In February 2009, the Foundation Center released an encouraging analysis of international grantmaking for 2009 and beyond. International Grantmaking IV: An Update on U.S. Foundation Trends analyzes current and future trends of foundation giving to NGOs supporting international projects and programs. According to the report, despite the global economic downturn, the "prospects for international giving in the near term are less pessimistic" than many had anticipated.

In March the Federal Election Commission (FEC) decided against moving forward with an investigation into the 501(c)(6) organization Americans for Job Security (AJS) because of a deadlocked 3-3 vote by the six commissioners. Public Citizen filed a complaint in 2007 charging that the group should be considered a political action committee. According to Public Citizen, the group's ads were meant to influence an election, and therefore were a violation of their tax-exempt status.

In case you did not already know, many are not happy with the administration's rules on registered lobbyists working in the administration. A New York Times article, highlights our concerns with President Obama's Executive Order on ethics and lobbying.