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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

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...

read in full

more news

IRS Releases 2009 Work Plan

Dec 3, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Exempt Organizations division has issued its 2009 work plan, detailing its plans for the upcoming year including a long term study of fund raising and spending by charitable organizations. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy ($$), "Lois G. Lerner, director of the exempt-organization division of the IRS, told reporters that it is especially important to monitor the nonprofit world during the current economic downturn as demand for charitable services rises and donations fall."

read in full

Nonprofits Using Twitter and Other Online Tools

Dec 2, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

Twitter, Facebook, and other online social networking tools can help nonprofits in various ways, including helping groups reach new audiences to ultimately increase supporters and donors. Twitter is a free online service where users can send real time updates on what they are doing to those who want to receive them. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page. Many nonprofits are using twitter, for example visit Public Citizen's Twitter page and the National Wildlife Federation's page.

read in full

Legal Battles Continue on What Constitutes Issue Advocacy

Although the election is over, the ongoing battle about the difference between issue advocacy and electioneering is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. Meanwhile, a new Advisory Opinion from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) also wrestles with this issue.

read in full

Conviction of Holy Land Foundation Raises Questions, Concerns for Nonprofits

On Nov. 24, the two-month retrial against the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF) and five of its leaders ended with guilty verdicts on charges of supporting Hamas, which was designated as a terrorist organization in 1995. The convictions came even though the prosecution admitted that all funds went to local charities, called zakat committees, that are not on government watchlists. Attorneys for the defendants said they would appeal.

read in full

"Social Investing Rating Tool" To Rate Charities

Dec 1, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

The Washington Post reports that a group of philanthropists and entrepreneurs are working to develop a rating system to evaluate how nonprofits spend their money and whether their work is making a difference. The Working Group on Effective Social Investing is working to create the Social Investing Rating Tool, "to encourage donors to think more like investors -- to consider their charitable donations social investments, complete with risks and responsibilities." On the Working Group's website, four objectives are listed:

read in full

Activists Want IRS to Investigate Mormon Church for Support of Proposition 8

Nov 26, 2008 by Lateefah Williams*

The Mormon Church took an active role in encouraging California voters to support Proposition 8, the ballot initiative that sought to ban same-sex marriages in California. Proposition 8 passed 52 percent to 48 percent. The Mormon Church encouraged members to vote yes on Proposition 8 and helped to fund initiatives in support of Proposition 8.

read in full

FEC Issues Advisory Opinion; One NRLC Ad amounts to Electioneering

Nov 25, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

A month ago the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) failed to pass either draft advisory opinions regarding two proposed radio ads sponsored by the National Right to Life Committee Inc. (NRLC) considering whether or not they contained "express advocacy." Yesterday (Nov. 24) the FEC issued an advisory opinion stating; "The Commission concludes that the NRLC may use its general treasury funds to finance the broadcast of the first advertisement. The Commission could not approve a response by the required four affirmative votes regarding the NRLC's second advertisement."

read in full

Optimism remains that an Obama Administration can Help Improve Nonprofit sector

Nov 25, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

An article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy ($$) discusses how nonprofits are working to develop ways to help president-elect Barack Obama fulfill pledges to expand national service and work with charities to solve social problems. "If Mr.

read in full

Jury Convicts Muslim Charity of Terrorism Charges

Nov 25, 2008 by Amanda Adams*

In the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) retrial, a federal jury in Dallas decided that the charity and five men who worked with it were guilty of three dozen counts related to the illegal transfer millions of money to Hamas. They were found guilty of supporting terrorism, money laundering and tax fraud. The verdict came after eight days of deliberations and a 42-day trial.

read in full

Is Blogging Lobbying?

Nov 24, 2008 by Lateefah Williams*

Washington State Regulators are contemplating whether online political activism constitutes lobbying. Unlike journalists, lobbyists are legally required to register with the state, and submit detailed financial reports and the particular issues they are involved with. According to the Associated Press, the state Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) "was asked by some lobbyists whether calls to action made over the Internet fell under any lobbying regulations, and the agency began probing the topic." Eventually the topic shifted to blogging.

read in full