Association for Healthcare Philanthropy Opposes Limits on Charitable Tax Deductions

A report by Indiana University “suggests that had these proposals been in place in 2006, total itemized charitable giving by households would have dropped by 2.1 percent.” And that number fails to take into account the current large decline in America’s personal wealth. Americans’ generosity in support of nonprofit hospitals and health care systems is substantial, totaling $8.35 billion last year according to AHP’s Report on Giving 2007. This report reveals an important insight concerning the importance of public backing for the nonprofit health care community: Almost 83 percent of all donors last year were individuals. Individuals provided 61 percent of all donations. Can American hospitals afford to lose 2.1 percent or more in contributions from these families?