Alliance for Charitable Reform continues to identify and respond to challenges to the charitable community at the state level.
Charitable Deduction | Federal Legislation | State Legislation
Jan 27, 2012
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Upcoming Event Summit for Leaders
Washington Roundup:
- State of the Union
- Legislative Activity
Consider This:Tax Policy Geeks Take Center Stage—Tax Plans and Reform
Charitable Deduction | Federal Legislation | State Legislation
Jan 13, 2012
Happy New Year and welcome to 2012! We anticipate a busy year ahead and look forward to keeping you up to date on the issues that matter to our community.
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Washington Roundup:
- Current State of Play
- What’s Next
Consider This: 2012 Congressional Forecast
Federal Legislation | State Legislation | Events
Dec 23, 2011
Date: February 28, 2012
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Event: Southern California Grantmakers Public Policy Conference
Sue Santa will join Aaron Dorfman, Executive Director, National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy; and Latonya Slack, Senior Program Officer, California Democracy Program, The James Irvine Foundation for a panel discussion of policy issues.
For more details on this event please visit the SCG website: http://www.socalgrantmakers.org/events/upcoming?eventId=401185&EventViewMode=EventDetails
Federal Legislation | State Legislation | Events
Dec 14, 2011
Mark your calendars for the Alliance for Charitable Reform’s third annual Summit for Leaders on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.
Federal Legislation | State Legislation
Nov 18, 2011
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Washington Roundup:
Consider This:Bang or Whimper: Super Committee Predictions
Federal Legislation | State Legislation | Events
Nov 4, 2011
This week, Consider This is preempted by a recap of the Alliance for Charitable Reform’s presence at the 2011 Philanthropy Roundtable annual meeting.
Themed Can-Do Philanthropy: Solving America’s Greatest Challenges, this year’s annual meeting explored how private independent giving can—and does—solve America’s greatest challenges. In his opening address, Roundtable president Adam Meyerson reminded the audience that despite the achievements of philanthropy there are serious dangers facing charitable giving including economic stagnation, over-regulation of the charitable sector, and an assault on the charitable deduction by the current Administration. These persistent threats make necessary the vigilance and efforts of ACR, the Roundtable’s public policy arm, to preserve the charitable deduction and protect the freedom of donors and foundations.
Federal Legislation | State Legislation
Aug 12, 2011
The latest edition of the ACR newsletter is available below. Here are highlights:
Washington Roundup:
Click continue reading for the latest edition of the ACR newsletter.
Jul 15, 2011
Update:
Governor Neil Abercombie of Hawaii signed into law legislation capping all deductions on residents with certain income levels. For 2011 through 2015, singles in Hawaii with adjusted gross income (AGI) above $100,000 will only be allowed to claim $25,000 for charitable giving and other deductions, and couples with AGI above $200,000 will be allowed $50,000. This bill is similar to legislation vetoed by the former governor in 2010 but has a lower threshold, capturing more taxpayers.For full timeline, articles and resources click “continue reading” below.
Jun 7, 2011
The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports on reactions of Massachusetts foundations to efforts to prohibit compensation of nonprofit board members:
Here’s an excerpt:
The measure arose from a proposal backed by Martha Coakley, the Massachusetts attorney general, that followed a public outcry over five-figure stipends for directors of the state’s four nonprofit health insurers, two of which voluntarily suspended board compensation.
The bill has moved swiftly in recent weeks after it was attached to the state budget bill that passed the Massachusetts Senate last month
Beth Smith, executive director of the Hyams Foundation, said she had been following the attorney general’s report on nonprofit health insurers but did not realize until recently that the proposed law could apply to her foundation as well. The Hyams Foundation paid 10 of its dozen board members a total of $134,125 in 2009.
“A number of our trustees come from the nonprofit sector, including grass-roots groups, and immigrant communities and low-income communities. It might affect our ability to attract some people if they really need to make a tradeoff in terms of their own income and lives.” Ms. Smith said. “If the law passes, the board will have to have an important conversation about it. I’m not sure what the board would decide to do.”
Jun 3, 2011
Here’s something that has been flying under the radar in Massachusetts that could be of great concern to some in the foundation community and beyond.
First, consider that the definition of a public charity in Massachusetts is very broad – indeed it draws in private foundations as well as health insurers. Second, consider that Massachusetts is leaving no stone unturned in trying to tamp down health care costs. Combine that with a nonprofit health insurance company in Massachusetts where the Board of Directors is being paid as much as $90,000 a year and an ousted nonprofit health insurance executive is receiving $11 million in severance, and you’ve got a recipe for policy trouble.