable Organizations/Contracted Fundraisers

Charitable Organizations/Contracted Fundraisers: Charitable Organizations (A.R.S. Title 44, Chapter 19, Solicitation of Funds for Charitable Purposes)

Charities soliciting donations in Arizona will no longer be required to file with the Secretary of State’s Office as of September 13, 2013. See Laws 2012, Chapter 234, Relating to Solicitation of Funds For Charitable Purposes (HB 2457).

If a charity chooses to file with SOS for the 2013 year, it must do so by September 12, 2013.

If a charity chooses to become current for past delinquencies, it must do so by September 12, 2013.

If a charity is delinquent prior to 2013, it must become current, pay the delinquent filing penalties and file 2013 by September 12, 2013.

Filings submitted after this date will be returned.

Calif. Nonprofits Say Dark-Money Disclosure Bill Goes Too Far - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Calif. Nonprofits Say Dark-Money Disclosure Bill Goes Too Far - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofits in California are raising concerns over one of a slate of proposals to regulate politicking by tax-exempt interest groups more closely, saying it could backfire and ensnare small, legitimate organizations, according to The Sacramento Bee.

Private Universities call for restoration of tax exemptions | Business News 2013-09-06

Private Universities call for restoration of tax exemptions | Business News 2013-09-06: Private universities in Ghana have appealed to government to restore the tax exempt status due them to enable them fully discharge their responsibilities to the people.

Pa. Cities Step Up Efforts to Draw Payments from Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pa. Cities Step Up Efforts to Draw Payments from Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Reflecting a growing national and statewide trend, the cities of Bethlehem and Allentown, Pa., are pressing local nonprofit institutions to make voluntary payments in lieu of property taxes, Lehigh Valley daily The Express-Times writes.

Safeguarding UBI Deductions | Planned Giving Design Center

Safeguarding UBI Deductions | Planned Giving Design Center: The Internal Revenue Service multi-year Colleges and Universities Compliance Project (CUCP) final report was issued in April 2013 and resulted in increases to unrelated business taxable income for 90% of the colleges and universities examined. In this article, PGDC contributing author Dennis Walsh, CPA continues his examination of this report by discussing the definition of a "trade or business" that gives rise to the unrelated business income tax along with steps organizations engaged in such activities should take to minimize their tax exposure.

Could change in tax code bring transparency to charity fundraising? | The Center for Investigative Reporting

Could change in tax code bring transparency to charity fundraising? | The Center for Investigative Reporting

Lawyers want charity commissioner's office under judiciary - The Times of India

Lawyers want charity commissioner's office under judiciary - The Times of India: NAGPUR: The lawyers working at Charity Commissioner's office here knocked the judiciary's doors demanding that their organization should be brought under the ambit of administrative, judicial superintendence and control of High Court of Judicature at Bombay. Currently, the office works under the Maharashtra Law and Judiciary Department.

Nonprofit Donor Transparency Law Raises Concerns in New York: Associations Now

Nonprofit Donor Transparency Law Raises Concerns in New York: Associations Now: Debate is heating up over which nonprofits will be exempted from disclosing the names of donors as New York state’s law requires, according to The New York Times.

Public and political scrutiny have intensified, the Times reported, since the state ethics commission voted in a closed session to grant the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice New York the lone exemption from the law in early August. The potential for physical harm to come to donors was a key concern.

SOI Tax Stats - Split-Interest Trust Statistics

SOI Tax Stats - Split-Interest Trust Statistics: Split-interest trusts make distributions to both charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries, while providing tax benefits to their donor. All split-interest trusts must annually file Form 5227, Split-Interest Trust Information Return, to report financial activity and determine if they should be treated as a private foundation. Based on the method and timing of distributions, split-interest trusts are divided into the following four categories:

Charitable groups await state’s fix for ‘e-raffles’ | The Columbus Dispatch

Charitable groups await state’s fix for ‘e-raffles’ | The Columbus Dispatch: Will the Ohio Lottery Commission ride to the rescue of veterans and fraternal organizations struggling with making “electronic raffle” machines pass legal muster?

The commission could be involved, although lottery spokeswoman Danielle Frizzi-Babb said no proposal has been made.

New numbers on the CNCA and continuances from Industry Canada

New numbers on the CNCA and continuances from Industry Canada

Opinion: Weighing the Worth of the Charitable Deduction - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Opinion: Weighing the Worth of the Charitable Deduction - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Republican economist examines the debate over proposed changes to charitable tax breaks in an online opinion piece for The New York Times.

In a post for the Times’ Economix blog, Bruce Bartlett, who held policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, summarizes the history of the charitable deduction, its cost to the federal treasury, and current arguments for and against altering it.

Lobbying bill will hinder charity campaigning and fundraising, NCVO warns | Third Sector

Lobbying bill will hinder charity campaigning and fundraising, NCVO warns | Third Sector: The umbrella body will raise concerns with the Cabinet Office about the proposals to make it a criminal offence to spend more than �390,000 on campaigns that affect elections

The new lobbying bill could restrict charity campaigning and could even make it difficult to fundraise, the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has warned

Coalition Criticizes Proposal to Ease Ban on Political Activity by Churches - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Coalition Criticizes Proposal to Ease Ban on Political Activity by Churches - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: ndependent Sector, a major nonprofit coalition, has criticized a proposal from a panel of religious leaders to ease restrictions on political activity by churches and other nonprofits, saying such a move could “undermine the public trust in these charitable organizations and do more harm than good.”

Diverse Alliance of Nonprofits Sues Over NSA Surveillance - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Diverse Alliance of Nonprofits Sues Over NSA Surveillance - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: An unusually broad coalition of nonprofit organizations has joined forces in a legal challenge to the National Security Agency’s electronic monitoring program, the Associated Press and Bloomberg write.

Nineteen plaintiffs ranging from environmental and human-rights organizations to gun-rights activists and religious groups joined in the suit filed Tuesday by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, challenging what they termed an “illegal and unconstitutional program of dragnet electronic surveillance.”

Tax Status and Fees Still in Active Play Between Nonprofits and Localities - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Tax Status and Fees Still in Active Play Between Nonprofits and Localities - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: wo stories this week point out the continued tension between cash-strapped local governments, constantly on the search for new revenue sources, and the local tax-exempt nonprofits that serve those communities on tight budgets.

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center

Exempt Organizations Update | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published its Exempt Organizations Update for July 2013.

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Charities Urge Congress to Scrap Changes to Federal Charity Drive - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Congress should scrap the Obama administration’s proposal to overhaul the federal government’s annual charity drive next year with changes that could “devastate” the campaign, a United Way official told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday.

Federal employees donated $258-million in 2012 to nearly 25,000 charities through the Combined Federal Campaign’s 160 local drives, which are managed mostly by local United Ways.

Bill eliminating Hawaii’s cap on charitable deductions to become law - Pacific Business News

Bill eliminating Hawaii’s cap on charitable deductions to become law - Pacific Business News: Gov. Neil Abercrombie plans to sign into law on Tuesday a bill that amends Act 97 to remove the cap on charitable tax deductions — a big win for Hawaii nonprofit leaders who have been advocating for the removal of the two-year-old cap.

The AFP Blog

The AFP Blog: A Blank Slate is a Full Opportunity
The debate over tax reform and the charitable deduction has taken another surprising twist.

South Florida cities create nonprofit foundations to collect charity money - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com

South Florida cities create nonprofit foundations to collect charity money - South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com: Cities throughout South Florida are turning to another way to make money — asking for your charitable donations.

Margate is joining the growing list of Broward cities that are creating — or re-starting — nonprofit "foundations" to raise money to supplement the city coffers.

Oregon's new charity law punishes nonprofits that spend too little on their missions

Oregon's new charity law punishes nonprofits that spend too little on their missions: SALEM, Oregon — State officials and nonprofit leaders believe Oregon is the first state in the nation to pass a charity law that punishes nonprofits that spend too little of their money on their missions.

Senators Seek to Know Why Charitable Deductions Matter - The Charitable Deduction - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Senators Seek to Know Why Charitable Deductions Matter - The Charitable Deduction - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The two Senators leading the process of crafting legislation to overhaul the tax code announced Thursday that they are starting a “blank slate” that strips out all deductions, exclusions, and credits and are giving their colleagues a month to make their cases for why such tax breaks—including for charitable donations—should be maintaine

New York's nonprofit laws face makeover | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com

New York's nonprofit laws face makeover | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com: ALBANY — The laws governing New York’s nonprofit organizations could get their first major makeover in more than 40 years if Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs a bill passed late last week.

The AFP Blog: Good Signs for the Deduction...For Now...

The AFP Blog: Good Signs for the Deduction...For Now...: "Good Signs for the Deduction...For Now...
AFP has been a champion for the charitable deduction for some time now, and we’ll continue to be so.

Part of that is because Congress, despite all of our assumptions to the contrary, can move very quickly when it wants. An amendment can be added at the last minute that changes everything. We believe that, given our contacts on Capitol Hill, AFP would know of a situation ahead of time. But back-room deals and sudden amendments are still the norm."

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Delaware lawmakers begin markup on proposed $43M in grants for nonprofits, community agencies - The Washington Post

Delaware lawmakers begin markup on proposed $43M in grants for nonprofits, community agencies - The Washington Post: DOVER, Del. — Legislative budget writers are beginning work on a bill to provide millions of dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations, community groups and volunteer fire companies.

Gov. Jack Markell has proposed $43 million in grants to nonprofit groups and community agencies for the fiscal year starting Monday.

India Soon to Enact Corporate Social Responsibility Requirements

India Soon to Enact Corporate Social Responsibility Requirements: n an effort to properly position the Indian economy for the remainder of the century, India is on the verge of replacing its fifty-seven-year old Companies Act of 1956 with the pending Companies Bill, 2012. Already passed in India’s lower house of parliament in December of 2012, the Companies Bill is expected to become law by the end of 2013.

Justice Department Freezes Funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Justice Department Freezes Funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: government audit has found that Big Brothers Big Sisters co-mingled $19.4-million in tax dollars from the Justice Department with general funds, reports CBS News.

Because of the co-mingling of funds, the organization can’t show whether the money provided by the Justice Department was spent on the intended programs, according to the department’s inspector general. The Justice Department has frozen all funds to Big Brothers Big Sisters as result.

Protect Charitable Deductions for Stronger Communities

PhilanTopic: Congress is threatening to eliminate the charitable deduction as we know it -- at the expense of millions of people in need. Specifically, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are talking about imposing a cap or limit on the value of the charitable tax deduction as part of a bigger effort to raise additional revenue and/or "simplify" the tax code.

Senate Finance Committee Releases White Paper on Tax-Exempt Organizations and Charitable Giving - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Senate Finance Committee Releases White Paper on Tax-Exempt Organizations and Charitable Giving - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Bipartisanship and cooperation does happen on Capitol Hill. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee produced a concise and readable review of options available to change regulation of tax-exempt organizations and charitable giving. The 19-page report is replete with numbered lists, bullet points, and links to source documents where each possible idea is explained in more detail. The document’s introduction states that it is a “joint product of the majority and minority staffs of the Finance Committee with input from Committee members’ staffs.”

Editorial: Taxing nonprofits: Not the way to go - Winston-Salem Journal: Editorials

Editorial: Taxing nonprofits: Not the way to go - Winston-Salem Journal: Editorials: Senate leaders say financially strong nonprofit hospitals don’t need sales-tax refunds on their purchases. They would, in effect, punish the entire nonprofit sector. First, their bill would eliminate the charitable deductions on our income tax bills. Second, it would cap at $100,000, by 2017, the size of the sales-tax refund that any nonprofit can take. Nonprofits pay sales taxes when they make purchases but file for refunds.

The financial damage does not stop with hospitals and the Red Cross. According to the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, about 250 major nonprofit organizations will be affected by reduction of the sales-tax refund in 2017, when it is fully implemented. Of those, about 90 are hospitals.

Senate Finance Panel Outlines Ideas for Changing Charity Rules - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Senate Finance Panel Outlines Ideas for Changing Charity Rules - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The Senate Finance Committee released a report Thursday outlining options for overhauling laws governing the activities of tax-exempt organizations and the value of charitable deductions.

“Tax reform provides an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of charitable-giving incentives and the tax benefits for organizations serving public interests,” the document states.

Donors Lose Thousands to IRS for Inadequate Receipt - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Donors Lose Thousands to IRS for Inadequate Receipt - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Unfortunately, the church didn’t follow all components of the four-part test for gift receipts, as detailed in IRS Publication 1771. For each gift to a charity over $250, the charity must document in writing a bank record or written communication, which must be contemporaneous. (This means that you must receive the written acknowledgement before you file your federal income tax return for the year of the contribution or prior to the due date—including extensions—of the return.) The written acknowledgement must state the amount donated, and it must also state whether goods or services were provided by the charity in return. If so, it must state their value, and if the donor received “intangible religious benefits,” the written acknowledgement must state this as well.

Public benefit test - to be, or not to be?

Public benefit test - to be, or not to be?: I was reminded of these lines yesterday when Bernard Jenkin MP took to the stage as the latest in the line of Parliamentarians who have been offering their views about the future of charity regulation over recent weeks.

Jenkin made his entrance into the spotlight in his capacity as chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee which published its post-legislative scrutiny report of the Charities Act 2006 and the role of the Charity Commission.

The report contains some sensible recommendations worthy of support; not least its encouragement of a system allowing the Commission to fine charities which are late filing their accounts. But in several areas Jenkin’s committee seriously misunderstands the vital role played by charities in our country and the factors which drive public trust and confidence in the sector.

ND community groups promoting charitable donations | INFORUM | Fargo, ND

ND community groups promoting charitable donations | INFORUM | Fargo, ND: BISMARCK — North Dakota's five community foundations are coming together to promote charitable donations and new tax credits for contributors.

The program, NDgives, aims to promote a new state law that allows for generous tax credits for individuals and businesses who give specific types of gifts to North Dakota charities. The law allows the North Dakota Charitable Income Tax Credit to be extended for three additional tax years if it cannot be used in one year.

INSIDE WASHINGTON : Conflicting laws and IRS rules feed confusion over tea party’s tax status - The Washington Post

INSIDE WASHINGTON : Conflicting laws and IRS rules feed confusion over tea party’s tax status - The Washington Post: WASHINGTON — A century of laws and rules curbing political activity by tax-exempt organizations has left us with this: One statute says to qualify, groups must engage “exclusively” in social welfare projects while a regulation eases the threshold to “primarily.”

Confused? So are President Barack Obama, the Internal Revenue Service and members of the very Congress that has been enacting contradictory laws on the subject for decades.

Calif. Drops Bill to Force Hospitals to Detail Charity Care - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Calif. Drops Bill to Force Hospitals to Detail Charity Care - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: California lawmakers have shelved legislation that would have required nonprofit hospitals to provide details on their provision of charity care to justify maintaining tax-exempt status, reports the Associated Press.

SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Spring 2013

SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Spring 2013: SOI Tax Stats - SOI Bulletin: Spring 2013



Statistics of Income (SOI) Bulletin - Spring 2013 (entire publication in PDF)

Economic Policy Institute: Federal Sequester’s Effect on State Budgets - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Economic Policy Institute: Federal Sequester’s Effect on State Budgets - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Fixing the IRS: Clarify the Rules on Political Involvement - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Fixing the IRS: Clarify the Rules on Political Involvement - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Fixing the IRS: Clarify the Rules on Political Involvement

The controversy over the Internal Revenue Service’s handling of applications for tax exemption from conservative groups has put the tax agency in the hot seat.

The Chronicle invited nonprofit and legal experts to suggest remedies:

Today: Clarify the rules on political involvement

Calif. Senate Votes to Strip Boy Scouts of Tax Break - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Calif. Senate Votes to Strip Boy Scouts of Tax Break - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The California Senate has passed a bill that revokes the Boy Scout of America’s nonprofit status because it does not permit the participation of openly gay adults writes The Sacramento Bee.

State Charitable-Giving Deduction Is Safe in Minn. - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

State Charitable-Giving Deduction Is Safe in Minn. - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The controversial Minnesota House plan to change state charitable-deduction rules died in a conference committee on Thursday, reports the MinnPost.

Charity Definition Bill Reaches Parliament | Pro Bono Australia

Charity Definition Bill Reaches Parliament | Pro Bono Australia: The Federal Government has introduced the Statutory Definition of Charity Bill into Parliament with just four sitting weeks left before the Federal Election.

The Federal Government announced a later start date for the charity definition in the May Budget saying that it will now take effect from 1 January 2014, rather than 1 July 2013 as originally announced.

CAIRO: Proposed Egyptian law on nonprofits seen as echo of Mubarak era - World Wires - MiamiHerald.com

CAIRO: Proposed Egyptian law on nonprofits seen as echo of Mubarak era - World Wires - MiamiHerald.com: CAIRO -- A draft Egyptian law regulating so-called nongovernmental organizations would limit the private, nonprofit groups in many of the same ways that the government of President Hosni Mubarak sought to control their operations – a sign, analysts here say, that President Mohammed Morsi fears that the groups could be used to oppose his government in the same way Mubarak supporters felt they’d helped topple his.

Tex. Governor Vetoes Bill on 'Dark Money' Nonprofit Groups - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Tex. Governor Vetoes Bill on 'Dark Money' Nonprofit Groups - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: exas Gov. Rick Perry vetoed state legislation Saturday that would have required nonprofit organizations engaging in campaign activity to disclose their donors, the Austin American-Statesman and The Texas Tribune report.

Never given to charity? Now’s the time | therecord

Never given to charity? Now’s the time | therecord: Flaherty said the government is reaching out to first-time donors to help develop a “culture of giving” among a new generation.

Currently 80 per cent of charitable donations are made by people 45 or older.

“We want to encourage young people to consider giving to charity,” Braid said in an interview.

The supercredit is good on a cash donation from a first-time donor of up to $1,000, claimed in one tax year between 2013 and 2017. As an example, giving $500 to charity with the supercredit returns $286 in income taxes to the donor compared to $161 with a normal tax credit.

IRS Publishes FAQs about Operating as an Exempt Organization | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Publishes FAQs about Operating as an Exempt Organization | Planned Giving Design Center: The IRS has published a list of frequently asked questions and answers regarding record keeping requirements for tax-exempt organizations, the types of activities in which they can engage, and notification requirements when material changes occur in their purposes or activities.

Reasonable Compensation: A Section 4958 Primer | Planned Giving Design Center

Reasonable Compensation: A Section 4958 Primer | Planned Giving Design Center: Summary

Last month the Internal Revenue Service published its final Colleges and Universities Compliance Project report, which included an examination of executive compensation in connection with the excess benefit transaction rules under IRC section 4958. In this article, PGDC contributing author Dennis Walsh, CPA examines the findings of the report and suggests actions to be taken and questions to be asked by nonprofits when setting executive compensation.

AG, lawmakers team up to reform nonprofits

AG, lawmakers team up to reform nonprofits: Attorney General Eric Schneiderman joined forces with members of the state Legislature in the hopes of passing two bills that would drastically reform New York's not-for-profit sector.

Welsh government opens voluntary sector consultation

Welsh government opens voluntary sector consultation: The Welsh government has opened a consultation on its relationship with the voluntary sector and is looking for views on how it can work in partnership with the sector.

Earlier this year, the Welsh government announced it was reviewing its funding of the voluntary sector. It plans to revise its three key policy documents for working with the sector when the consultation has been completed.

IRS Should Allow Social-Welfare Groups Unlimited Advocacy - Leslie Lenkowsky - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

IRS Should Allow Social-Welfare Groups Unlimited Advocacy - Leslie Lenkowsky - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: But the inspector general’s report also teaches another kind of lesson, this one about the inherent difficulty in trying to regulate an increasingly attractive activity that is impossible to define clearly.

The solution might be simply to stop trying to impose limits on advocacy by any tax-exempt groups except charities.

Nonprofits Face Up to Tighter Compliance - Risk & Compliance - WSJ

Nonprofits Face Up to Tighter Compliance - Risk & Compliance - WSJ: If nonprofit organizations weren’t convinced of the value of having strong compliance programs, recent events should reinforce the need for them to take action.

Charitable Giving Coalition Urges Congress to Leave Charitable Deduction Intact | Planned Giving Design Center

Charitable Giving Coalition Urges Congress to Leave Charitable Deduction Intact | Planned Giving Design Center: The Charitable Giving Coalition has sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chair Dave Camp, R-MI., and ranking minority member Sander M. Levin, D-MI., in which it urges Congress to protect the charitable tax deduction as it currently stands.

IRS Issues Final Report on Colleges and Universities Compliance Project | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Issues Final Report on Colleges and Universities Compliance Project | Planned Giving Design Center: The Internal Revenue Service launched its Colleges and Universities Compliance Project (CUCP) in 2008 when it distributed detailed questionnaires to 400 colleges and universities, requiring comprehensive reporting by those institutions on financial results of business activities such as alumni travel programs and facilities rentals not directly related to higher education. In this article, attorney David Wheeler Newman reviews the findings of the IRS' final report.

How Nonprofits Became Tax-Exempt - Bloomberg

How Nonprofits Became Tax-Exempt - Bloomberg: To create these institutions, early Americans adapted corporate laws from Britain. At first, incorporation required both for-profit and nonprofit organizations to obtain a charter from state governments. Charters were special laws passed by state legislatures and signed by governors under the rules of state constitutions.

Ministry of Justice rejects proposals to regulate will-writing

Ministry of Justice rejects proposals to regulate will-writing: The government has rejected the Legal Services Board’s recommendation that will-writing should be regulated - an announcement which has been branded "extremely disappointing" by Remember a Charity.

After a two-year investigation, the Board submitted its final decision on the regulation of will-writing, estate administration and probate activities in February. It recommended that the Legal Services Act 2007 be amended to include regulation of will-writing but not to include regulation of estate administration or probate services.

N.Y. to Consider Nonprofit Governance Overhaul - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

N.Y. to Consider Nonprofit Governance Overhaul - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: N.Y. to Consider Nonprofit Governance Overhaul

By Doug Donovan

New York State lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday designed to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles for starting a nonprofit and improve board oversight of executive compensation and contracts that could involve sweetheart deals.

The two bills—the Nonprofit Revitalization Act and the Executive Compensation Reform Act—were introduced after a year of work led by the New York attorney general’s office.

Nonprofit exec pay examined � Local News � The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Nonprofit exec pay examined � Local News � The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA: Compensation for executives with nonprofits that provide state services has come under increased scrutiny as social agencies complain that the state is cutting funding. Lawmakers last year commissioned a study to determine what kind of compensation was given to nonprofit executives.

Ways and Means Committee Working Groups Report—Not Much There - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Ways and Means Committee Working Groups Report—Not Much There - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: On February 13, 2013, just before an all-day hearing convened by the House Ways and Means Committee to rile up the entire nonprofit sector that the charitable deduction was in jeopardy, Committee chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) announced the creation of 11 working groups of committee members to examine issues connected to federal tax reform. The 568-page report issued by the task force, written by the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation, includes a section on tax reform issues related to charities—the charitable deduction and more. We thought there might be specific recommendations coming from the task forces, conclusions about keeping the deduction as it is or capping it at President Obama’s 28 percent level or any of a number of alternatives. At least in this telephone book-sized document, it doesn’t appear that the task forces reached a specific conclusion about charities—or any conclusions at all.

Pa. Ends Hershey Trust Inquiry and Orders Governance Changes - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pa. Ends Hershey Trust Inquiry and Orders Governance Changes - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Pennsylvania’s attorney general and the Hershey Trust announced a settlement Wednesday that ends a two-year state investigation of the $10-billion charity’s financial and property moves, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The deal with Attorney General Kathleen Kane imposes lower compensation and tighter board governance of the charity, which was founded in 1909 by chocolate magnate Milton S. Hershey and his wife, Catherine. The trust operates a free private school for orphans and poor children.

Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy - Press - AFP

Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy - Press - AFP: Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy

The IRA Rollover, the non-itemizer deduction and the conversion of the charitable deduction into a tax credit are just some of the proposals included in the Joint Committee on Taxation’s report on the House Ways and Means Committee’s Tax Reform Working Groups.

Joint registration for HMRC and Charity Commission is getting closer, suggests Hodgson

Joint registration for HMRC and Charity Commission is getting closer, suggests Hodgson: The prospect of a single charity registration process for both HMRC and the Charity Commission is not far off, Charities Act reviewer Lord Hodgson hinted to a conference audience yesterday.

Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy - Press - AFP

Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy - Press - AFP: Taxation Committee Releases List of Reform Proposals for Charities, Philanthropy

The IRA Rollover, the non-itemizer deduction and the conversion of the charitable deduction into a tax credit are just some of the proposals included in the Joint Committee on Taxation’s report on the House Ways and Means Committee’s Tax Reform Working Groups.

IRS makes progress in creating Interactive Form 1023 | Philanthropy Journal

IRS makes progress in creating Interactive Form 1023 | Philanthropy Journal: he IRS Exempt Organizations Division (EO) announced an "exciting development" in its efforts to provide the long-awaited Interactive Form 1023. The IRS uses Form 1023 to determine whether applicants qualify for recognition as an exempt organization pursuant to IRS section 501 (c)(3), which allows them to receive tax-exempt charitable contributions.

Philanthropy beat: Minnesota charity tax break is under scrutiny | StarTribune.com

Philanthropy beat: Minnesota charity tax break is under scrutiny | StarTribune.com: The charitable tax deduction used by 173,000 Minnesotans who don’t itemize their income tax returns would end under a House proposal before a legislative conference committee.

It would be replaced by a charitable tax credit. That credit would not allow the donation to be deducted — dollar for dollar — from the filer’s taxable income.

Editorial Essayists Weigh In On Donation Cap - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Editorial Essayists Weigh In On Donation Cap - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: One of the more successful tactics of the coalition that is fighting President Obama’s proposed 28-percent cap on the deductibility of charitable donations is its domination of editorial and op-ed pages. Even though there hasn’t been a member of Congress with the political temerity to sound a peep of support for the President’s idea of capping charitable deductions, the charitable sector has opined and opined and largely set the frame of the public discussion of changing itemized deductions.

Audits Show Widespread Underreporting of UBI | The NonProfit Times

Audits Show Widespread Underreporting of UBI | The NonProfit Times: Unreported unrelated business income in higher education was found in almost every case examined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

“The audits identified some significant compliance issues at the colleges and universities examined,” said Lois Lerner, director, Exempt Organizations division of the IRS. “Because these issues may well be present elsewhere across the tax-exempt sector, all exempt organizations need to be aware of the importance of accurately reporting unrelated business income and providing appropriate executive compensation.”

The Perils of Global Giving | Philanthropy content from WealthManagement.com

The Perils of Global Giving | Philanthropy content from WealthManagement.com: Yet U.S. charities engaged in international philanthropy face a number of challenging tax and legal issues that are less relevant in a purely domestic context. Many arise from the fact that the rules under which donors to charitable organizations may claim tax deductions or other benefits for their contributions are governed almost exclusively by the law of each separate jurisdiction. U.S. donors generally may claim an income tax deduction only for charitable contributions made to organizations formed under U.S. law, or under the laws of a U.S. state, the District of Columbia or a U.S. possession. Few treaties allow U.S. persons to make deductible donations to foreign charities.

Southeast AgNET � Archive � Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight on Charitable Contributions

Southeast AgNET � Archive � Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight on Charitable Contributions: On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, talks about charitable giving in the aftermath of a tragedy or disaster.

New York Attorney General to Impose Expansive New Disclosure Requirements on Not-for-Profit Organizations Making Political Expenditures | The National Law Review

New York Attorney General to Impose Expansive New Disclosure Requirements on Not-for-Profit Organizations Making Political Expenditures | The National Law Review: The New York State Attorney General (the AG) has proposed broad new regulations which will require not-for-profit organizations filing with the AG’s Charities Bureau to disclose their financial involvement in “New York Elections.

IRS Requests Comments on Charitable Substantiation Requirements | Planned Giving Design Center

IRS Requests Comments on Charitable Substantiation Requirements | Planned Giving Design Center: RS Requests Comments on Charitable Substantiation Requirements
News story posted in Comments by Marc Hoffman on 23 April 2013| comments
audience: National Publication | last updated: 24 April 2013

Michigan charities take a hit as state scales back tax breaks; are you giving less? | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Michigan charities take a hit as state scales back tax breaks; are you giving less? | Detroit Free Press | freep.com: n 2011, COTS received 1,023 contributions between $200 and $400 — donations once eligible for a 50% Michigan tax credit. But in 2012, when no tax credit was available, donors in that category fell to 866 and accounted for a $45,000 drop in donations.”

Baucus To Retire, Was Advocate For Nonprofits | The NonProfit Times

Baucus To Retire, Was Advocate For Nonprofits | The NonProfit Times: Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) who had some legendary and public battles with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) in defense of nonprofits while a member of the Senate Finance Committee, will not seek reelection in 2014. “I will serve out my term, then it will be time to go home to Montana,” he wrote in a statement on his website

SC voters to decide whether to legalize raffles - SFGate

SC voters to decide whether to legalize raffles - SFGate: Voters will decide next year whether church cake walks and school raffles will finally become legal in South Carolina.

Schools, churches and other nonprofits could hold a limited number of raffles yearly under measures given final approval in the House earlier this month

Calls For Increased Scrutiny of 501(c)(4) Nonprofits - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Calls For Increased Scrutiny of 501(c)(4) Nonprofits - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Jonathan Salant’s reporting on the various Senate hearings and IRS inquiries into 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations that do a lot more political campaigning than they ever do in social welfare programming strikes us as noteworthy. It suggests that the hourglass may be running low on the ability of these political groups to spend secret money on electoral politics, flouting not only the public’s need for disclosure but also their own statements about their social welfare purposes.

Study examines nonprofits' expenses - News - Citizens' Voice

Study examines nonprofits' expenses - News - Citizens' Voice: HARRISBURG - A new legislative study examining the financial picture for more than 600 nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania appears as state lawmakers are moving a bill to assert their right to define what a public charity is.

IRS Rule Change Shields Charities' Overseas Gift Recipients - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

IRS Rule Change Shields Charities' Overseas Gift Recipients - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: IRS Rule Change Shields Charities’ Overseas Gift Recipients

April 15, 2013, 10:53 am

A little-noticed amendment to Internal Revenue Service reporting rules made in 2008 allows U.S. nonprofit organizations to fund overseas charities without identifying them, according to The Jewish Daily Forward.

The change was implemented as part of a broader overhaul of the Form 990 most nonprofit groups file with the federal tax agency. While organizations previously had to specify gift recipients abroad, now they are required only to state the world region to which their funding went.

The Economic Case Against Tax Deductions - Businessweek

The Economic Case Against Tax Deductions - Businessweek: What is the rationale for these deductions? Many analysts suggest that if the charitable deduction were removed, people would give less to charity—perhaps even by as much as their tax bills would rise (PDF). Whether you think this would be a bad thing for the economy and society depends on your relative faith in government and nonprofit organizations to deliver public services. It also depends on how much of that charitable giving is going toward “public services.

Protecting charitable giving helps everybody | WashingtonExaminer.com

Protecting charitable giving helps everybody | WashingtonExaminer.com: Charities and other nonprofit institutions perform a vast array of altruistic works yielding benefits for both the direct beneficiaries and for society writ large. Current proposals to change the favorable tax treatment of private giving, and larger proposals to reform the federal tax system, would have important effects on such giving and thus on the benefits that private charitable institutions yield.

Charity Experts And Wealth Advisers Slam Obama Deduction Proposal - Investors.com

Charity Experts And Wealth Advisers Slam Obama Deduction Proposal - Investors.com: Wealth advisers and philanthropies were quick to criticize President Obama's budget proposal that would cap deductions on charity.

White House Seeks to Force Charities to File Tax Forms Electronically - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

White House Seeks to Force Charities to File Tax Forms Electronically - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: White House Seeks to Force Charities to File Tax Forms Electronically

By Sarah Frostenson

President Obama is asking Congress to require nonprofits to file their informational tax returns electronically and taking other steps to encourage the Internal Revenue Service to make charity data more easily available to the public.

Obama to Renew Call to Limit Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Obama to Renew Call to Limit Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: President Obama is expected to renew his call to limit the charitable tax deduction when he releases his 2014 budget plan on Wednesday—a proposal that nonprofits have repeatedly helped defeat.

4/4/13 – Coalition Launches ProtectGiving.org - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION

Press Release

4/4/13 – Coalition Launches ProtectGiving.org - CHARITABLE GIVING COALITION: 4/4/13 – Coalition Launches ProtectGiving.org

Website Provides Resources to Inform, Engage in Charitable Deduction Debate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Heading into a critical stage on the federal budget and tax reform, the Charitable Giving Coalition launched a new website – protectgiving.org. The online resource is designed to provide user-friendly, accessible information about the vital role of charitable giving in America’s communities.

C. Oregon non-profits fight to save tax deductions | News - Home

C. Oregon non-profits fight to save tax deductions | News - Home: People ask for them, they're motivated by them -- it's very important," MountainStar Executive Director Tim Rusk said Wednesday.

But a bill in the Oregon Legislature would eliminate that deduction, part of an effort for the state to generate more tax dollars.

House Bill 2001 was introduced by House Speaker Tina Kotek, and would end most itemized state tax deductions. In addition to charitable donations, medical expenses and home mortgage interest deductions could also be eliminated.

Charitable Collection Box Regulation Pulled From Agenda - capradio.org

Charitable Collection Box Regulation Pulled From Agenda - capradio.org: bill that would have given local governments in California more power to regulate charitable collection boxes was pulled from a legislative committee hearing Wednesday.

What charities need to know about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

What charities need to know about the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act: Eva Abeles and Melora Jezierska explain the implications for the sector in this country of a new piece of tax legislation from the United States

It is fair to say that the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act has not been on the charity world’s radar because it is, after all, a piece of US tax legislation. However, because Fatca imposes additional reporting and compliance burdens on all banks and financial institutions, it will affect how these entities interact with charities.

What is Fatca?

New Canada Revenue rules target charitable tax shelters - The Globe and Mail

New Canada Revenue rules target charitable tax shelters - The Globe and Mail: The Canada Revenue Agency has been given controversial new powers to go after Canadians who participate in tax shelters that involve donations to charity.

Charitable groups seek to cash in on slot machines - By Kara Nuzback - CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Inland Bays, Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Dewey Beach, USA

Charitable groups seek to cash in on slot machines - By Kara Nuzback - CapeGazette.com - Covering Delaware's Cape Region - Inland Bays, Atlantic Ocean, Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Milton, Dewey Beach, USA: Dover — Veterans in Delaware are calling on the General Assembly to develop a bill that allows them to keep slot machines in their clubs as a permanent source of revenue.

The House Gaming and Pari-mutuels Committee met March 13 at Legislative Hall in Dover to discuss the future of House Bill 1. The bill was passed in January to temporarily allow the clubs to use slot machines as a revenue source, but the bill is scheduled to sunset in June.

IRS To 'Social Welfare' Groups: Show Me The Political Ad Money : It's All Politics : NPR

IRS To 'Social Welfare' Groups: Show Me The Political Ad Money : It's All Politics : NPR: There are still unanswered questions about the politically active 501(c)(4) "social welfare" groups. The anonymously funded entities' multimillion-dollar ad budgets helped to clog the airwaves last year.

Government to slash charity red tape - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Government to slash charity red tape - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Ms Helyar says the proposed legislation will not mean a lessening of scrutiny of the sector.

"The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission has been set up to actually improve scrutiny," she said.

"I'm really confident that there will be no lessening in scrutiny.

Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit

Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit: Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit

Encouraging younger people to donate

Pamela Barden - Passion: The Game-Changing Ingredient : FundRaising Success

Pamela Barden - Passion: The Game-Changing Ingredient : FundRaising Success: And last weekend, I was reminded about an important truth in fundraising as I watched the evening's program unfurl and listened closely to the ask: You can't fake passion .

In this case, there was passion at every turn. A donor spoke of the absolute joy she has found in generously supporting the cause. A board member brought tears to many eyes as he shared a story. A worker who receives money from the nonprofit for his programs all but jumped up and down recounting what a difference it made.

Leader of Pittsburgh nonprofit task force warns on tax fight - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Leader of Pittsburgh nonprofit task force warns on tax fight - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: It's complicated.

That's how Don Smith, chairman of a nascent task force on nonprofits and president of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, describes the city's relations with tax-exempt nonprofits in light of the lawsuit the city is filing against the region's largest tax-exempt organization -- UPMC.

Florida Foundations Blanket Capitol Hill to Raise Awareness of Philanthropy; Urge Congress to Preserve Charitable Deduction - RE:Philanthropy

Florida Foundations Blanket Capitol Hill to Raise Awareness of Philanthropy; Urge Congress to Preserve Charitable Deduction - RE:Philanthropy: lorida foundations made their voices heard in Washington this week. Florida Philanthropic Network led a team of 12 Florida grantmakers for visits with Florida’s representatives and senators as part of the annual Foundations on the Hill event on March 19-20, 2013. The event was co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the Alliance for Charitable Reform. We blanketed the Hill, making contact with all 29 members of Florida’s congressional delegation and their staffs, to stress to our legislative leaders the important role that philanthropy plays in our state.

‘Tis the Season: Checking a Charity’s Tax-Exempt Status - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

‘Tis the Season: Checking a Charity’s Tax-Exempt Status - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: IRS.gov includes an “Exempt Organizations Select Check” page to allow searches for tax-exempt entities, nonprofits that have had their tax-exempt recognition revoked, and those that file the Form 990-N, also known as the “postcard return.” Of course, if you don’t already know about it, you’ll have to do a keyword search, as the IRS homepage no longer includes a link for “Charities and Non-Profits.” This link formerly served as a gateway for all things nonprofit, including searching for charities. Also, if you are looking for a charity on the list, a charity that has had its status revoked, or a charity that files the Form 990-N, you will need to be prepared to undertake three separate searches.

Senate Effort to Protect Charitable Deduction Divides Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Senate Effort to Protect Charitable Deduction Divides Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: That left nonprofit leaders in an awkward position on Thursday: Many wanted to support the Senators’ goal of fending off new limits on charitable deductions. Among those who praised the measure quickly was the Alliance for Charitable Reform, a project of the conservative Philanthropy Roundtable, which called it an “an important step for the charitable community because it sets the charitable deduction apart as different from all other deductions.”

Federal budget: A one-time boost to credit for charitable donations

Federal budget: A one-time boost to credit for charitable donations: First the good news. First-time donors (to charity), which means anyone who hasn’t contributed since 2007, will get a 25 per cent ‘super credit’ on top of the existing (federal) credit,” said Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning at CIBC Private Wealth Management.

The measure, to take effect in the 2013 tax year, is intended to boost charitable giving in Canada. It could be particularly impactful here, since Quebecers typically rank near the bottom in terms of national per-capita giving.

Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs

By Suzanne Perry

The Oregon legislature has resurrected a bill that would deny state tax breaks for gifts to charities with high fundraising and administrative costs.

The House, which let a similar measure die in 2011, adopted it unanimously this month and sent it to the Senate.

About Nonprofit Advocacy | Independent Sector

About Nonprofit Advocacy | Independent Sector: All nonprofits have a vital role to play in strengthening democracy, advancing freedom of expression, and adding richness and diversity to community life. Throughout our history, Americans have turned to nonprofit organizations to provide a strong, collective voice to inform and influence public policy.

AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations - Press - AFP

AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations - Press - AFP: AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations

Concerned by the potentially negative impacts on Canada’s charities, Canada’s AFP Government Relations Committee has formally submitted its position on anti-spam legislation to the Digital Policy Branch of the Department of Industry.

Delaney Calls for Nonprofit Sector Unity in Face of Budget Cuts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Delaney Calls for Nonprofit Sector Unity in Face of Budget Cuts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In Tulsa, Okla. last week, Tim Delaney, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, called for nonprofit organizations to come together and speak with a powerful, unified voice. This is what other sectors do when they feel they are under attack, he said. Other speakers echoed his call, including Carol Carter of LIFE Senior Services, who said that one of the biggest threats right now is government budget cutting. Carter is afraid that governments are not making smart cuts and are using an axe instead of a scalpel. By blithely hacking away at budgets, she contends, government officials are not considering the implications of their decisions.

Inquirer Editorial: Tapping nonprofits is worth a discussion

Inquirer Editorial: Tapping nonprofits is worth a discussion: Before Philadelphia starts lifting couch cushions to find enough change to pay for basic services, it should consider ways to generate revenue from tax-exempt nonprofits.

In a recent article, Inquirer business writer Harold Brubaker pointed out that nonprofits hold about $13 billion in exempted city real estate, or nearly 10 percent of the total market value.

Reflections on a Nonprofit Approach to Comprehensive Tax Reform - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Reflections on a Nonprofit Approach to Comprehensive Tax Reform - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: he next really big battle for the nation’s policymakers is tax reform. It won’t be quick or easy. It might not even happen in this Congress, but the gears have begun turning. Gucci Gulch lobbyists are already hard at work selling their wares to members of Congress, and if you listen to the statements of President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, they all seem to say they want tax reform via cutting “loopholes,” whatever they might be. At least both sides are pledging to take aim at the same thing, even though there is a wide variance in the specific “loopholes” they have in mind.

Failure of Donor to Provide Written Acknowledgment for Gifts to Own Organization Results in Denial of Deduction | Planned Giving Design Center

Failure of Donor to Provide Written Acknowledgment for Gifts to Own Organization Results in Denial of Deduction | Planned Giving Design Center: The Tax Court has denied the income tax charitable contributions for an individual who founded an animal rescue organization because she failed to provide herself with contemporaneous written acknowledgments from her own organization for her contributions. The fact the taxpayer was on both sides of the transaction was immaterial in the eyes of the court.

Bill Would Make Qualified Conservation Easements Permanent | Planned Giving Design Center

Bill Would Make Qualified Conservation Easements Permanent | Planned Giving Design Center: Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus [D-MT] has introduced the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act of 2013. If enacted, the bill would make permanent the special rule for contributions of "qualified conservation easements" and remove easements on golf courses from its definition.

Aviv Calls for Nonprofit Sector to Unite on Bipartisan Goals - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Aviv Calls for Nonprofit Sector to Unite on Bipartisan Goals - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The People’s Voice is the monthly blog written by Diana Aviv, the president and CEO of the highly visible national nonprofit leadership organization Independent Sector. From her recent experience on Capitol Hill, Aviv asks, “is there any hope that our political leaders might find a way to work together civilly on the very big challenges they and we must face together?” Although familiar with the political divide in Washington, Aviv says, “we have observed some modest movement toward bipartisan policy on a handful of issues, including protecting women from domestic violence, immigration reform, universal background checks for handgun ownership, and same-sex marriage rights.”

AG Might Hamper Advocacy Work | The NonProfit Times

AG Might Hamper Advocacy Work | The NonProfit Times: egulations proposed on nonprofit advocacy groups by the New York attorney general could hamper efforts by organizations doing legitimate advocacy on public policy, according to one watchdog group.

Praising New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for going after “sham nonprofits” involved in electioneering, the Alliance for Justice countered with suggested changes to his proposal. AFJ is a Washington, D.C.-based association of more than 100 organizations providing information, resources and technical assistance about advocacy.

Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits

March 11, 2013, 10:45 am

Amid the controversy over Organizing for Action, the advocacy group set up by Obama campaign leaders to promote the president’s agenda, Roll Call looks at similar past entities and assesses the new group’s potential impact on efforts to tighten restrictions on nonprofit politicking.

Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money

March 7, 2013, 11:03 am

The social-welfare organization formed from President Obama’s 2012 campaign has reversed course and decided not to take donations from co

Report: Charities See Only 35 Cents For Each Dollar Raised � CBS Detroit

Report: Charities See Only 35 Cents For Each Dollar Raised � CBS Detroit: LANSING (WWJ) - A new report from the State Attorney General’s Office says the middleman that charities use to solicit donations is actually getting more money than the charities themselves.

The state’s first annual Professional Fundraising Charitable Solicitation Report found that charities collect an average of only thirty-five cents for every dollar raised by professional fundraisers soliciting donations in Michigan.

Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts | Planned Giving Design Center

Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts | Planned Giving Design Center: Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts
News story posted in Legislative by Marc Hoffman on 7 March 2013| comments
audience: National Publication | last updated: 7 March 2013

National Audit Office to investigate Charity Commission's ability to regulate

National Audit Office to investigate Charity Commission's ability to regulate: The National Audit Office will complete a report on the Charity Commission's ability to effectively regulate the sector after MPs voiced serious concerns at a Public Accounts Committee meeting this morning.

William Shawcross, chairman of the Charity Commission and Sam Younger, chief executive appeared before the Public Accounts Committee this morning to answer questions on the Commission’s investigation into the Cup Trust, which was used

The AFP Blog: American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester

The AFP Blog: American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester
Posted by Andrew Watt, FInstF

In the high-stakes game of sequestration being played out between the White House and Congress, Democrats and Republicans, one side seems certain to lose: America’s nonprofit sector.

Report says new tax reliefs could unlock �480m in social investments

Report says new tax reliefs could unlock �480m in social investments: The Role of Tax Incentives in Encouraging Social Investment, was commissioned by the City of London Corporation and Big Society Capital. It says that adapting the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT), which provide tax incentives to encourage individuals to provide venture capital to small businesses, could generate up to �165m in social investment over a three-year period and �480m over a five-year period.

IRS to Speed Its Alerts on Groups That Lose Tax-Exempt Status

IRS to Speed Its Alerts on Groups That Lose Tax-Exempt Status: The IRS this month will start to give the public an earlier heads-up on organizations whose tax-exempt status has been automatically revoked for failure to file an annual information return or notice for three consecutive years.

Pittsfield study group isn't sure if nonprofits have the cash to donate in lieu of taxes - Berkshire Eagle Online

Pittsfield study group isn't sure if nonprofits have the cash to donate in lieu of taxes - Berkshire Eagle Online: ITTSFIELD -- Members of the city’s PILOT (Payment In Lieu Of Taxes) Study Group learned Monday that it’s unclear whether local nonprofit entities have the capacity to bolster municipal government through donations.

Meeting for the second time, the 10-member group digested the presentation of statistics concerning nonprofits in the city, and the consensus seemed to be that a program seeking regular donations from the organizations won’t be easily designed.

Expect Expanded IRS Revocation List In March - Tony Martignetti

Expect Expanded IRS Revocation List In March - Tony Martignetti: Next month’s list will be larger than usual because IRS is changing the admission standard. It’s easier to get on.

Starting in March, charities will get one month notice that they’re facing revocation. Until now, you didn’t make the list until tax-exempt status had been revoked for six months.

March’s list will have a seven month catch up–all those revoked but not yet revealed, plus those soon to be revoked–so it will be much longer.

Charitable tax deduction: What price for love? - CSMonitor.com

Charitable tax deduction: What price for love? - CSMonitor.com: In weighing tax reform, Congress has its eye on the charitable tax deduction – as a 'loophole.' It needs to first look at the changing ways that Americans give and then act to safeguard charity in all its forms.

IRS Updates, February 2013: Type III Supporting Organizations, 990s for the 2012 Tax Year, and More

IRS Updates, February 2013: Type III Supporting Organizations, 990s for the 2012 Tax Year, and More: 2013


IRS Updates, February 2013: Type III Supporting Organizations, 990s for the 2012 Tax Year, and More

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California Lawmaker Seeks to End Boy Scouts' Tax Exemption - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

California Lawmaker Seeks to End Boy Scouts' Tax Exemption - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: California Lawmaker Seeks to End Boy Scouts’ Tax Exemption

February 20, 2013, 10:42 am

A proposed California measure would revoke tax-exempt status from the Boy Scouts and other youth groups that bar gay participants, reports the San Francisco Chronicle

Charities may get extra year to claim gift aid small donations

UK News

Charities may get extra year to claim gift aid small donations: Parliament is to consider changes to the gift aid small donations scheme regulations which will double the amount of time charities have to claim on small cash donations.

Draft regulations were laid before Parliament at the end of last week which will mean that charities can claim GASDS on donations made up to two years previous, as opposed to the one year in the previous regulations.

Charitable Tax Deductions Expected to be a Budget Casualty | Feb 15, 2013 - NBR | Nightly Business Report

Charitable Tax Deductions Expected to be a Budget Casualty | Feb 15, 2013 - NBR | Nightly Business Report: Video: Charitable Tax Deductions Expected to be a Budget Casualty | Feb 15, 2013

Pittsfield PILOT Group Examining Role of Nonprofits / iBerkshires.com - The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.

Pittsfield PILOT Group Examining Role of Nonprofits / iBerkshires.com - The Berkshires online guide to events, news and Berkshire County community information.: The new PILOT Study Group, which convened for the first time this week, brings together city officials with representatives of the business and nonprofit community to examine the feasibility of implementing something akin to the "Payment in Lieu of Taxes" program that has so far brought in tens of millions a year in additional revenue in the state capital.

Pa. Hospitals Push Law to Limit Towns on Taxing Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pa. Hospitals Push Law to Limit Towns on Taxing Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Pa. Hospitals Push Law to Limit Towns on Taxing Nonprofits

February 14, 2013, 10:55 am

A Pennsylvania legislative committee endorsed on Wednesday a constitutional amendment, backed by the state’s nonprofit hospitals, that would restrict the ability of municipal governments to challenge charities’ tax exemptions, says the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Over 40 Nonprofit Officials and Experts to Testify on Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Over 40 Nonprofit Officials and Experts to Testify on Charitable Deduction - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: The House Ways and Means Committee, sponsor of the mega-hearing, will receive testimony from representatives of trade associations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, and National Council of Nonprofits and charities including the Associaion of Gospel Rescue Missions, Meals on Wheels, and Volunteers of America.

Philanthropy Must Do More to Influence Policy, Say Government Officials - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Philanthropy Must Do More to Influence Policy, Say Government Officials - News - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Philanthropy needs to step up its efforts to influence policy if it expects to produce big changes on pressing issues like poverty, criminal justice, health care, the environment, and education, government officials told an audience of grant makers, nonprofit leaders, and scholars this week at an event on philanthropy and politics.

In Defense of Charitable Tax Deducations | Fox Business

In Defense of Charitable Tax Deducations | Fox Business: Giving is a virtue under the U.S. tax code, but concern is growing among philanthropic leaders about the charitable contributions deduction, a key fund-raising tool for charities.

Worried that federal deficit-fighting efforts are putting a pinch on the tax break, dozens of United Way executives will visit Congress this week to plead their case.

Charitable Deduction | Independent Sector

Charitable Deduction | Independent Sector: LATEST NEWS

Ways and Means to hold hearing on charitable giving (NEW)
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has announced that the Committee will hold a hearing to examine the itemized deduction for charitable giving as part of its work on comprehensive tax reform. The hearing is schedule to take place Thursday, February 14 in room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building beginning at 9:30am. Independent Sector has accepted an invitation to share oral testimony before the Committee.

JCT report on the tax treatment of charitable contributions (2/11/13)

Congressman Calls For Hearing On Charitable Deduction - TheNonProfitTimes

Congressman Calls For Hearing On Charitable Deduction - TheNonProfitTimes: The charitable deduction is in congressional crosshairs again as Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) called for a hearing on the topic on Feb. 14.

Camp, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced Tuesday that he wants representatives from the charitable sector to testify to the Committee about how limits to the charitable deduction would impact nonprofits. Organizations have fought changes to the deduction in the past, and the hearing by the House Ways and Means Committee will give representatives from the sector another chance to explain why they believe it’s a bad idea to limit the deduction.

AFP eWire for February 12, 2013 | Volume 13, Number 7

AFP eWire for February 12, 2013 | Volume 13, Number 7: Special Announcement:
AFP President and CEO to Testify Before
House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, Feb. 14.

AFP President and CEO Andrew Watt, FInstF, will testify before the House Ways and Means Committee about the charitable deduction on Thursday, Feb. 14. He will discuss the importance of the deduction beyond just the gifts it generates and ask Congress to look at the broader issues of philanthropy and partnerships. Click here to learn more about the hearing, and AFP will have more information about Andrew’s comments later this week.

Hearing on Tax Reform and Charitable Contributions Scheduled: Advance Document Reviews Existing Law and Proposals

Hearing on Tax Reform and Charitable Contributions Scheduled: Advance Document Reviews Existing Law and Proposals

IU School of Philanthropy dean to testify before Congress on tax deductions for charitable donations: IU News Room: Indiana University

IU School of Philanthropy dean to testify before Congress on tax deductions for charitable donations: IU News Room: Indiana University: INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Eugene R. Tempel, founding dean of the Indiana University School of Philanthropy and former president of the IU Foundation, has been selected to testify at a congressional hearing this week examining the impact of tax policies on charitable giving.

Congress and IRS Urged to Make Charity Data More Open - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Congress and IRS Urged to Make Charity Data More Open - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: A group of open-government advocates and foundation leaders is calling on Congress to require nonprofits to file their Form 990 informational tax forms with the Internal Revenue Service electronically and asking the IRS to work with third parties to create a public database of the information contained in the forms.

Congressman Calls For Hearing On Charitable Deduction - TheNonProfitTimes

Congressman Calls For Hearing On Charitable Deduction - TheNonProfitTimes: he charitable deduction is in congressional crosshairs again as Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) called for a hearing on the topic on Feb. 14.

Camp, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, announced Tuesday that he wants representatives from the charitable sector to testify to the Committee about how limits to the charitable deduction would impact nonprofits.

Social Welfare Groups under Microscope in N.Y. Hearings - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Social Welfare Groups under Microscope in N.Y. Hearings - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Last week, the second in a series of four public hearings on proposed changes to New York campaign finance disclosure rules was held in Albany, N.Y. The first hearing was held in Manhattan two weeks prior, and the final two airings of the proposal will be in Buffalo and Mineola (Long Island) respectively. The public comment period on the proposed regulations ends on March 6.

Ethics Opinion Lets Lawmakers Solicit for Nonprofits | The Texas Tribune

Ethics Opinion Lets Lawmakers Solicit for Nonprofits | The Texas Tribune: In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Texas Ethics Commission's board approved an amended advisory opinion that stopped short of recommending against lawmakers soliciting contributions for nonprofit organizations they are employed by. Instead, the opinion encourages lawmakers to understand that such contributions "could be viewed as improper under certain circumstances."

Nonprofits rally to be spared from further state budget cuts | The Connecticut Mirror

Nonprofits rally to be spared from further state budget cuts | The Connecticut Mirror: Hundreds of workers, administrators and clients from Connecticut's private, nonprofit social service agencies rallied Wednesday outside the Capitol, urging officials to restore budget cuts and preserve services for poor and disabled residents.

And while Gov. Dannel P. Malloy told the crowd of more than 700 that he would propose using state borrowing to help cover capital costs for agencies, advocates -- while grateful -- were more concerned about regular state funding to operate their programs.

Maine Nonprofit Day set for Thursday in Augusta | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

Maine Nonprofit Day set for Thursday in Augusta | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME: UGUSTA -- Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area is joining the Maine Association of Nonprofits at Maine Nonprofit Day at the State House. Nonprofit Day provides an opportunity for nonprofits and government to assert their commitment to working together in order to creatively, efficiently and effectively serve the people of Maine.

The 10th Annual Nonprofit Day takes place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta.