WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Charitable Giving Coalition applauds Senators Lankford (R-OK), Coons (D-DE), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lee (R-UT), Scott (R-SC), and Shaheen (D-NH) for introducing the Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act (S. 4032). We urge Congress to move quickly to enact this important legislation.
If enacted, S. 4032 will help charitable and faith-based organizations continue to provide vital services to families, workers, and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
This bipartisan bill builds on the temporary, above-the-line deduction included in the CARES Act by raising the $300 cap to just over $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for couples. S. 4032 would also allow all taxpayers to deduct gifts made between Dec. 31, 2019 and July 15, 2020 on their 2019 tax return, providing additional immediate relief to charities.
According to the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP), individual giving declined by 6 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same time in 2019, including an 11 percent decline in March 2020. The FEP study also found that the total number of donors declined by 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to 2019. Swift enactment of S. 4032 will help reverse these trends, allowing charitable organizations to remain on the front lines serving communities, including the most vulnerable.
“The charitable deduction is unique in that it encourages individuals to give away more of their income and invest in their communities,” said CGC Chair Brian Flahaven. “Making the deduction available to all taxpayers ensures our country retains a strong and independent civil society in the face of challenges like those we’re seeing this year.”
The Charitable Giving Coalition’s members are grateful for the leadership and commitment of the six Senate sponsors of S. 4032 and stand ready to work with them to ensure that all Americans, regardless of income, are encouraged to give more to charity during these challenging times.
###
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.charitablegivingcoalition.org,@CGC_DC