www.kansascity.com | 04/30/2008 | Sam's Club revives food donations in tough times

www.kansascity.com | 04/30/2008 | Sam's Club revives food donations in tough times: "Sam's Club, the membership warehouse subsidiary of Wal-Mart Stores Inc., is reviving food donations to local food pantries two years after halting the practice in favor of giving cash, the world's largest retailer said Wednesday.

Sam's Club announced that a pilot program in St. Louis will be rolled out to about 560 of its 593 U.S. stores by late summer in coordination with America's Second Harvest, the largest national food bank organization."

Province looks to pump $100 million into new charity program

Province looks to pump $100 million into new charity program: "EDMONTON - The Stelmach government has earmarked $100 million in new cash for its Community Spirit program, which will provide tax credits of 50 per cent on donations to provincial charities and dole out matching grants to small organizations."

Charities must register with state if bill passes | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser

Charities must register with state if bill passes | HonoluluAdvertiser.com | The Honolulu Advertiser: "The state is on the verge of creating a registration requirement for charities that solicit money from Hawai'i donors, a move that will close a huge regulatory gap and ensure the public has access to key information about the nonprofits, registration proponents say."

Editorial: Legal, but no way to treat a nonprofit

Editorial: Legal, but no way to treat a nonprofit: "This page has been critical of the Stratton administration over the years for uneven enforcement of city laws. We have also opined in favor of the mayor’s effort to get certain — e.g. well-heeled — tax-exempt organizations to voluntarily give the city money to compensate it for some of the services it provides but can’t charge for. Thus it is with some hesitance that we oppose the city’s effort to strictly enforce a legal requirement that every tax-exempt organization in the city annually file a form confirming its continued tax-exempt status."

$20 raffle tickets for a shot at $1.4M house? State says no - TwinCities.com

$20 raffle tickets for a shot at $1.4M house? State says no - TwinCities.com: "The deal had a chance to be sweet. Pay $20 for a raffle ticket to win a house. And not just any house. One worth $1.4 million. In Minnetonka, two blocks from scenic Lake Minnetonka.

Your chance came and went Monday, when the Minnesota Gambling Control Board blocked the idea."

Suffolk Life Newspapers - Tax Incentive Urged For Farmers Who Donate Food

Suffolk Life Newspapers - Tax Incentive Urged For Farmers Who Donate Food: "Called the 'Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Tax Incentive Extension Act,' the measure would extend and expand provisions that allow for tax deductions for donating food products to food banks, pantries and homeless shelters.
'Food pantries are facing a perfect storm where more people but less food is coming through their doors every day,' stated US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), announcing his co-sponsorship of a bill introduced by US Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN). 'With food prices skyrocketing and the economy stalled, more Long Island families than ever rely on food pantries just to get by.'"

Casino-themed fundraisers facing crack down - Huntington, WV -- The Herald-Dispatch

Casino-themed fundraisers facing crack down - Huntington, WV -- The Herald-Dispatch: "The arrival of table games in West Virginia is bringing a halt to casino-themed fundraisers sponsored by nonprofit groups and civic clubs.

The Huntington Symphony Orchestra was set to have an event called 'Bright Lights Vegas Nights' on April 25 to raise money for its summer Picnic with the POPS season. For $100, guests could win play money at slots, roulette wheels, blackjack and craps tables and use their fake winnings to bid on prizes donated by local businesses. All of the real money collected at the door would have gone to the orchestra."

Call for whole-of-government arts support | The Australian

From the Austrailian

Call for whole-of-government arts support | The Australian: "ALL government departments would contribute a 1 per cent dividend to the arts, under Creative Australia's recommendations. Other goals are a national indigenous cultural authority that protects, strengthens and promotes Australian culture, language and heritage, as well as digital access to all public museum and art gallery collections.

The 100 artists, actors, writers, musicians, festival directors, academics, architects and designers also called on the Government to establish a national endowment fund for the arts. The fund would include public endowment money and private philanthropy and patronage to provide artists' support, including loans and grants.

Incorporating the arts into the national school curriculum was a high priority of the Toward a Creative Australia: the Future of the Arts, Film and Design session."

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- State senator drops electronic bingo bill

SignOnSanDiego.com > News > State -- State senator drops electronic bingo bill: "SACRAMENTO – Averting a heavyweight political fight, a prominent Senate Democrat has dropped legislation that would have legalized electronic bingo for charities and nonprofit organizations."

New State Bill Focuses On Donating Cars To Those Less Fortunate

New State Bill Focuses On Donating Cars To Those Less Fortunate: "An Ocean County program that donates older cars to needy families is the basis of a new state bill that has already passed the New Jersey State Assembly.

For several years, the county has taken older, high-mileage vehicles, which normally would have been sold for a nominal fee, and instead donated them to the St. Francis Center on Long Beach Island.

The center repairs the vehicles and donates them to local families who are trying to get off the welfare rolls and return to work."

Proposed bill targets salaries at nonprofits - Fall River, MA - Wicked Local Fall River

Proposed bill targets salaries at nonprofits - Fall River, MA - Wicked Local Fall River: "A bill aiming to cap the salaries of top executives at nonprofit businesses across Massachusetts will take center stage on Beacon Hill today in an attempt to stem long-standing health care cuts and premium increases seen across the state."

Editorial: Bingo nonprofits need help : North County Times - Californian

Editorial: Bingo nonprofits need help : North County Times - Californian: "While fundraising from bingo has dipped precipitously in recent years for churches, charities and nonprofit organizations, Indian casinos have increased in size and profits.

Seeking to reverse their fortunes, these organizations have formed Charities First, a group supporting legislation from state Sen. Gil Cedillo that would change the old bingo sessions to games electronically linked across the state, enabling bingo to offer prizes that could rise to six-digit payouts to winners.

Today, state law limits prizes offered by churches, charities and nonprofit groups to $250 or less."

Bill to let nonprofits use volunteers fails

Bill to let nonprofits use volunteers fails: "A bill that would allow nonprofits to continue using volunteers for public works projects such as wetland restoration was defeated in a state Senate committee Wednesday as lawmakers are considering another bill that aims do so the same thing."

Finance and Commerce

Finance and Commerce: "Officials at some 400 Minnesota arts and human services nonprofits are on edge these days as they await word on whether they’ll lose millions annually in sales and property tax exemptions.

The amount of savings Minnesota nonprofits see because of the exemptions is not small: Golden Valley-based Courage Center, which provides rehabilitation and vocational services for people with disabilities, would lose more than $1.7 million annually if the exemptions are removed permanently, according to John Tschida, senior director of public affairs and research."

IRS Official Takes New Role Monitoring Charities in Senate - Philanthropy.com

From the Chronicle of Philanthropy

IRS Official Takes New Role Monitoring Charities in Senate - Philanthropy.com: "Sen. Charles Grassley has tapped a former Internal Revenue Service official to replace a well-known former aide who had aggressively pursued efforts to regulate nonprofit organizations.

Theresa Pattara, a project manager at the IRS Office of Exempt Organizations, will replace Dean Zerbe as Mr. Grassley’s senior tax counsel. Mr. Zerbe left the post in February to join the Washington office of the Alliant Group, a Houston tax-consulting company."

Walworth County News I The Week newspaper, Walworth County, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Delavan, Elkhorn

Walworth County News I The Week newspaper, Walworth County, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva, Delavan, Elkhorn: "Bill makes charity wine auctions legal
Organizers of last fall's Lake Geneva Wine Festival were apparently breaking the law with their charity wine auction, but a bill signed this week by Gov. Jim Doyle fixes the problem.

Under current law, anyone who sells alcohol is required to hold a license, according to State Sen. Neal Kedzie of Elkhorn."