Charitable-Giving Plan Divides Nonprofit Groups and Worries Donors

Currently, in exchange for gifts, donors are allowed to reduce their taxes by the same percentage as their tax bracket; therefore, wealthier donors who pay a larger percentage of their income in taxes get a bigger write off.

That argument, however, has not gained much traction with experts like Mr. Kallina, the adviser to wealthy donors. Under the Obama budget, he says, “it is absolutely clear that charity is paying for the cost of health care, is that a good policy decision?” Health-care reform should not be done at the expense of giving, he said.