Building Nonprofit Advocacy Capacity

Feb 8, 2016

Top 400 Taxpayers See Tax Rates Rise, But There’s More to the Story

As Americans were gathering party supplies to greet the New Year, the Internal Revenue Service released their annual report of cumulative tax data reported on the 400 tax r...

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Feb 4, 2016

Chlorine Bleach Plants Needlessly Endanger 63 Million Americans

Chlorine bleach plants across the U.S. put millions of Americans in danger of a chlorine gas release, a substance so toxic it has been used as a chemical weapon. Greenpeace’s new repo...

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Jan 25, 2016

U.S. Industrial Facilities Reported Fewer Toxic Releases in 2014

The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data for 2014 is now available. The good news: total toxic releases by reporting facilities decreased by nearly six percent from 2013 levels. Howe...

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Jan 22, 2016

Methane Causes Climate Change. Here's How the President Plans to Cut Emissions by 40-45 Percent.

UPDATE (Jan. 22, 2016): Today, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its proposed rule to reduce methane emissions...

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more news

IRS Nat'l Taxpayer Advocate Rept to Congress

Jul 12, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The IRS's primary objective should be strengthening voluntary compliance, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson counseled in a new report to Congress. The report, delivered July 8, takes the IRS to task for its "laudable" but "very narrow" focus on enforcing tax laws. Olson has repeatedly expressed concern about the direction that the IRS is taking under

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Scam by Lobbyists Could Have Negative Consequences for Legitimate Nonprofits

A June 22 hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee revealed details of a scam by lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon to pocket millions of dollars in donations to nonprofit groups they controlled or on whose board they sat. They used these groups as intermediaries, with subgrants going to other nonprofits and consulting firms they controlled, and ultimately into their pockets.

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Panel on Nonprofit Sector Makes Final Recommendations to Senate Committee

On June 22, the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector released its Final Report on reform for charities, saying the measures are "intended to strengthen the ability of the nation's 1.3 million charities and foundations to serve as responsible stewards of the public's generosity." The 116-page report, which makes over 120 recommendations in 15 areas of nonprofit governance and financial reporting, was well received by Senate Finance Committee Chair Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Mark Everson.

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Nonprofit Panel Rolls Out Final Recommendations

Jun 22, 2005 by Guest Blogger

The Panel on the Nonprofit Sector published their final report today. The panel recommends: Charities and foundations should include far more detailed information about executive and board compensation and the independence of board members on their informational tax forms -- but should not be required to place limits on what they pay their top officials or board members. Charities should be prohibited by law from making loans to their board members, but nonprofit organizations should still be permitted to make loans to their employees.

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Study Shows Charitable Giving Increasing

Jun 14, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The Associated Press reports that Americans have increased their charitable contributions by 5 percent in the past few years. But more contributions are going to groups where donors have a direct stake, and not to social services. See the full story.

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Update: Senate Finance Committee and Nonprofit Legislation

Senate Finance Committee activity on nonprofit regulation is picking up steam as the projected date for introduction of the long-awaited reform bill approaches. Conservative groups and Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) have expressed concern about the impact some proposals could have on small nonprofits and that there is inadequate resources to enforce existing laws. The committee’s staff report on land donations was released June 7, and a June 8 hearing took an in-depth look at ways future abuse in this area can be avoided.

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Senate Finance Committee June 8 Hearing: Report on Reform

Jun 8, 2005 by Kay Guinane

The Senate Finance Committee is holding a hearing today to review a report by staff on proposals for reform of land conservation easements. See the witnesses' testimony and the Committee Report on the Nature Conservancy

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Nonprofit Panel Plans June 24 Call-In Presentation

Jun 7, 2005 by Kay Guinane

On Friday, June 24 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm EST. the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector will host a call in presentation to review a report it plans on sending to the Senate Finance Committee earlier that week. Panel leaders will present the recommendations, take questions and explain next steps. The call is open to staff, board members and volunteers of nonprofits, foundations and corporate philanthropy programs. The Panel, convened be Independent Sector, is making recommendations to Congress on nonprofit accountability issues.

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June 1 OMB Watcher Nonprofit Articles

Jun 4, 2005 by Kay Guinane

Catch up on the nonprofit advocacy news...

Lobby Disclosure Bill Filed
State Charity Regulation Proposals Listed
Group Asks Supreme Court to Consider Constitutionality of Electioneering Restrictions
OMB Watch Comments on Combined Federal Campaign Anti-Terrorist Certification Regulatory

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