Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Two Senators Craft Bills to Yank NFL’s Nonprofit Status – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Two Senators Craft Bills to Yank NFL’s Nonprofit Status – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy


Two Senators Craft Bills to Yank NFL’s Nonprofit Status


A Democratic senator said Tuesday that he has introducedlegislation to revoke the tax-exempt status of the National FootballLeague and other nonprofit professional sports bodies, while anotherDemocratic lawmaker announced plans to file a measure specifically targeting the NFL, ABC News and Politico report.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Amazing Raise returns tomorrow, sets $2 million goal - RVANews

Amazing Raise returns tomorrow, sets $2 million goal - RVANews

The 4th annual Amazing Raise, the 36-hour online fundraiser supporting local nonprofits, begins tomorrow at 6:00 AM. The Community Foundation,
organizers of the annual fundraiser, hopes to raise $2 million for the
619 local nonprofits participating in this year’s event.


So how does it work?

Study: Rep. Camp’s Tax Plan Could Cut Giving by $34-Billion – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

Study: Rep. Camp’s Tax Plan Could Cut Giving by $34-Billion – Philanthropy Today - Blogs - The Chronicle of Philanthropy

A new analysis of House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp’s
tax-reform proposal predicts it would reduce U.S. charitable giving by 7
percent to 14 percent, The Hill
reports. That could mean up to $34-billion in lost donations, based on
last year’s total giving of $240-billion, according to the study from
the Tax Policy Center and the Urban Institute’s Center on Nonprofits and
Philanthropy.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

No charge to register with Northern Irish charity regulator, says Frances McCandless | Third Sector

No charge to register with Northern Irish charity regulator, says Frances McCandless | Third Sector

The chief executive of the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland moves to quash a rumour that it will make charities pay when they apply to go on the compulsory register

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Federal Government Clarifies New OMB Grant Reforms | Common Good Vermont Blog

Federal Government Clarifies New OMB Grant Reforms | Common Good Vermont Blog 



The federal government has taken steps to deliver on its recent promise
that nonprofits will be paid the true costs for performing work on
behalf of governments. In recently published Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs),
the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) removes much of the
gray area in the mandate that pass-through entities (typically state and
local governments) using federal funds must pay federally negotiated
rates for indirect cost or, if such a rate doesn’t exist, pay at least a
10 percent rate to eligible nonprofits.

AFP's Response to National Post Article on Policing of Political Activities of Charities - Press - AFP

AFP's Response to National Post Article on Policing of Political Activities of Charities - Press - AFP

Recently, Andrew Coyne penned this column in
the National Post focused on the policing of political activities of
charities. Coyne concluded that the best means of addressing the
situation is to “take away the charitable tax designation—not
selectively, based on their ability to dance on the head of a CRA pin,
but across the board, outright.”

Monday, September 08, 2014

Could The IRS Disallow Ice Bucket Challenge Charitable Contributions?

Could The IRS Disallow Ice Bucket Challenge Charitable Contributions?

OK, rest easy; the IRS isn’t coming after your ALS donation. While the
principle of donative intent is very real, in recent years, the courts
have tied this principle to a “quid pro quo test,” which states that

Friday, August 29, 2014

Push the Senate to Pass the America Gives More Act - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

 Via the Chroincle Push the Senate to Pass the America Gives More Act - Opinion - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: ifteen days. That’s about how much time is left on the legislative calendar before Congress adjourns this year. That’s not much, and it could be all the time nonprofit advocates have left to make sure that an important tax bill designed to encourage charitable giving becomes law.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Risk of Aus Charities Financing Terrorism | Pro Bono Australia

Risk of Aus Charities Financing Terrorism | Pro Bono Australia: The charity regulator has warned that charities may be at risk of having their charitable funds that are sent overseas being diverted or otherwise misused, even if their intentions are in line with their charitable purposes.

The ACNC has called on charities sending money overseas to be vigilant and diligent in dealing with their partner organisations overseas.

How can charities comply with the new lobbying act? | Third Sector

How can charities comply with the new lobbying act? | Third Sector: The Electoral Commission's guidance on the subject has not had a warm reception. Sam Burne James reports

Rick Cohen: In a mid-term election year, charity lands on the agenda | Third Sector

Rick Cohen: In a mid-term election year, charity lands on the agenda | Third Sector: Charitable giving incentives are on the federal government's docket this summer. By mid-September, the US Senate will have to decide whether to follow the Republican-dominated House of Representatives and pass the America Gives More Act. The legislation would extend three expired incentives for donations of food, conservation easements and – perhaps most significantly – donations of money from the retirement accounts of individual taxpayers aged 70 and one half or older.

EU data protection proposals would kill fundraisers’ mailing lists, says report

EU data protection proposals would kill fundraisers’ mailing lists, says report: Proposed EU data protection rules could destroy mailing lists relied on by charity fundraisers, and would present “the biggest challenge in fundraising for a generation”, according to a report published this week by marketing agency Medialab.

The EU has announced plans for a comprehensive reform of data protection rules which will require individuals to give explicit consent before a company or charity can process their personal data. The rules could come into force as early as 2017.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

thebahamasweekly.com - Impact of VAT on Charities Clarified by Bahamas Ministry of Finance

thebahamasweekly.com - Impact of VAT on Charities Clarified by Bahamas Ministry of Finance: Representatives of the VAT team of the Ministry of Finance emphasized that services provided by local charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that directly relate to charitable activities will be VAT exempt and the VAT programme provides for recouping of some taxes paid on goods for the use of such community services.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center

New 1023-EZ Form Released: Streamlines Process for Eligible Small Charities to Apply for IRC Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status and Seek Retroactive Reinstatement | Planned Giving Design Center: On July 1, 2014, the IRS issued Form 1023-EZ (Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), along with instructions and a detailed Revenue Procedure (Rev. Proc. 2004-40) that sets forth the rules for the use of the form and an Information Release (IR-2004-77). Beginning immediately, certain eligible smaller charities seeking tax exemption under IRC� 501(c)(3) can use the 3-page Form 1023-EZ to see tax exempt tax from the IRS rather than the lengthy and complicated Form 1023, which is a 26-page form that consists of a 12-page “core form” plus eight potentially-applicable schedules and a checklist. The IRS estimates that up to 70% of new charities will be able to use the Form 1023-EZ, and anticipates that the use of Form 1023-EZ for small charities and the existing Form 1023 for larger charities, will enable the IRS to more quickly process all exemption applications. In its news release accompanying the Form 1023-EZ, the IRS indicates that it currently has more than 60,000 exemption applications in its “backlog,” many of which have been pending for nine months or more.