Seth Korman: Why Religious Groups and Charities May Soon Be Able to Lobby, Campaign, and Endorse Candidates

Seth Korman: Why Religious Groups and Charities May Soon Be Able to Lobby, Campaign, and Endorse Candidates: "Yet the Supreme Court's recent decision in Citizens United v. FEC alters this parity, and affords corporate America 'electioneering' rights, or the privilege to endorse and advocate for political candidates in the months, weeks, and days before an election.

This creates an apparent dichotomy: Both for-profit corporations and nonprofit 501(c)(3)s are creatures of the state, artificial entities created to further commercial and socially valuable interests. Yet now the former can lobby and advocate, whereas the latter must remain on the political sidelines."

Timeline: Bingo start to finish | Dothan Eagle

Timeline: Bingo start to finish | Dothan Eagle: "The genesis of Houston County’s current gaming controversy began in 1994 when voters approved a local charitable bingo amendment. The enabling legislation defined bingo as “The game, commonly known as bingo, where numbers or symbols on a card are matched with numbers or symbols selected at random.”
Over the years, technology evolved and gaming advocates contend the game can now be played electronically, and that the word “card” can mean an electronic grid. Gambling opponents say the intent of the law was to allow small sessions of charitable paper bingo at places such as the local VFW, Elks Club or other establishments."

Vermont Legislature weighs public, private rights for university donations | The Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont

Vermont Legislature weighs public, private rights for university donations | The Burlington Free Press | Burlington, Vermont: "MONTPELIER — When the right to know and the right to privacy conflict — as they occasionally do when private charity overlaps with public business — it sometimes falls to the Legislature to decide which right takes precedence."

massnonprofit.org ::

massnonprofit.org ::: "The new Massachusetts privacy law, due to take effect March 1, 2010, means that all nonprofits, in addition to all businesses, must take steps to protect personal information they collect. The good news is that doing so won’t break the bank."

Vermont panel supports donor privacy protection | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press

Vermont panel supports donor privacy protection | burlingtonfreepress.com | The Burlington Free Press: "MONTPELIER — Donors who want to make anonymous contributions to the University of Vermont or the state colleges would be assured of confidentiality under a proposed exemption to the state’s public-records law."

President Revives Call for New Charitiable-Deduction Limit - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

President Revives Call for New Charitiable-Deduction Limit - Government - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "President Obama renewed his proposal to cap the value of charitable deductions for wealthy taxpapers in the fiscal 2011 budget plan he presented today—refashioning it as a way to help provide tax relief to middle-income Americans."

The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA - IRS reminds tax-exempt organizations to file form 990 on time to preserve tax exempt status

The Daily Citizen, Dalton, GA - IRS reminds tax-exempt organizations to file form 990 on time to preserve tax exempt status: "ATLANTA — The Internal Revenue Service reminded tax-exempt organizations to make sure they file their annual information form on time. In 2010 the tax-exempt status of any non-profit that has not filed the required form in the last three years will be revoked"

Haiti Donations Could Be Deductible This Tax Season

Haiti Donations Could Be Deductible This Tax Season: "U.S. taxpayers have been stepping forward to provide money to charities like the American Red Cross and Unicef, raising tens of millions of dollars through text messages alone. Now Congress is considering legislation that would allow U.S. taxpayers to deduct their Haiti donations this year instead of waiting until next year (see Lawmakers Propose Bill to Speed Haiti Donations)."

Estate Tax Lapse Helps Healthy Rich - Forbes.com

Estate Tax Lapse Helps Healthy Rich - Forbes.com: "If you're wealthy, here's some good news: You don't have to die in 2010, have a loved one pass on from natural causes or 'throw Grandma from a train' for your family to save big bucks from the temporary lapse of the federal estate tax."

Feingold supports tax write off for venison donation | Superior Telegram | Superior, Wisconsin

Feingold supports tax write off for venison donation | Superior Telegram | Superior, Wisconsin: "U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold is backing legislation to help boost venison donations to the hungry.

Feingold is co-sponsoring a proposal crafted by New York Democrat Chuck Schumer. It would let deer hunters deduct the cost of having their game processed from their taxable income, if the meat is donated to a food pantry or soup kitchen. On average, processing can run between $60 to $90 per deer."

Volume Up In Charity Advocacy - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy

Volume Up In Charity Advocacy - National Committee For Responsive Philanthropy: ".. According to the Internal Revenue Service, more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations are classified as working to change public opinion and public policy and more than 75 percent were formed after 1970. Those organizations strive to monitor government decisions proactively, educate the public and develop policy solutions based on research. A recent study by the National Committee for Responsible Philanthropy, using return-on-investment calculations, showed that advocacy efforts pay off - for every $1 spent on advocacy, organizing and community engagement, constituents received $89 in benefits."

The NonProfit Times - "Fundraisers Beat Utah Again

The NonProfit Times - The Leading Business Publication For Nonprofit Management: "Fundraisers Beat Utah Again
by Mark Hrywna

A judge has rejected the state of Utah’s request to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its jurisdiction over professional fundraisers who do not do business in the state. The ruling was from Dale Kimball, United States District Court Judge for the District of Utah, Central Division.

The American Charities for Reasonable Fundraising Regulation (ACFRFR) and Highland, N.Y.-based Rainbow Direct Marketing (RDM) filed suit in November 2008 against the Utah Division of Consumer Protection, Department of Commerce, alleging burdensome registration requirements for out-of-state fundraisers."

Nonprofit Policy Trends under President Obama | Philanthropy Central

Nonprofit Policy Trends under President Obama | Philanthropy Central: "Over the past year, the Obama Administration has ushered into the American political dynamic a number of changes in how government, at least at the federal level, does business. Some changes reflect shifts in government’s relationship to the nonprofit sector, a few trends meriting special attention:"

Wallace: IRA charitable rollover is set to expire Dec. 31 | thetimesherald.com | The Times Herald

Wallace: IRA charitable rollover is set to expire Dec. 31 | thetimesherald.com | The Times Herald: "Under current law, if you are age 70½ or older, you are permitted to donate up to $100,000 from your IRAs to public charities without counting the distributions as taxable income. This important charitable giving incentive, however, expires at the end of the year."

Bingo-games changes sought in Va. | Richmond Times-Dispatch

Bingo-games changes sought in Va. | Richmond Times-Dispatch: "Winner-take-all games leave less of a profit for the organization than progressive games, in which the prize grows but the winner does not take it all.

'This has been the biggest change in charitable gaming in at least a decade to help charities make more money,' said Matt Benka, lobbyist for the Virginia Charitable Bingo Association, which claims about 70 members.

Under state law, a charitable organization must use a minimum of 10 percent of its gross proceeds for the charitable purposes for which it was organized, and each year many organizations fall short of the threshold."