Charitable-Giving Plan Divides Nonprofit Groups and Worries Donors

March 2, 2009, The Chronicle of Philanthropy — As President Obama seeks to reduce the value of the charitable deduction for wealthy Americans, fund raisers and other nonprofit experts are divided over whether his idea would cause any substantial change in charitable giving.

The proposal, which hasn’t even been formally sent to Congress, has already caused some concern among wealthy donors, and could well prompt fund raisers to urge wealthy people to give now so they don’t lose the value of their tax breaks by giving after Mr. Obama’s plan takes effect.