Legislation

Nonprofit organizations fear a proposed amendment to Philadelphia's tax regulations will allow the city to tax an array of activities that they have always assumed were exempt.

Tax time is approaching, but before you start complaining, talk to your favorite charity.

The Internal Revenue Service today released findings from a much-anticipated study of nearly 500 nonprofit hospitals that is sure to raise controversy over how much compensation hospitals pay to top officials and how hospitals set that compensation.

GuideStar, the leading provider of nonprofit information, reports that half a million nonprofits could find themselves stripped of tax-exempt status in May 2010.

Sometimes, organizations have to stand alone and advocate for specific issues on their own. But when trying to move the legislative ball on large issues, there’s strength in numbers. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. As its vice president of public policy, George Dahlman spends most of his time dealing with legislation surrounding the specific topic of patient issues — issues such as how combined health charities such as the United Way list potential charities that federal employees can donate to, a non-itemizer’s ability to deduct charitable contributions, and estate-tax

The nonprofit sector faces ever-increasing questioning from the government, the media and the public regarding its integrity. Still, charitable giving continues to grow, with Americans leading the way in terms of philanthropy. Jeffrey Solomon, president of The Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, says the current charitable climate offers opportunities both in terms of fundraising and accountability for nonprofits.  “Both in volunteer time and in contributions, the American public every day demonstrates its faith in the nonprofit sector’s ability to improve the world,” says Solomon, whose organization consists of a family of charitable foundations operating in Canada, Israel and the United States missioned to

Long-awaited postal reform finally seems a reality, as Congress passed postal reform bill H.R. 6407 — a compromise bill that grew from H.R. 22 — overnight on Dec. 9. The bill awaits President Bush’s signature for final approval. So what will be gained for mailers if the bill is approved? Maynard Benjamin, president and CEO of Alexandria, Va.-based Envelope Manufacturers Association, says that at its most basic, what will come is a different way of setting postal rates, a different way of regulating the mail and a different way of operating the U.S. Postal Service in the future. “We have a mail system that’s

The postal reform bill (H.R. 6407) that passed today in the US Senate and House of Representatives represents a major victory for the millions of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and consumers across the country that rely on the United States Postal Service (USPS). The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) extends its appreciation to the legislators who worked tirelessly in the closing hours of the 109th Congress to ensure that a final compromise was reached that allowed the introduction of H.R. 6407 on Thursday and its passage in both houses overnight on Friday.   The final legislation reflects an agreement reached among key members of Congress, the

Not surprisingly, the post-election view for the nonprofit community signals more regulation. Here’s a look ahead at the two areas of most concern to our members that are active in raising funds and building awareness for their missions.

In 2006, the regulatory buzzword has been “reform,” including charity reforms and postal reform. By choosing the word “reform,” lawmakers might have sought to inoculate the results from charges of regulatory overkill. What were the effects on your organization?

Tim Burchill, executive director of The Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership at Winona, Minn.-based St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, says the ethical challenges that nonprofit organizations face in regards to fundraising can be broken down into seven categories. 1. Tainted money. Burchill says this category is a media favorite. While some organizations restrict who they’ll take funds from — e.g., Mothers Against Drunk Driving won’t take money from alcohol companies; American Cancer Society won’t take money from tobacco companies; etc. — many other groups don’t make such distinctions. Burchill says there is no money that is inherently bad, but each organization needs to