According to a survey of Louisiana residents released last month by Louisiana State University, faith-based organizations and nonprofits got higher marks than government for their hurricane recovery efforts. While not surprising given the abysmal government response, the findings raise larger questions about the role of the federal government in providing resources to the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits face major long-term budget challenges at the federal level that will continue to make it more difficult to serve the people and missions they exist to serve.

On Dec. 5 the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a revised version of its November 2002 Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities. The Treasury Department announcement requested public comment on the revisions by Feb. 1, but stated the revised guidelines are now operational.