Capitol Hill Power Analysis: The Nonprofit Guide to the 113th Congress - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Capitol Hill Power Analysis: The Nonprofit Guide to the 113th Congress - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The lame-duck session of Congress will likely grapple with the fiscal cliff, but plenty of issues, including elements of the fiscal cliff, will probably roll over onto the plate of the incoming 113th Congress. That means it is going to be a bigtime high-pressure moment for nonprofit lobbyists to work Capitol Hill to protect programs and push new legislation important to the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit issues on the plate of the incoming 113th Congress will be tough and contentious. Nonprofits are going to have to lobby quickly and smartly. That means mobilizing people to influence key legislators on important committees whose positions will dictate what gets considered in 2013 and how.

Small Charitable Donations Bill moves to House of Lords

Small Charitable Donations Bill moves to House of Lords: Amendments to the Small Charitable Donations Bill that will make the gift aid small donations scheme more accessible to smaller and newer charitable and community organisations have been passed by the House of Commons as the Bill heads to the House of Lords.

Last week umbrella bodies celebrated some success in campaigning to reduce the bureaucratic burden of the Bill as the Chancellor introduced amendments to make the GASDS more accessible. At the third reading of the House of Commons yesterday these amendments were passed.

Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated? - US News and World Report

Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated? - US News and World Report: Should the Charitable Tax Deduction Be Eliminated?
Policymakers are considering doing away with or reducing the tax break for charitable giving

PBO Report “Federal Cost Estimate of Bill C-399: Volunteer Tax Credit”

PBO Report “Federal Cost Estimate of Bill C-399: Volunteer Tax Credit”

Nonprofits defend tax break - Nov. 20, 2012

Nonprofits defend tax break - Nov. 20, 2012: WASHINGTON (CNNMoney) -- Charities and nonprofits are digging in their heels on Capitol Hill as they prepare to defend tax breaks for charitable donations that are under threat from the fiscal cliff.

Mass. Nonprofit Leaders: Sector to Suffer if Congress Doesn’t Act

massnonprofit.org ::: November 9, 2012 — Unless Congress acts before January, when federal budget cuts are due to take effect and personal taxes set to increase, Massachusetts nonprofits will lose tens of millions of dollars, severely impacting many, but charitable giving statewide should remain steady, nonprofit leaders say.

Charitable Tax Breaks Could Take Hit During Lame-Duck Session Of Congress

Charitable Tax Breaks Could Take Hit During Lame-Duck Session Of Congress: Congress could choose to change the limitations on charitable tax deductions during its lame-duck session aimed at tackling expiring tax laws and automatic budget cuts, according to the Independent Sector.

President Obama has long proposed changes to charitable-giving tax breaks that would limit deductions to 28 percent for individuals earning more than $200,000 and married couples earning more than $250,000, according to Bloomberg. The current deduction limit is 35 percent.

The AFP Blog: Thinking Bigger—and Beyond—the Charitable Tax Deduction

The AFP Blog: Thinking Bigger—and Beyond—the Charitable Tax Deduction: On December 4th and 5th AFP will be participating in a lobby day on the hill with our partners in the Charitable Giving Coalition. If you’re in Washington, DC, those days, I strongly encourage you to participate!

Associations ‘Concerned’ about Fate of Group Tax Returns: Associations Now

Associations ‘Concerned’ about Fate of Group Tax Returns: Associations Now: As the IRS considers changes in longstanding group exemption procedures, an ASAE survey shows widespread worry about the impact on tax-exempt organizations.

City Drops Controversial Training Requirement For Nonprofit Groups // The Alternative Press: NJ's Daily Hyperlocal Newspaper

City Drops Controversial Training Requirement For Nonprofit Groups // The Alternative Press: NJ's Daily Hyperlocal Newspaper: PATERSON, NJ – Mayor Jeffrey Jones has waived a controversial new plan to require nonprofit groups to spend $300 on training at William Paterson University (WPU) in order for them to be eligible to get federal housing money through the cit

Expedited Exemptions For Sandy-Related Charities - TheNonProfitTimes

Expedited Exemptions For Sandy-Related Charities - TheNonProfitTimes: The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced an expedited review and approval process for organizations seeking tax-exempt status to provide relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy, though the IRS still encourages people to use existing organizations currently working on immediate aid efforts.

Charity Regulators (Finally) Eye Overvaluation Of Donated Goods - Forbes

Charity Regulators (Finally) Eye Overvaluation Of Donated Goods - Forbes: lizabeth Korsmo is an assistant attorney general in New Mexico and heads that state’s Charities Bureau. By all gossip–and there’s a lot–she is a key player in a coordinated but unpublicized effort by charitable regulators across a number of states to crack down on nonprofits who greatly exaggerate the value of donated goods to make themselves look bigger and better than they really are.

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs - Planned Giving - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Donor-Advised Funds Surge Past Pre-Recession Highs

By Holly Hall

Donor-advised funds last year grew for the first time since 2007, the best year the funds had before the recession took hold, according to a study released today.

Using data from 652 organizations, the National Philanthropic Trust examined the performance of the funds, which allow people to set up charitable accounts, take an immediate tax deduction, and channel money to whatever charities they want whenever they want.

Most Key Lawmakers for Nonprofits Win Re-Election - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Most Key Lawmakers for Nonprofits Win Re-Election - Government & Politics Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: But the oversight subcommittee’s chairman, Charles Boustany of Louisiana—who has been holding a series of hearings about charity regulation—faces a runoff election next month as required by state law because no candidate won a majority of votes. He will face Rep. Jeff Landry, also a Republican congressman. They are contesting a new district that was drawn after Louisiana lost one seat due to redistricting.

OSCR publishes paper to help Scottish charities release restricted funds | Third Sector

OSCR publishes paper to help Scottish charities release restricted funds | Third Sector: Guidance explains how to unlock assets that cannot be used because of outdated restrictions

The Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator has published a guidance paper on new legislation aimed at making it easier for charities in Scotland to free up restricted funds for charitable purposes.

Under the Charities Restricted Funds Reorganisation (Scotland) Regulations 2012, which came into effect on Thursday, charities can apply to the OSCR to unlock assets that cannot be used because of outdated restrictions.

Bay Area nonprofits defend some tax breaks for the wealthy | California Watch

Bay Area nonprofits defend some tax breaks for the wealthy | California Watch: Bay Area nonprofits, which often advocate for some of the neediest Americans, are finding themselves the unlikely defenders of a politically unpopular stance: keeping some tax loopholes for the rich.

“It’s a paradox,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, a coalition of more than 1,600 charities. “The nonprofit sector, which roots for the underdog, supports tax breaks to the wealthy because charitable deductions help us.”

Bay Area nonprofits defend some tax breaks for the wealthy | California Watch

Bay Area nonprofits defend some tax breaks for the wealthy | California Watch: Bay Area nonprofits, which often advocate for some of the neediest Americans, are finding themselves the unlikely defenders of a politically unpopular stance: keeping some tax loopholes for the rich.

“It’s a paradox,” said Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, a coalition of more than 1,600 charities. “The nonprofit sector, which roots for the underdog, supports tax breaks to the wealthy because charitable deductions help us.”

Charity Commission expected to open doors in December

Charity Commission expected to open doors in December: The Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission is closer to opening its doors after amendments to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission Bill were passed in the Senate yesterday, and then the amended Bill was passed in the House of Representatives today.

The start date for the ACNC will be announced in the coming weeks, it is expected to be in early December. It will be led by interim Commissioner Susan Pascoe.