Senate-Passed Stimulus Bill Does Not Include Philanthropy Measures

By Suzanne Perry and Grant Williams

* An increase in the tax deduction for people who use their vehicles to volunteer, which is much lower than the business mileage deduction. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa, had worked to include that provision in the stimulus package, but he did not succeed.

The Senate and House must now reconcile differences in their versions of the stimulus package. The Council on Foundations will continue pushing to get the measures on the excise tax and individual retirement account into the final package, says Rodney Emory, vice president of government relations.