Today, the U.S. Supreme Court narrowly ruled in Moore v. United States that the 2017 Mandatory Repatriation Tax is constitutional. By declining to address the question of whether such a tax is an unconstitutional tax on unrealized income, the Court side-stepped the broader threat of proposed wealth taxes and the negative ramifications a tax on unrealized gains would have on charitable endeavors.
This month marks the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decisions in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and the Students Against Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina cases. These seminal decisions ended racial preferences in college admissions processes, also known as affirmative action, after the court ruled in 2023 that the schools were violating the civil rights of certain students based on race.
In our troubled political environment, the film is built around creating a dialogue and trust among Americans, especially those who disagree.
Philanthropy Roundtable’s Free to Give campaign elevates the voices of everyday Americans who have dedicated their careers to supporting those in need. Their work is made possible by the freedom of all Americans to give to the causes and communities they care about most.
WASHINGTON – Philanthropy Roundtable published “How Tax Policy Affects Charitable Giving” today, new research that finds for every $1 the U.S. Treasury forgoes in potential revenues, the charitable tax deduction results in $1.30 making its way to public charities.
Are donors to charities sensitive to changes in tax policy? This literature review and meta-analysis delves into fifty-two empirical studies spanning 1975 to 2023, exploring the intricate relationship between fiscal policy and the charitable impulse to give.
With increased loneliness, isolation and mental health challenges impacting communities throughout the country, houses of worship have a unique role to play improving the overall well-being of individuals and community life.
In 2023, following the passage of the Donor Intent Protection Act in Kansas, Philanthropy Roundtable launched a monthly series on donor intent developments and controversies around the country to better inform those who care about this important topic. The Donor Intent Protection Act has now passed in Kentucky and Georgia as well, and efforts on behalf of this legislation continue in additional states.
Throughout commencement season, colleges and universities around the country continue to grapple with how to handle a new wave of protests, encampments and even violence as pro-Palestinian activists disrupt campus life and engage in antisemitic behavior. As a result, the responses from higher ed administrators are under intense scrutiny as they make decisions on how to deal with protester demands, campus safety and the rights and freedoms of students and faculty.
In 2009 I was deployed as an Army Reservist in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. To this day, there are times I still wake up at the crack of dawn, smell a cup of fresh-brewed coffee, walk outside for P.T. (physical training), take in the crisp air and instantly flashback to a November morning forever engraved in my head.
This week Senators Todd Young and James Lankford introduced the Protecting Charitable Giving Act (PCGA), which strengthens and reinforces the penalties for leaking tax documents of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations and their donors.
In an op-ed published by Philanthropy Daily, Patrice Onwuka, Philanthropy Roundtable’s adjunct senior fellow, examines the lack of outrage from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) advocates in higher education related to condemning the dramatic rise in antisemitism activity on campuses nationwide. While many donors are threatening to pull funding from higher education institutions, Onwuka says there are still ways to give to higher ed that can return these institutions to what they were built for, including fostering intellectual pluralism, academic excellence, workforce preparedness and research.
True Diversity is an equality-based, holistic framework for embracing diversity. It values every person as a unique individual and empowers charitable organizations with the freedom and flexibility to advance their missions and help those in need.
WASHINGTON – Philanthropy Roundtable commends Sen. Todd Young (R-Indiana) and Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) for introducing the Protecting Charitable Giving Act. This legislation strengthens and reinforces the constitutional right to donor privacy by ensuring suitable penalties for criminals who leak Americans’ private information. Further, it expands the options for organizations and individuals to pursue criminal prosecution if their private donor information is leaked.
In an op-ed published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Jack Salmon, Philanthropy Roundtable’s director of policy research, examines the potential consequences to the philanthropic sector when the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of next year. Salmon says while policymakers debate proposals like a wealth tax, regulations on donor-advised funds and changes to the charitable deduction to generate revenue, they should not ignore the unintended consequences of these policy changes on charitable giving.
In 2023, Philanthropy Roundtable introduced a new model bill in the states, the Donor Intent Protection Act (DIPA). When a donor gives a gift to a charity’s endowment, with a written agreement of how it will be used, there is often no recourse for the donor if the agreement is later violated. This legislation provides a legal pathway for the enforcement of written endowment agreements, which encourages giving and benefits donors, charities and the many individuals served by nonprofit organizations.
For those unfamiliar with the National Liberty Museum (NLM), the name itself hints at our engagement in the myriad discussions surrounding the clash of extreme ideologies and the varied interpretations of liberty. Situated in Old City Philadelphia, the museum, which is both privately and publicly funded, faces the added complexity of embodying what a liberty museum should represent during a period of significant division within the United States and globally.
Thousands of generous Americans positively impact their communities by contributing to charities through private foundations. This week, Philanthropy Roundtable released a new paper detailing how higher payout requirements for private foundations would hurt the most vulnerable in our society and harm nonprofits.
Since the Tax Reform Act of 1969, private foundations have operated under strict regulations enforced by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Central to these regulations is the 5% minimum distribution rule, which mandates that foundations distribute at least 5% of their assets’ fair market value each year to qualified charitable organizations.
This month’s Donor Intent Watch includes an update on our legislative efforts, a summary and link to a recent webinar on antisemitism sponsored by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a reminder of the power of a values statement in protecting donor intent and very welcome comments from a donor-affirming fundraising adviser.