Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit

Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit: Majority of Canadians support charitable giving federal credit

Encouraging younger people to donate

Pamela Barden - Passion: The Game-Changing Ingredient : FundRaising Success

Pamela Barden - Passion: The Game-Changing Ingredient : FundRaising Success: And last weekend, I was reminded about an important truth in fundraising as I watched the evening's program unfurl and listened closely to the ask: You can't fake passion .

In this case, there was passion at every turn. A donor spoke of the absolute joy she has found in generously supporting the cause. A board member brought tears to many eyes as he shared a story. A worker who receives money from the nonprofit for his programs all but jumped up and down recounting what a difference it made.

Leader of Pittsburgh nonprofit task force warns on tax fight - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Leader of Pittsburgh nonprofit task force warns on tax fight - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: It's complicated.

That's how Don Smith, chairman of a nascent task force on nonprofits and president of the Regional Industrial Development Corporation, describes the city's relations with tax-exempt nonprofits in light of the lawsuit the city is filing against the region's largest tax-exempt organization -- UPMC.

Florida Foundations Blanket Capitol Hill to Raise Awareness of Philanthropy; Urge Congress to Preserve Charitable Deduction - RE:Philanthropy

Florida Foundations Blanket Capitol Hill to Raise Awareness of Philanthropy; Urge Congress to Preserve Charitable Deduction - RE:Philanthropy: lorida foundations made their voices heard in Washington this week. Florida Philanthropic Network led a team of 12 Florida grantmakers for visits with Florida’s representatives and senators as part of the annual Foundations on the Hill event on March 19-20, 2013. The event was co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations, the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers and the Alliance for Charitable Reform. We blanketed the Hill, making contact with all 29 members of Florida’s congressional delegation and their staffs, to stress to our legislative leaders the important role that philanthropy plays in our state.

‘Tis the Season: Checking a Charity’s Tax-Exempt Status - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

‘Tis the Season: Checking a Charity’s Tax-Exempt Status - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: IRS.gov includes an “Exempt Organizations Select Check” page to allow searches for tax-exempt entities, nonprofits that have had their tax-exempt recognition revoked, and those that file the Form 990-N, also known as the “postcard return.” Of course, if you don’t already know about it, you’ll have to do a keyword search, as the IRS homepage no longer includes a link for “Charities and Non-Profits.” This link formerly served as a gateway for all things nonprofit, including searching for charities. Also, if you are looking for a charity on the list, a charity that has had its status revoked, or a charity that files the Form 990-N, you will need to be prepared to undertake three separate searches.

Senate Effort to Protect Charitable Deduction Divides Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Senate Effort to Protect Charitable Deduction Divides Nonprofits - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: That left nonprofit leaders in an awkward position on Thursday: Many wanted to support the Senators’ goal of fending off new limits on charitable deductions. Among those who praised the measure quickly was the Alliance for Charitable Reform, a project of the conservative Philanthropy Roundtable, which called it an “an important step for the charitable community because it sets the charitable deduction apart as different from all other deductions.”

Federal budget: A one-time boost to credit for charitable donations

Federal budget: A one-time boost to credit for charitable donations: First the good news. First-time donors (to charity), which means anyone who hasn’t contributed since 2007, will get a 25 per cent ‘super credit’ on top of the existing (federal) credit,” said Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning at CIBC Private Wealth Management.

The measure, to take effect in the 2013 tax year, is intended to boost charitable giving in Canada. It could be particularly impactful here, since Quebecers typically rank near the bottom in terms of national per-capita giving.

Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs - Tax Watch - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Oregon Again Seeks to Crack Down on High Fundraising Costs

By Suzanne Perry

The Oregon legislature has resurrected a bill that would deny state tax breaks for gifts to charities with high fundraising and administrative costs.

The House, which let a similar measure die in 2011, adopted it unanimously this month and sent it to the Senate.

About Nonprofit Advocacy | Independent Sector

About Nonprofit Advocacy | Independent Sector: All nonprofits have a vital role to play in strengthening democracy, advancing freedom of expression, and adding richness and diversity to community life. Throughout our history, Americans have turned to nonprofit organizations to provide a strong, collective voice to inform and influence public policy.

AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations - Press - AFP

AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations - Press - AFP: AFP’s Government Relations Committee Weighs in on Canada’s Anti-spam Regulations

Concerned by the potentially negative impacts on Canada’s charities, Canada’s AFP Government Relations Committee has formally submitted its position on anti-spam legislation to the Digital Policy Branch of the Department of Industry.

Delaney Calls for Nonprofit Sector Unity in Face of Budget Cuts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Delaney Calls for Nonprofit Sector Unity in Face of Budget Cuts - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: In Tulsa, Okla. last week, Tim Delaney, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, called for nonprofit organizations to come together and speak with a powerful, unified voice. This is what other sectors do when they feel they are under attack, he said. Other speakers echoed his call, including Carol Carter of LIFE Senior Services, who said that one of the biggest threats right now is government budget cutting. Carter is afraid that governments are not making smart cuts and are using an axe instead of a scalpel. By blithely hacking away at budgets, she contends, government officials are not considering the implications of their decisions.

Inquirer Editorial: Tapping nonprofits is worth a discussion

Inquirer Editorial: Tapping nonprofits is worth a discussion: Before Philadelphia starts lifting couch cushions to find enough change to pay for basic services, it should consider ways to generate revenue from tax-exempt nonprofits.

In a recent article, Inquirer business writer Harold Brubaker pointed out that nonprofits hold about $13 billion in exempted city real estate, or nearly 10 percent of the total market value.

Reflections on a Nonprofit Approach to Comprehensive Tax Reform - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Reflections on a Nonprofit Approach to Comprehensive Tax Reform - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: he next really big battle for the nation’s policymakers is tax reform. It won’t be quick or easy. It might not even happen in this Congress, but the gears have begun turning. Gucci Gulch lobbyists are already hard at work selling their wares to members of Congress, and if you listen to the statements of President Barack Obama, House Speaker John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, they all seem to say they want tax reform via cutting “loopholes,” whatever they might be. At least both sides are pledging to take aim at the same thing, even though there is a wide variance in the specific “loopholes” they have in mind.

Failure of Donor to Provide Written Acknowledgment for Gifts to Own Organization Results in Denial of Deduction | Planned Giving Design Center

Failure of Donor to Provide Written Acknowledgment for Gifts to Own Organization Results in Denial of Deduction | Planned Giving Design Center: The Tax Court has denied the income tax charitable contributions for an individual who founded an animal rescue organization because she failed to provide herself with contemporaneous written acknowledgments from her own organization for her contributions. The fact the taxpayer was on both sides of the transaction was immaterial in the eyes of the court.

Bill Would Make Qualified Conservation Easements Permanent | Planned Giving Design Center

Bill Would Make Qualified Conservation Easements Permanent | Planned Giving Design Center: Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus [D-MT] has introduced the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act of 2013. If enacted, the bill would make permanent the special rule for contributions of "qualified conservation easements" and remove easements on golf courses from its definition.

Aviv Calls for Nonprofit Sector to Unite on Bipartisan Goals - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Aviv Calls for Nonprofit Sector to Unite on Bipartisan Goals - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: The People’s Voice is the monthly blog written by Diana Aviv, the president and CEO of the highly visible national nonprofit leadership organization Independent Sector. From her recent experience on Capitol Hill, Aviv asks, “is there any hope that our political leaders might find a way to work together civilly on the very big challenges they and we must face together?” Although familiar with the political divide in Washington, Aviv says, “we have observed some modest movement toward bipartisan policy on a handful of issues, including protecting women from domestic violence, immigration reform, universal background checks for handgun ownership, and same-sex marriage rights.”

AG Might Hamper Advocacy Work | The NonProfit Times

AG Might Hamper Advocacy Work | The NonProfit Times: egulations proposed on nonprofit advocacy groups by the New York attorney general could hamper efforts by organizations doing legitimate advocacy on public policy, according to one watchdog group.

Praising New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for going after “sham nonprofits” involved in electioneering, the Alliance for Justice countered with suggested changes to his proposal. AFJ is a Washington, D.C.-based association of more than 100 organizations providing information, resources and technical assistance about advocacy.

Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Pro-Obama Group Follows Line of Controversial Political Nonprofits

March 11, 2013, 10:45 am

Amid the controversy over Organizing for Action, the advocacy group set up by Obama campaign leaders to promote the president’s agenda, Roll Call looks at similar past entities and assesses the new group’s potential impact on efforts to tighten restrictions on nonprofit politicking.

Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money - Philanthropy Today - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: Nonprofit Promoting Obama Agenda Decides Not to Take Corporate Money

March 7, 2013, 11:03 am

The social-welfare organization formed from President Obama’s 2012 campaign has reversed course and decided not to take donations from co

Report: Charities See Only 35 Cents For Each Dollar Raised � CBS Detroit

Report: Charities See Only 35 Cents For Each Dollar Raised � CBS Detroit: LANSING (WWJ) - A new report from the State Attorney General’s Office says the middleman that charities use to solicit donations is actually getting more money than the charities themselves.

The state’s first annual Professional Fundraising Charitable Solicitation Report found that charities collect an average of only thirty-five cents for every dollar raised by professional fundraisers soliciting donations in Michigan.

Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts | Planned Giving Design Center

Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts | Planned Giving Design Center: Urban Institute TPC Releases Report on Tax Reform of Split-Interest Charitable Gifts
News story posted in Legislative by Marc Hoffman on 7 March 2013| comments
audience: National Publication | last updated: 7 March 2013

National Audit Office to investigate Charity Commission's ability to regulate

National Audit Office to investigate Charity Commission's ability to regulate: The National Audit Office will complete a report on the Charity Commission's ability to effectively regulate the sector after MPs voiced serious concerns at a Public Accounts Committee meeting this morning.

William Shawcross, chairman of the Charity Commission and Sam Younger, chief executive appeared before the Public Accounts Committee this morning to answer questions on the Commission’s investigation into the Cup Trust, which was used

The AFP Blog: American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester

The AFP Blog: American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
American Philanthropy: Lost in the Politics of the Sequester
Posted by Andrew Watt, FInstF

In the high-stakes game of sequestration being played out between the White House and Congress, Democrats and Republicans, one side seems certain to lose: America’s nonprofit sector.

Report says new tax reliefs could unlock �480m in social investments

Report says new tax reliefs could unlock �480m in social investments: The Role of Tax Incentives in Encouraging Social Investment, was commissioned by the City of London Corporation and Big Society Capital. It says that adapting the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and the Venture Capital Trust (VCT), which provide tax incentives to encourage individuals to provide venture capital to small businesses, could generate up to �165m in social investment over a three-year period and �480m over a five-year period.

IRS to Speed Its Alerts on Groups That Lose Tax-Exempt Status

IRS to Speed Its Alerts on Groups That Lose Tax-Exempt Status: The IRS this month will start to give the public an earlier heads-up on organizations whose tax-exempt status has been automatically revoked for failure to file an annual information return or notice for three consecutive years.