WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Charitable Giving Coalition will bring more than 150 nonprofit leaders from across the nation representing a diverse group of charities to Capitol Hill on Thursday, February 16, to urge lawmakers and their staffs to protect charitable giving in America.
For 100 years, the charitable deduction has provided an incentive for Americans to invest more in their communities by giving to charities that deliver human services, aid to their neighbors, improve lives, and enhance arts and culture. As lawmakers are drafting tax reform legislation, several provisions have been proposed that alter this valuable tax incentive in ways that could significantly reduce charitable giving. Coalition members will fan out on Capitol Hill and advocate for maintaining the full scope and value of the charitable deduction, as well as its possible expansion, such as an incentive for taxpayers who do not itemize their deductions.
Research confirms that, regardless of income level, taxpayers who receive a deduction for their contributions give more to charities than those that do not receive a deduction. Expanding a tax incentive to all taxpayers could increase overall charitable giving in America. It might also offset any declines in charitable giving resulting from any inherent uncertainty created by tax reform.
The Charitable Giving Coalition represents a broad cross-section of nonprofit organizations across the country. From healing to educating to feeding the hungry and providing relief in times of crisis, the mission-driven work of the broad patchwork of human service and health care organizations, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, associations, arts and cultural institutions, private and community foundations and other public interest serving organizations that make up the charitable sector is vital to our economy and society.
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The Charitable Giving Coalition
Representing private and community foundations, their grantees and independent charities, the Charitable Giving Coalition’s members include United Way Worldwide, the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities USA, the American Council on Education, Jewish Federations of North America, the American Institute for Cancer Research, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Independent Sector, the Council on Foundations, and The Philanthropy Roundtable, among others. Formed in 2009, the coalition is dedicated to preserving the charitable giving incentive that ensures that our nation’s charities receive the funds necessary to fulfill their essential philanthropic missions. The coalition provides a unique and unified voice on Capitol Hill on issues affecting the charitable deduction, a voice composed of both direct lobbying and robust grassroots advocacy. www.protectgiving.org, #protectgiving, @protectgiving