USNews.com: Opinion: Bonnie Erbe: To the Contrary: IRS and religious left tread on sacred ground

USNews.com: Opinion: Bonnie Erbe: To the Contrary: IRS and religious left tread on sacred ground: "RS and religious left tread on sacred ground

Pity the poor religious right! It's being attacked by two sets of sinners: the religious left (yes, there is one) and the IRS.

Today in Washington, D.C., 'Red Letter Christians,' the self-described 'Leading Voices of the Progressive Christian Movement,' announced a national campaign to mobilize liberal Christians for the upcoming midterm elections.

Meanwhile, the IRS is winding up a major investigation of church abuse of tax-exempt status. Earlier this year, the IRS issued a report saying nearly half the 110 nonprofit groups it investigated after the 2004 elections 'for improper political activity were churches. Of the 40 churches that the IRS had finished investigating, 37 were found to have violated the law.'"

Tags: NPAdvocacy

Charleston Daily Mail-"State offers training for nonprofit board members

Charleston Daily Mail: "State offers training for nonprofit board members
by Kris Wise
Daily Mail Capitol reporter
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In the wake of several high-profile scandals involving nonprofit agencies in West Virginia, the Secretary of State's office will offer free training to board members charged with running such agencies. Beginning next month, the office is teaming with a leading board-training group to hold a series of one-day sessions in six cities around the state."

Tags: NPBoards, NPEthics, NPTraining

Nonprofits vital to our communities

Nonprofits vital to our communities: "Our cultural institutions, community organizations and other nonprofits are vital to the quality of life across Maine.
They are critical to our ability to both retain and continue attracting the best and the brightest - the people we need to launch or move companies here, and to work and live here.
To allow these nonprofits to continue to thrive in the face of public funding challenges, crucial individual and corporate financial support is only one piece of the puzzle. On a day-in, day-out level, Maine's nonprofit organizations rely on individual interaction and participation, both as volunteers and patrons."

IRS orders church to turn over papers - The Boston Globe

IRS orders church to turn over papers - The Boston Globe: "RS orders church to turn over papers

By Associated Press | September 17, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- The Internal Revenue Service has ordered a prominent liberal church to turn over documents and e-mails it produced during the 2004 election year that contain references to political candidates."

DesMoinesRegister.com-Insist hospitals earn their nonprofit status

Editorial

DesMoinesRegister.com: "Insist hospitals earn their nonprofit status
Mandate amount of charity care required for property tax breaks.

REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD


September 18, 2006


Sen. Charles Grassley deserves praise for working to answer a question many people have been asking for years: Why do many hospitals — some of which pay huge CEO salaries, buy property after property, and hound the poor to pay hospital bills — enjoy preferential 'nonprofit' tax status?"

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Most charities steer clear of estate-tax fight - Marketplace by Bloomberg - International Herald Tribune

Most charities steer clear of estate-tax fight - Marketplace by Bloomberg - International Herald Tribune: "Most charities steer clear of estate-tax fight
By Ryan J. Donmoyer Bloomberg News

Published: September 18, 2006
WASHINGTON When the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a nonprofit group in New York, came out against repealing the U.S. estate tax in 2003, James Tisch was not happy.

Tisch, the chairman of Loews, was also chairman of United Jewish Communities, a group that helped fund the public-affairs council. His concern, he says: The group, which might be a loser if the tax is repealed, risked alienating its wealthy donors - the biggest winners from a repeal. 'It doesn't look particularly good for charitable organizations to be arguing something that's in conflict with what members of their board want,' Tisch said.

That is the dilemma facing charities, universities, museums and other groups that rely on donations as Republicans in the United States consider another vote as early as this week on permanently reducing the tax. Most of the organizations are following Tisch's advice, keeping mum on the issue in deference to their most generous patrons, the very wealthy who often serve on their boards.

Tags: NPEstatetax

Modbee.com | The Modesto Bee-"Nonprofits have a rightto criticize officials

Modbee.com | The Modesto Bee: "Nonprofits have a rightto criticize officials

Last Updated: September 13, 2006, 03:45:28 AM PDT

Here's a novel idea confirmed by a recent Internal Revenue Service ruling: Nonprofits have a constitutional right to criticize the actions and policies of elected officials.

Under tax laws, nonprofits are not allowed to intervene in a political campaign (by endorsing candidates, making donations to their campaigns or distributing ads in favor of particular candidates). But they are allowed to speak out on issues and criticize officeholders' policies and actions."

Tags: NPAdvocacy

Legislation halts athletes' charity salaries - baltimoresun.com

Legislation halts athletes' charity salaries - baltimoresun.com: "Legislation halts athletes' charity salaries
Va. foundation that manages their funds said pay served as incentive to generosity
By Jeff Barker
Sun Reporter
Originally published September 12, 2006
WASHINGTON // Philanthropy

Legislation signed recently by President Bush has forced a foundation with ties to dozens of NFL, NBA and major league baseball players to abandon its unusual policy of offering salaries to athletes, players' family members and others for charity work."

Tags: NPLegislation, NPSalaries

Bankruptcy reform ruling limits some charitable giving - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper

Bankruptcy reform ruling limits some charitable giving - Nation/Politics - The Washington Times, America's Newspaper: "Bankruptcy reform ruling limits some charitable giving

By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
September 11, 2006

Many Americans seeking Chapter 13 bankruptcy protection will have to pay off all creditors before they can tithe or make other charitable donations under the new federal bankruptcy-reform law, a judge has ruled.
The opinion is a setback for some religious groups, since bankruptcy-court judges were required to let debtors tithe a portion of their income on a regular basis before the new law took effect in Octobe"

Tags: NPFundraising, NPGiving

Journal and Courier Online - Business-Pension act pleases philanthropic groups

Journal and Courier Online - Business: "Pension act pleases philanthropic groups

By MAX SHOWALTER
mshowalter@journalandcourier.com

As he prepares to retire as president and chief executive officer of the Greater Lafayette Community Foundation, Jim Klusman views a new federal law as a potential boon to local philanthropy efforts.

Last month, President Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which contains a provision that allows individuals to transfer assets from their Individual Retirement Accounts directly to charity.

The contribution is not counted first as income from the IRA, and donors aren't required to pay income tax on the amount.

'This is a wonderful win-win -- for people who would rather give to charity than pay taxes and the nonprofit organizations they choose to support,' said Klusman, who will retire in November and be succeeded by Doug Eberle."

GreenvilleOnline.com -Local News-State clears way for more groups to get specialty tags - (9/8/2006)

GreenvilleOnline.com -Local News-State clears way for more groups to get specialty tags - (9/8/2006): "State clears way for more groups to get specialty tags
Nonprofits can now take their ideas for license plates directly to the DMV

Published: Friday, September 8, 2006 - 6:00 am


By Angelia Davis
STAFF WRITER
adavis@greenvillenews.com

Members of the Right to Life community can now get their own specialty license tags while raising money for pregnancy care centers across the state.

Those in the Native American Prison program will be able to use funds from its specialty license tag to reimburse its volunteers who visit with prisoners to conduct group sessions and cultural teachings.

And because of a new law, those obtaining a Marine Corps League specialty plate will provide aid to young Marines in need, lend support to Toys For Tots and 'do more good work,' said the league's state commandant, Gene Wilbur.

These and other nonprofit groups obtained this new avenue of fund raising Thursday when Gov. Mark Sanford came to Greenville to sign a bill to simplify and streamline the process of obtaining specialty tags."

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State

The Columbus Dispatch - Local/State: "Petro outlines revised rules for charities
Attorney general forms 11-member advisory panel to overlook groups
Thursday, September 07, 2006
James Nash
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Attorney General Jim Petro sought middle ground yesterday in devising rules to regulate the state’s 24,000 charities, speeding up the creation of an advisory panel on the rules but holding to a requirement that nonprofit hospitals register with the state.

The rules have been criticized since Petro unveiled them in late June. Many charity leaders complained that they would burden small organizations with paperwork and impose arbitrary restrictions on large ones, such as limiting pay for hospital executives."

3 Senators Call for Jerry Lewis Honor - Forbes.com

3 Senators Call for Jerry Lewis Honor - Forbes.com: "Three senators introduced a resolution Wednesday to honor Jerry Lewis with the Congressional Gold Medal for his philanthropy and contribution to entertainment.

The resolution was sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez, both Democrats from New Jersey, and Republican Sen. John Ensign, of Nevada. Lewis was born in Newark, N.J., and lives in the Las Vegas-area. "

Tags: NPLegislation

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: IRA rule benefits retirees, charities

CITIZEN-TIMES.com: IRA rule benefits retirees, charities: "RA rule benefits retirees, charities
by Dale Neal, DNEAL@CITIZEN-TIMES.COM
published September 6, 2006 12:15 am
Reader Feedback: Comment on this article | Register here

ASHEVILLE — Charitable giving just got easier for some retirees who want to see more of their sizeable nest eggs going toward their favorite causes, rather than to Uncle Sam.

Under a new federal law, owners of Individual Retirement Accounts can transfer portions of their savings directly to charity — without first counting it as income and paying income tax."

Tags: NPLegislation

USNews.com: New tax rules on gifts

USNews.com: New tax rules on gifts: "The New Rules on Gifts
Uncle Sam wraps some pretty packages of tax breaks that should ease giving to both family and charity

By Paul J. Lim

Posted Sunday, September 3, 2006

When he reached into his wallet earlier this year and peeled off more than $30 billion for charity, Warren Buffett instantly became the poster child for philanthropy in America. He also cast a giant spotlight on giving.

But well before the world's second-richest man agreed to donate the bulk of his personal fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, everyday Americans like Jim Appino were quietly finding their own ways to make charitable gifts while simultaneously taking care of their own kids and grandkids."

Tags: NPTax

State shouldn't meddle with private foundations

State shouldn't meddle with private foundations: "State shouldn't meddle with private foundations
Friday, September 1, 2006

Without private philanthropic foundations, many good works that keep communities whole would not be done.

In Michigan, where the state government's budget has been shrinking at the same time Michigan residents are getting gradually poorer, the role of private foundations has become more important than ever.

At first glance, proposed state legislation to force foundations in the state to direct at least half their philanthropic giving to Michigan causes may seem like a good idea."

Tags: NPLegislation

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: NAACP will retain its status as tax-exempt

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: NAACP will retain its status as tax-exempt: "NAACP will retain its status as tax-exempt

By Darryl Fears

The Washington Post

WASHINGTON — Nearly two years after a controversial decision to investigate the NAACP for criticizing President Bush during the 2004 campaign, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) ruled the remarks did not violate the group's tax-exempt status.

In a letter released Thursday by the NAACP, the IRS said the group, the nation's oldest and largest civil-rights organization, 'continued to qualify' as tax-exempt."

Tags: NPTaxexempt