Red Cross Says Hurricane Sandy Fundraising is ‘Trade Secret’ – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Red Cross Says Hurricane Sandy Fundraising is ‘Trade Secret’ – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Red Cross is fighting a public records request filed by ProPublica to disclose how it raised and spent $300-million in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the investigative news organization reports.

The Red Cross gave some information about its Sandy-related activities to New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, but has resisted publicly releasing details, arguing that they are a “trade secret.”

Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal - Charity Commission

Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal - Charity Commission: Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal
Registering an international charity or overseas disaster appeal

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) - Press - AFP

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) - Press - AFP: Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

On behalf of AFP, Mark Blumberg, a partner at Blumberg Segal LLP and Non-Profit and Charity Law expert, drafted this document to help explain Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation2 (“CASL”). CASL will be in force on July 1, 2014, with the sections related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software coming into force on January 15, 2015. It is a complicated piece of legislation that will apply to commercial electronic messages (“CEM”) that are either sent from, or accessed on, a computer system in Canada, unless an exemption applies.

Finding Our Way Through the Knight – IRS Issues Final Regulations to Guide Us Throug... | Bloomberg BNA

Finding Our Way Through the Knight – IRS Issues Final Regulations to Guide Us Throug... | Bloomberg BNA: Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Finding Our Way Through the Knight – IRS Issues Final Regulations to Guide Us Through Miscellaneous Deductions for Estates and Nongrantor Trusts

Pittsburgh Suburb Tries to Restrict Door-to-Door Solicitors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

Pittsburgh Suburb Tries to Restrict Door-to-Door Solicitors - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: Don’t knock on doors in Baldwin, Pennsylvania to solicit money for a nonprofit unless you’re carrying your registration. Stephanie Hacke reports for the Tribune-Review that Baldwin has passed an ordinance requiring members of nonprofit, religious, and charitable organizations to register with the Baldwin police before they solicit for anything on a door-to-door basis.

How the Lerner Fiasco Camouflages Important IRS Issues - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

How the Lerner Fiasco Camouflages Important IRS Issues - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: It’s time for nonprofit leaders to demand something more important from Congress than a judgment on Lerner. It’s time for Congress—the House Committee led by Issa and its Senate counterpart, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, led by Senator Thomas R. Carper (D-DE)—to examine how the IRS functions vis-�-vis nonprofit organizations and other aspects of critical oversight, how it has apparently functioned for years, what should be on its plate and what shouldn’t be, and how to make the IRS—and for us, its roles in oversight of tax exempt organizations—function better, appropriately, and competently.—Rick Cohen

Nonprofits' Impact on City Larger Than Expected

Nonprofits' Impact on City Larger Than Expected: Survive might not be the correct verbiage, according to a recent survey conducted by the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership in accordance with the CSULB Office of Economic Research. A more suitable word choice is thrive, as the nonprofits continue to grow and become a more integral part of the economy according to a recent study.

One Small City Will Press Homeless Shelter for Payments in Lieu of Taxes - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly

One Small City Will Press Homeless Shelter for Payments in Lieu of Taxes - NPQ - Nonprofit Quarterly: universities and the like. One fifth of Brockton’s property is tax-exempt, according to the city finance director, John Condon; out of $5.4 billion in total property value, about $1.01 billion is tax-exempt.

Mayor Bill Carpenter’s efforts are focused on groups that own $500,000 or more in real property and the plan would have nonprofits contribute 10 percent of what they would be assessed in taxes if they were not exempt the first year, 20 percent the second year, and 30 percent from then on.

Brockton mayor seeks cash from larger nonprofits - South - The Boston Globe

Brockton mayor seeks cash from larger nonprofits - South - The Boston Globe: Sticking to a campaign promise not to raise taxes, Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter released a $375 million budget last week that omits a 2.5 percent increase allowed under the tax limits of Proposition 2�.

Instead, the new mayor said he is on a quest for new revenue to fill in gaps, and in addition to selling about $700,000 worth of municipally owned properties in recent weeks, he has asked 21 of the city’s major nonprofit organizations to forge voluntary payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements with the city.

In negotiating such agreements, Brockton would join a number of other area communities, including Easton and Bridgewater, that receive similar annual payments.

Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times

Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form | The NonProfit TimesThe NonProfit Times: News & Articles > Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form
Live From AICPA: IRS Readying Shorter Application Form
By Mark Hrywna - June 13, 2014

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to release a shorter version of its application for tax-exemption (Form 1023 EZ) within the next month and reduce the backlog of the longest applications by the end of the fiscal year.

Legislation signed to help charitable events in IL - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff

Legislation signed to help charitable events in IL - KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar Bluff: Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation on Tuesday, June 10 to help organizers of charitable poker runs in Illinois.

The legislation ensures that more of the money raised from these grassroots events will go toward the intended recipient by reducing required fees. Tuesday's action is party of Gov. Quinn's commitment to encourage volunteerism in Illinois.

Government unveils Protection of Charities Bill in the Queen's Speech | Third Sector

Government unveils Protection of Charities Bill in the Queen's Speech | Third Sector: The draft legislation would give the Charity Commission tougher powers to prevent the abuse of charities

The government has announced draft legislation designed to give the Charity Commission tougher powers to prevent the abuse of charities.

The Protection of Charities Bill, announced as part of the Queen’s Speech today, would "create a fairer society by better protecting charities in England and Wales from abuse and equipping the Charity Commission to tackle abuse more effectively and efficiently", according to a statement released by the Cabinet Office.

The Long (and Continuing) Travels of the Charitable IRA Rollover - Press - AFP

The Long (and Continuing) Travels of the Charitable IRA Rollover - Press - AFP: The Long (and Continuing) Travels of the Charitable IRA Rollover

The Charitable IRA Rollover was approved last week by the House Ways and Means Committee as part of a package of tax extenders, and is now headed to the full House for a vote. But the journey for the now expired provision is far from over.

Since being first approved in 2006, the IRA Rollover provision has expired—and been reinstated—several times in a process AFP and other charities have gotten used to. “It’s not been a great way to develop policy,” said Jason Lee, AFP’s general counsel. “Charities have not been able to plan their fundraising with the IRA Rollover effectively, much less market this key charitable giving incentive, when it is constantly expiring and working on the premise that it will be reinstated and made retroactive.”

Tax-free status of Hong Kong’s international schools attacked | South China Morning Post

Tax-free status of Hong Kong’s international schools attacked | South China Morning Post: Tax-free status of Hong Kong’s international schools attacked

Granting of charity status criticised after parent company of international school in Lam Tin is found to be listed on New York Stock Exchange

Editorial: Tax exemption for hospitals due for review | Concord Monitor

Editorial: Tax exemption for hospitals due for review | Concord Monitor: Nonprofit hospitals are considered charities because they provide a community benefit, a good that has never been clearly defined by the IRS. One of those benefits is charity care, serving for free those who can’t pay and reducing fees for the uninsured who aren’t poor but still can’t pay jaw-dropping charges for medical treatment.

But if everyone has insurance, the need for charity care evaporates. If hospitals are getting paid for every service they provide by someone, and thus no longer providing charity care, why should they be considered tax exempt? Many health care economists and municipalities struggling to make ends meet have been asking that question for some time.

A story last week in the New York Times suggests it’s time for New Hampshire lawmakers to consider the question in earnest.

Del. Town Says Charity Events Must Donate 60% of Take – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Del. Town Says Charity Events Must Donate 60% of Take – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy: The Bethany Beach, Del., council passed a resolution last week requiring that organizations running fundraisers that the seaside resort town’s facilities in the seaside resort town turn over at least 60 percent of gross proceeds to the charity beneficiaries, reports Delmarva newspaper The Daily Times.

Fundraising and Nonprofit Report

Fundraising and Nonprofit Report: Fundraising and Nonprofit Report

The Fundraising & Nonprofit Report is published monthly. We give you up-to-date information about the most pressing legal issues related to fundraising and nonprofit organizations.
May 2014
Federal

Poor positioning tops list of street fundraisers' 'most common misdemeanours' | Third Sector

Poor positioning tops list of street fundraisers' 'most common misdemeanours' | Third Sector:The PFRA publishes the latest compliance and enforcement data on charities that incur penalties for breaking its rules

The most common misdemeanours by street fundraisers in the past year were positioning themselves in the wrong place, not wearing ‘team leader’ badges and not explaining themselves to donors in clear and simple terms, according to data from the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association.

The latest compliance and enforcement data shows how street fundraisers have fared since the PFRA struck an agreement with its members in September 2012 to implement a penalty points system for charities and agencies that break the PFRA’s rules.

Bill planned to protect volunteers from being sued for negligence

Bill planned to protect volunteers from being sued for negligence: Writing a blog on ConservativeHome today, Grayling said too often people who are doing the right thing in society feel constrained by the fear of ending up facing a lawsuit for negligence.

He said his proposed bill, nicknamed 'Sarah', will serve as a signpost from Parliament to courts. “It will set out very simple protections for those people who act in the interests of society, responsibly or heroically.