Charitable-Giving Plan Divides Nonprofit Groups and Worries Donors

The White House argues that the new economic-stimulus package will help increase giving by boosting the economy and raising incomes. (See an article explaining the White House’s view.)

But others say the proposed limit on the charitable deduction would cause a big drop in giving. “Many charity officials do not understand how tax laws impact giving by the very wealthy,” said Emil Kallina, a Baltimore lawyer who advises affluent donors, including several billionaires, on their charitable plans. “For the vast majority of my clients, every tax dollar they save is an additional dollar for charity. Under the president’s budget proposal, that could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars on a multimillion-dollar gift.”