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Friday, December 16, 2011

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The latest newsletter is available below or with full articles online.


Washington Roundup

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 Here is an update from Capitol Hill:

Payroll Tax
After several failed votes in the Senate, the House managed to pass a one-year extension of the payroll tax cut for employees on Tuesday, December 13th.  This bill, which passed in a mostly partisan vote of 234-193, included not only an extension of the payroll tax rate at 4.2%, but also allowed for the construction of the controversial Keystone KL oil pipeline, scaled back an air-pollution rule, cut Obama’s health reform law, and reduced the length of unemployment benefits.  The bill is paid for by freezing salaries for federal employees and a 10% reduction in the federal workforce.  These extra provisions are reported to be “dead on arrival” in the Senate and the President has threatened to veto the bill should those provisions remain...   ( CONTINUE READING)


Funding the Government
After weeks of partisan wrangling over a large-scale spending package, it was announced late Thursday night that an agreement had been reached.  The $1 trillion “omnibus” bill would fund most government programs through the remainder of 2012 and avert a government shutdown.  House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) expressed optimism for the bill, saying “I am hopeful that the House and Senate can pass this bill [today] to prevent a government shutdown, fund critical programs and services for the American people and cut spending to help put the nation’s finances on a more sustainable path.”  The House passed this measure earlier this afternoon by a vote of 296-121, and the Senate will hold a vote later this afternoon.  It is expected to pass and then be sent to the President for his signature.


Consider This

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Something You Haven’t Heard About the Super Committee

The late Congressman Mo Udall (D-AZ) once quipped, “Everything has been said but not everyone has said it.”  In the case of the Super Committee, we believe that while much has been said, not everything has been said... (Continue reading)


Making Headlines

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Here are a few recent news items you may find interesting:

Federal

Treasury Report: In response to a 2005 request by Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), the Treasury Department has released a study on how nonprofit supporting organizations and donor advised funds distribute money to charities. In related news: Senator Criticizes Treasury Department Report Giving, Chronicle of Philanthropy.

IRA Charitable Rollover: Year-end planning is complicated by uncertainty over what Congress will do next year to reduce the national debt and improve the economy.  Continuously expiring tax breaks, including the IRA Charitable Rollover, only exacerbate this issue.

Estate Tax: The Seattle Times reports that Jim McDermott (D-WA) has proposed raising the estate tax back to pre-2001 levels and restoring the top rate of 55 percent.
 

States

California & New York: Governors of California and New York are moving to raise revenues from high-net-worth residents, reversing previous positions against raising taxes. As the Wall Street Journal reports , together, these two states account for more than 20% of the nation’s millionaires.

Nonprofits: A new report from philanthropic consulting firm Changing Our World warns that nonprofits can expect at least two more difficult years despite the improving economy, as state budgets race to catch up in revenue and spending. Download report: The Public Finance Crisis: Can Philanthropy Shoulder the Burden. In related news: A new bill would allow Pennsylvania municipalities to tax nonprofit organizations on the assessed value of their land, and not buildings on that land.
 

Comings & Goings (Nonprofit Leadership)

Open Society Foundations: Philanthropist George Soros is expected to name Christopher Stone, a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, as the new head of the Open Society Foundations.


This Caught Our Eye…

Free Enterprise and Philanthropy: In a Washington Examiner op-ed Washington Legal Foundation expert Daniel Popeo challenges those from the charitable sector that are against free enterprise and support proposals that shift greater power to government reminding them that philanthropy and free enterprise are “inexorably intertwined.”

Female Donors: A new survey from Bank of America Merrill Lynch and the Center for Philanthropy at Indiana University finds that in nearly 90 percent of high net worth households, women are either the sole decision maker or an equal partner in decisions about charitable giving. Download: 2011 Study of High Net Worth Women’s Philanthropy. Relatedly: Why Wealthy Women Give: to influence the young, Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Why We Give to Charity, Boston Globe.

Giving Locally: Trends from recent surveys indicate that charities and nonprofits can expect giving to rise at the end of 2011 and human services in local communities are high priorities.

Five Fascinating Philanthropists: Barron's profiles five innovative philanthropists, looking at the entrepreneurial spirit that propelled them to think of new solutions for social problems.

National Poverty Line: In a recent Chronicle of Philanthropy op-ed Leslie Lenkowsky, philanthropic studies professor at Indiana University, discusses the new poverty figures and suggests that grantmakers and nonprofit groups seeking to help the needy ought to consider how the new findings affect their work.

Moving the Needle: GuideStar has released a new study that finds donors would consider shifting up to $15 billion in charitable dollars to higher-performing nonprofits if the organizations provide donors, advisors, and foundation grantmakers with the information that they want, where and how they want it. Download study: Money for Good II.

Funding Hispanic Causes: A new report from the Foundation Center in collaboration with Hispanics in Philanthropy examines U.S. foundation support for programs benefiting Hispanics and Latinos. Download study: Foundation Funding for Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and for Latin America


Save the Date

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Mark your calendars for the Alliance for Charitable Reform’s third annual Summit for Leaders on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.

What is the Summit?
The ACR Summit for Leaders offers a half-day of programming aimed at providing a snapshot of the current political issues impacting philanthropy and nonprofits, and guidance on how to effectively advance your cause amidst the ever-present din in Washington. Panels including Senior Congressional Staff, policy experts and seasoned practitioners offer an insider’s look at the landscape of Capitol Hill, and how the agendas of Congress, the Administration and the states might impact the philanthropic sector. The Summit is an excellent opportunity for foundation executives, nonprofit leaders, and others interested in the intersection of public policy and philanthropy.

Time
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.  

Registration
Online registration will open in January 2012. Look for a registration email after the New Year.

Location
Mayflower Renaissance Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20036

The Summit for Leaders is held in conjunction with Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), hosted by the Council on Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers. We encourage summit attendees who are eligible to participate in FOTH to visit www.foundationsonthehill.org for more information.

For more information contact Patrice Lee at The Philanthropy Roundtable (plee@philanthropyroundtable.org or 202.822.8333).

 


Contact ACR at Info@acreform.com


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