RedOrbit - Science - New Conservation-Easement Rules Spur Interest Here: "New Conservation-Easement Rules Spur Interest Here
By Wilson, Rocky
Landowners here who've long considered the possibility of donating land to charity for tax purposes, or to preserve their land's uses well into the future, are exploring new federal conservation-easement legislation enthusiastically.
Chris DeForest, executive director of Inland Northwest Land Trust, of Spokane, says a 93-year-old Kootenai County woman who for years had considered donating land to the Spokane organization through a trust is saying the new incentives make this the right time.
After the new incentives were enacted, another individual who owned a prominent parcel of waterfront property at Newman Lake arranged with Inland Northwest Land Trust to protect the property from development, again through a trust. Within an hour of completing the transaction, the individual sold the property, knowing the land would be protected into the future, DeForest says.
Inland Northwest Land Trust is one of about six land trusts that operate in the Spokane County-North Idaho area, says DeForest. Small special-area land trusts here include the Dishman Hills Natural Area Association and the Loon Lake Land Conservancy. Large groups that negotiate conservationeasement agreements here are The Nature Conservancy, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Ducks Unlimited, he says."
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
Federal Times-Nonprofit leaders propose a new agency
Federal Times: "Nonprofit leaders propose a new agency
By M.Z. HEMINGWAY
November 24, 2006
What the country needs is a new federal agency — one to support and regulate the growing sector of nonprofit organizations, say proponents of the idea.
Currently, the IRS is the lead agency for dealing with nonprofits — via the tax code — but there’s no agency primarily tasked with regulating or supporting nonprofit work.
“I’m beginning to ask whether we wouldn’t be wise to create a division within the Department of Commerce to promote the success of philanthropy the same way they promote the success of business,” Steve Gunderson, president of the Council on Foundations, said in a speech last month."
By M.Z. HEMINGWAY
November 24, 2006
What the country needs is a new federal agency — one to support and regulate the growing sector of nonprofit organizations, say proponents of the idea.
Currently, the IRS is the lead agency for dealing with nonprofits — via the tax code — but there’s no agency primarily tasked with regulating or supporting nonprofit work.
“I’m beginning to ask whether we wouldn’t be wise to create a division within the Department of Commerce to promote the success of philanthropy the same way they promote the success of business,” Steve Gunderson, president of the Council on Foundations, said in a speech last month."
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Wednesday, November 22, 2006
OMB Watch - Threat of Estate Tax Rollback Finished for 2006
OMB Watch - Threat of Estate Tax Rollback Finished for 2006: "Threat of Estate Tax Rollback Finished for 2006
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) admitted last week the Senate was unlikely to pass any permanent reduction to the estate tax in 2006, despite repeated attempts and rhetorical ultimatums from Frist and his allies.
Frist has insisted for months that the so-called Trifecta’s component parts - the first increase in the minimum wage since 1997, the extension of a package of popular tax credits, and a major rollback of the estate tax - would be voted on together as a package or not at all. But Frist appears unable to follow through on his threat. Last week, he admitted it was most likely the Senate would work on one or more of the individual parts of the Trifecta bill before finally adjourning for the year in December."
Outgoing Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) admitted last week the Senate was unlikely to pass any permanent reduction to the estate tax in 2006, despite repeated attempts and rhetorical ultimatums from Frist and his allies.
Frist has insisted for months that the so-called Trifecta’s component parts - the first increase in the minimum wage since 1997, the extension of a package of popular tax credits, and a major rollback of the estate tax - would be voted on together as a package or not at all. But Frist appears unable to follow through on his threat. Last week, he admitted it was most likely the Senate would work on one or more of the individual parts of the Trifecta bill before finally adjourning for the year in December."
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Monday, November 13, 2006
Texarkana Gazette: -In Our View: BINGO!
Texarkana Gazette: News and Classifieds From Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas: "In Our View: BINGO!
Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:35 PM CST
Without proper regulation, charitable
bingo could become big business
“A Constitutional Amendment providing that Bingo and Raffles, if conducted by authorized organizations (defined as nonprofit religious, educational, veterans, fraternal, service, civic, medical, volunteer rescue, volunteer fire, and volunteer police organizations), shall not be constitutionally prohibited as a lottery, provided the organization has been in existence five (5) years and net receipts are used only for charitable, religious, or philanthropic purposes.”
That’s what Arkansas voters passed on Tuesday by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin."
Saturday, November 11, 2006 12:35 PM CST
Without proper regulation, charitable
bingo could become big business
“A Constitutional Amendment providing that Bingo and Raffles, if conducted by authorized organizations (defined as nonprofit religious, educational, veterans, fraternal, service, civic, medical, volunteer rescue, volunteer fire, and volunteer police organizations), shall not be constitutionally prohibited as a lottery, provided the organization has been in existence five (5) years and net receipts are used only for charitable, religious, or philanthropic purposes.”
That’s what Arkansas voters passed on Tuesday by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin."
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Friday, November 10, 2006
AP Wire | 11/10/2006 | Ban delayed on use of paid workers for charity gambling
AP Wire | 11/10/2006 | Ban delayed on use of paid workers for charity gambling: "Ban delayed on use of paid workers for charity gambling
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS - State officials have decided not to enforce new rules prohibiting the use of paid workers at any gambling fundraisers by charities until after the upcoming legislative session.
Some charity groups are protesting the new regulations adopted Thursday by the Indiana Gaming Commission, saying the rules could make it impossible for them to organize any gambling events."
Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS - State officials have decided not to enforce new rules prohibiting the use of paid workers at any gambling fundraisers by charities until after the upcoming legislative session.
Some charity groups are protesting the new regulations adopted Thursday by the Indiana Gaming Commission, saying the rules could make it impossible for them to organize any gambling events."
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Arkansans approve bingo for religious, charitable causes
Arkansans approve bingo for religious, charitable causes: "An Arkansas constitutional amendment legalizing charitable bingo and raffles passed Nov. 7, despite the efforts of Baptists to defeat it.
Amendment 1, which passed with 69 percent of the vote, will allow non-profit organizations to raise funds through bingo and raffles. It lifts a ban on such games, which were illegal under Article 19, Section 14 of the state constitution. The Arkansas Constitution also prohibits lotteries."
Amendment 1, which passed with 69 percent of the vote, will allow non-profit organizations to raise funds through bingo and raffles. It lifts a ban on such games, which were illegal under Article 19, Section 14 of the state constitution. The Arkansas Constitution also prohibits lotteries."
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Thursday, November 09, 2006
Is Estate Tax Repeal Dead Now? [Fool.com: Commentary] November 9, 2006
Is Estate Tax Repeal Dead Now? [Fool.com: Commentary] November 9, 2006: "Is Estate Tax Repeal Dead Now?
By Dan Caplinger
November 9, 2006
With election results pointing toward a change in control in Congress, political analysts will shortly be making a number of observations about the likely impact. Pundits are already pointing to potential legislative gridlock, and the hopes of passing certain pieces of legislation are rapidly fading."
By Dan Caplinger
November 9, 2006
With election results pointing toward a change in control in Congress, political analysts will shortly be making a number of observations about the likely impact. Pundits are already pointing to potential legislative gridlock, and the hopes of passing certain pieces of legislation are rapidly fading."
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Wednesday, November 01, 2006
keepMEcurrent.com - Government News - Current Publishing, LLC-Ethics panel eyes disclosure rules for nonprofits
keepMEcurrent.com - Government News - Current Publishing, LLC: "The state's Ethics Commission appears ready to open Pandora's box on when nonprofit organizations should be required to file disclosure forms on how much staff time or money they spend to influence the vote on ballot questions - an issue raised in a complaint against the conservative Maine Heritage Policy Center and its support of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights."
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FR Doc 06-8961-Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities
FR Doc 06-8961: "[Federal Register: October 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 210)] [Notices] [Page 63838-63848] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr31oc06-116] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities AGENCY: Office of Terrorism and Financial Crime, Treasury. ACTION: Notice of updated guidelines. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Treasury (``Treasury'') is publishing an updated version of its Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities (``Guidelines'') along with a new Annex. The Guidelines were originally released in November 2002. A revised version of the Guidelines was published for public comment on December 5, 2005. Treasury received nine (9) comments on the revised Guidelines and, as explained below, made a number of additional revisions in response to those comments."
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