Protecting Nonprofit Rights

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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Nonprofits Set Up Election Focused Web Sites

Aug 8, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

If the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) plans to look to the web sites that nonprofits link to for any prohibited campaign intervention, how would the IRS respond to organizations that have created election related web sites that have links to information on the candidates' positions on issues and the official candidates' sites? The Chronicle on Philanthropy ($$) directs us to two specific sites, www.health08.org and www.247townahll.org.

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Voting/Nonprofits/ & Issues That Matter: Voter-Mobilization 2008

Aug 8, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Working Assets, the phone company that helps people donate to nonprofit groups when they use their services, has begun a nationwide effort to register new voters. Working Assets has partnered with nonprofits Women's Voices. Women Vote. - WVWV - (www.wvwv.org) and Project Vote (www.projectvote.org) to register new voters in 2008. This partnership is meant to reach a diverse population to increase voter registration and participation. "With the presidential campaigns heating up earlier than ever before, the stakes have never been higher, so it's important that people have a say in the outcome."

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Press Coverage of OMB Watch Panel

Aug 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

The Friday Aug. 3 OMB Watch panel on the pros and cons of an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bright line rule for campaign activities for charities and religious organizations has gained some press attention. From BNA Money and Politics: ($$)

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Ethics and Lobbying Reform: Real World Changes?

Aug 7, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Well now that the lobbying and ethics bill is awaiting the President's signature, many are now asking how much the legislation will actually change the way business is done. An article from today's Washington Post is appropriately titled, "Draining the 'Swamp' Is Not So Easy." For example, now that lobbyists can't buy dinner for a member of Congress, will this only force them to spend more money at political fundraisers instead?

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Panel Discussion Focuses on Need for Clear Rules for 501(c)(3) Groups at Election Time

On Aug. 3, OMB Watch sponsored a panel discussion to address the pros and cons of creating a bright line rule defining what is and is not prohibited partisan intervention in elections by charities and religious organizations. The panelists addressed problems created by the current "facts and circumstances" test, which allows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to apply its interpretation of the standard on a case by case basis. They also discussed action the nonprofit sector can take to propose and promote a bright line test.

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House Hearing on Nonprofits Sees the Positive

The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, led by Chairman John Lewis (D-GA), held a hearing July 24 on tax-exempt charitable organizations. Lewis praised charities and foundations, acknowledging they "make up the very fabric of our communities. They know the deepest human needs of our friends and neighbors and they know the solutions that work." Other members spoke positively about the work of nonprofits, referencing successful groups in their districts. The opening remarks of Rep.

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Senate Bill Bans States from Limiting Nonprofit Voter Registration Drives

On July 25, the Senate Rules Committee held a hearing on an election reform bill that includes a provision that would prevent states from placing undue restrictions on voter registration drives by nonprofits. During the last several years, there has been an increase in the number of voters registered through voter registration drives conducted by charities and other third parties, such as the League of Women Voters and ACORN. Discussion of the bill before the committee — the Ballot Integrity Act of 2007 (S.

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FBI Raids Two U.S. Muslim Charities on Eve of Holy Land Trial

On July 24, the Goodwill Charitable Organization (GCO) of Dearborn, MI, was added to the Department of Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list for alleged ties to Hezbollah. As a result, the group's assets have been frozen and U.S. citizens are barred from conducting any transactions with the organization. The office of Al-Mabarrat Charitable Organization was also searched and files removed, but the organization was not designated as a supporter of terrorism and continues to operate.

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How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2006

Aug 3, 2007 by Amanda Adams*

Today OMB Watch has released a new report on the role of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations in elections. How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2006 describes nonprofits' electoral engagement during the 2006 election and their preparation for upcoming elections. The work of nonprofits is vital to increase civic participation, and nonprofits should be encouraged to continue this type of activity as the election season looms near. Read How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2006

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OMB Watch Unveils New Report on Nonprofits and Elections

WASHINGTON, Aug. 3, 2007—OMB Watch today released a new report on the role of nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations in elections. How Nonprofits Helped America Vote: 2006 clearly illustrates that the work of nonprofits is critical in increasing civic participation throughout the country and fostering vibrant, engaged communities. The report focuses solely on so-called 501(c)(3) organizations and does not cover the activities of special interest associations or 527 political committees.

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