WASHINGTON, D.C. – Charitable Giving Coalition Chair Brian Flahaven issued the following statement regarding the exclusion of a restored universal charitable deduction for non-itemizers in year-end legislation:
The Charitable Giving Coalition is disappointed that a restoration of the charitable deduction for non-itemizers was not included in the year-end bill that Congress introduced on Tuesday.
The CGC has worked for years to protect the scope and value of the charitable deduction and to expand the access of the deduction to all taxpayers, regardless of their income and tax filing status. Members of the coalition participated in the CGC’s Grow Giving Now D.C. fly-in last month, during which charitable leaders met with more than 60 offices in the House and Senate to advocate for the restoration and expansion of the non-itemizer deduction in year-end legislation. The CGC also sent a letter to leadership calling for the restoration and expansion of the deduction. The letter was signed by over 650 organizations from every state in the country.
Although it did not advance this year, we look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers in the 118th Congress to restore and expand this important deduction to encourage all Americans to give more to charity.
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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 United Philanthropy Forum, 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.