Kansas City Star | 08/29/2006 | A debate that won’t die

Kansas City Star | 08/29/2006 | A debate that won’t die: "COMMENTARY | Estate tax issues obscured
A debate that won’t die
By F. PATRICK BROWN
Guest Columnist

The U.S. Senate continues to frustrate the efforts of the House to repeal or modify the estate tax. Unfortunately, rather than engage in an informative debate, politicians of both parties demagogue the issue."

Tags: NPEstatetax

AFP > U.S. public policy issues | U.S. regulatory issues > New Form 990 Might Include Fundraising Cost Reporting

AFP > U.S. public policy issues | U.S. regulatory issues > New Form 990 Might Include Fundraising Cost Reporting: "New Form 990 Might Include Fundraising Cost Reporting

(Aug. 28, 2006) An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) advisory committee has recommended seven guidelines for restructuring and revising the Form 990, including potential changes to fundraising cost reporting.

The Form 990 is the primary information return that most nonprofits in the United States are required to complete annually. However, the form has grown increasingly complicated since it was introduced in 1942, growing in size from two pages to 15 pages. In addition, while the form was first created by the IRS for its own tax administration needs, a variety of audiences now use the form (e.g., state governments) for a multitude of needs."

Tags: NP990

Ventura County Star: County News-State may OK casino nights

Ventura County Star: County News: "State may OK casino nights

Bill to let charities hold games sent to governor

By Gina Faridniya, Special to The Star
August 25, 2006

Poker chips rattle and cards fold when the Cops Care Cancer Foundation visits Nevada.

The nonprofit organization, which provides financial assistance to children with cancer, held one charity poker tournament in San Jose and planned another. Problem was, organizers learned the event would have broken California law — so they moved it to Lake Tahoe."

Tags: NPGaming, NPGamblingfundraising

OMB Watch - Strange Happenings at the IRS Could Affect Enforcement

OMB Watch - Strange Happenings at the IRS Could Affect Enforcement: "Strange Happenings at the IRS Could Affect Enforcement

This fall, the Internal Revenue Service will likely make two changes to its tax enforcement efforts that defy logical explanation. IRS Commissioner Mark Everson will soon go forward with plans to cut nearly half its staff of estate tax auditors and to create a program that would allow private companies to pursue taxpayers who owe back taxes.

'Slashing the number of estate tax auditors and outsourcing collection of outstanding taxes,' explains Adam Hughes, OMB Watch budget policy director, 'would move the IRS in the opposition direction they should be headed, which is toward a more robust and resourced agency that can provide both customer service to taxpayers and strong enforcement of tax law.'"

Tags: NPIRS, NPEstatetax

thedesertsun.com | District's nonprofits asked to change way they keep records

thedesertsun.com | District's nonprofits asked to change way they keep records: "Audit shows 19 groups don't have legal status


Colin Atagi
The Desert Sun
August 23, 2006
Two dozen Palm Springs Unified School District-related organizations need to make some changes in their operations, an audit of their records has determined.

Rancho Cucamonga-based Vavrinek, Trine, Day & Co. presented its report Monday at the school board meeting. The report covered nonprofit groups such as the PTA and a number of booster groups.

The audit was done to meet a Governmental Accounting Standards Board requirement for the school district to determine which organizations should be included with its financial records and to understand the current level of participation and control within each organization."

Tags: NPRecordkeeping, NPAdministration

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State-Rules for charities were long in the works

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State: "It took Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro more than a year to build a wall of rules for charities that many of their leaders said would be a barrier to their good works.

And it took the charities just a few weeks to tear it down.

Today is the deadline for charities to comment on a once-sweeping set of rules — covering everything from compensation for hospital executives to procedures for filling out expense reports — that Petro gutted after many charitable leaders objected."

Tags: NPPhilanthropy

Jeopardizing Michigan causes

Jeopardizing Michigan causes: "Jeopardizing Michigan causes
Monday, August 21, 2006

Legislation that would force foundations to direct at least half their giving to Michigan purposes is just bad public policy. The state shouldn't be legislating private donations. Public-private partnerships to advance philanthropy have long been valuable to Michigan causes.

The bill now before the Legislature would strip foundations incorporated here of their flexibility and threaten the creation of foundations and donations. Lawmakers must know that doesn't bode well for a state mired in its own recession."

Tags: NPLegislation

In Peterborough, the battle over what is art - The Boston Globe

In Peterborough, the battle over what is art - The Boston Globe: "The taxman cometh
MacDowell is indeed a ``magic place,' as its chairman, Robert MacNeil, ex of ``The MacNeil/ Lehrer NewsHour,' described it Sunday. But the town of Peterborough is trying to steal some of that magic -- about $100,000 a year's worth of taxes, to be precise. Last year, the town challenged the colony's status as a tax-exempt, charitable institution, arguing that MacDowell did not ``provide a charitable purpose to the general public,' as required by New Hampshire law.

Initially, Peterborough asked MacDowell for a relatively modest payment in lieu of taxes, known as PILOT in nonprofit jargon, to pay for services such as fire and police protection."

Tags: NPPhilanthropy, NPPILOT

DenverPost.com - It's hard to follow the money

DenverPost.com - It's hard to follow the money: "What they're doing is legal. Donors give to nonprofit groups, which then funnel money to the campaign organizations supporting or opposing various ballot measures. Donors to nonprofits can be shielded under Colorado law."

Tags: NPGiving, NPFundraising

AP Wire | 08/06/2006 | Faith-based initiatives have Indiana connection

AP Wire | 08/06/2006 | Faith-based initiatives have Indiana connection: "Faith-based initiatives have Indiana connection
Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - President Bush has again turned to someone in Indiana for help in implementing his vision of government support of faith-based initiatives.

Jay Hein, the new director of the Office of the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, is president of the Indianapolis-based Sagamore Institute for Policy Research, a national think tank that specializes in community-based reforms.

And when his work in Washington is done, Hein said he intends to return to his job in Indianapolis."

Tags: NPPhilanthropy, NPFaithbased

Salem presses nonprofits to pay fair share - The Boston Globe

Salem presses nonprofits to pay fair share - The Boston Globe: "Nonprofits being pressed for payments

By Steven Rosenberg, Globe Staff | August 6, 2006

When Kim Driscoll ran for mayor last year, she promised voters that she'd run Salem like a business. One of her first targets? Nonprofit organizations, which do not have to pay city property taxes.

Since January, Salem has reached three agreements with nonprofits, the largest coming last month, when the North Shore Medical Center agreed to pay $125,000 a year to the city."

courant.com | Ethics Law Needs Retooling

courant.com | Ethics Law Needs Retooling: "Rachel Rubin is right about one thing: As interpreted by the Office of State Ethics, a law passed last year banning gifts to public officials promises to put a severe crimp in the flow of philanthropy enjoyed by state-run schools and colleges.

The law, which prohibits gifts from lobbyists or others seeking to do business with the state, does seem pretty absolute. And it's probably in need of some fine-tuning."

Tags: NPEthics, NPPhilanthropy

Lugar Tax Incentive Act to Benefit Food Banks - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick

Lugar Tax Incentive Act to Benefit Food Banks - Newsroom - Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick: "Lugar Tax Incentive Act to Benefit Food Banks

InsideIndianaBusiness.com Report

8/4/2006 9:47:51 AM
Indiana Senator Richard Lugar's Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Act is headed to the president for signature.



The act would allow farmers and small business owners to receive a tax deduction for food products contributed to food banks, pantries and homeless shelters. Currently, the deduction is only available to large corporations.

Source: Inside INdiana Business"

Tags: NPLegislation

Stanford Social Innovation Review : Opinion Blog : More Cynical, But the Same (July 31, 2006)

Stanford Social Innovation Review : Opinion Blog : More Cynical, But the Same (July 31, 2006): "More Cynical, But the Same
Category:
Posted: July 31, 2006 11:18 AM
Author: Mark Rosenman
T
No matter what their area of concern or the issues they address, most nonprofits and foundations face increasingly difficult times because of growing needs and insufficient resources – and that describes our populace as much as them. And Congress is trying to make it worse.

The House of Representatives passed legislation that ties together three items: extension of some popular tax-breaks, a long-needed increase in the minimum wage, and “reform” of the estate tax that is so extreme it’s tantamount to repeal. It’s up to the Senate to stop it. "

Tags: NPLeglislation

Salt Lake Tribune - Full circle of Leavitts' charity cash bugs critics

Salt Lake Tribune - Full circle of Leavitts' charity cash bugs critics: "Full circle of Leavitts' charity cash bugs critics
Southern Utah Foundation: Some board members are unhappy about the contributions going back to the family coffers through student rent
By Thomas Burr and Robert Gehrke
The Salt Lake Tribune


Mike Leavitt
WASHINGTON - Some members of a Utah foundation board were and remain troubled about a deal with the politically powerful Leavitt family that resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax-deductible donations flowing back to the Leavitts in the form of student rent. "

The Seattle Times: Politics: Repeal of state's estate tax to be on November ballot

The Seattle Times: Politics: Repeal of state's estate tax to be on November ballot: "Repeal of state's estate tax to be on November ballot

By Ralph Thomas

Seattle Times Olympia bureau

OLYMPIA — An initiative to repeal Washington's estate tax has qualified for the November ballot, Secretary of State Sam Reed announced Wednesday.

Supporters of Initiative 920 turned in 395,219 voter signatures — far surpassing the 224,880 signatures needed to qualify the measure for the ballot."

Journal and Courier Online - Editorial

Journal and Courier Online - Editorial: "No-call law benefits trump its concerns

One of the most effective recent pieces of Indiana legislation withstood another legal challenge last week, protecting Hoosiers from unwanted telemarketing calls.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on Friday unanimously affirmed a District Court ruling that supported the constitutionality of Indiana's Telephone Privacy Act, commonly known as the 'no-call list.'

The law allows Indiana residents to register their phone numbers on a list that telemarketers must consult before making unsolicited telephone sales calls or calls made by professional fundraising firms soliciting charitable donations."

6 Charities Sue OPM Over Their Exclusion From Donation Drive

6 Charities Sue OPM Over Their Exclusion From Donation Drive: "6 Charities Sue OPM Over Their Exclusion From Donation Drive

By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Page A13

A half-dozen charities are suing the federal government, saying they were unfairly dropped from the list of organizations eligible to receive donations from federal employees.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research and five other nonprofit organizations are asking a federal judge for a restraining order to prevent their exclusion from the official eligibility list for the Combined Federal Campaign. "

Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Republicans load estate tax bill with popular breaks

By Amy Fagan
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
August 2, 2006

Republicans have loaded up the bill to reduce the estate tax with a minimum-wage increase and a host of popular tax breaks that Democrats will find painful to oppose, including help for teachers, miners and college students.
Several provisions target Democrats in tough races and Republicans want to make them instant issues in this year's elections. For example, the bill has provisions to allow mine operators to write off half their expenditures for safety equipment, and gives them tax credits for some mine-rescue-training programs. Another provision provides a tax deduction to the timber industry. "

COF - Council on Foundations - Action - Charitable Reform Update Conference Call

COF - Council on Foundations - Action - Charitable Reform Update Conference Call: "Charitable Reform Update Conference Call

Click the play button at left to listen the 3:30 PM session of the August 1 Conference Call. To save the file to a computer for offline review, right-click on this link and use 'save target as' from the browser menu on a Windows-based computer, or press the 'Apple key + s' on the link to save to a Macintosh computer (27.6 Mb)."

The Chronicle, 7/31/2006: House Passes Charitable-Giving Legislation

The Chronicle, 7/31/2006: House Passes Charitable-Giving Legislation: "House Passes Charitable-Giving Legislation
By Elizabeth Schwinn

Washington

The House of Representatives on Friday passed several measures designed to stimulate charitable giving and curb abuses of tax laws by donors and nonprofit organizations. The provisions were included in legislation that would tighten rules that protect America's private pension system.

Among the provisions included in the House bill: Donors would be allowed to withdraw up to $100,000 from their individual retirement accounts tax-free if they gave the money directly to charity. The tax break, which would be available for two years under the legislation, has long been a priority for charitable groups. They say that making it easier for people to donate their retirement funds to charities could cause a significant amount of money to flow to charity."