From the Council on Foundations: Charitable Giving the Focus of Subcommittee Hearing Today, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture and Technology held a hearing titled, “Unlocking Charitable Giving.” According to Subcommittee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO), the hearing was called to focus on the need to enact charitable incentives included in the Charitable Giving Act of 2005 (H.R. 3908), legislation sponsored by House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Representative Harold Ford (D-TN). There was very little discussion about charitable reform, though the Senate’s reform provisions were mentioned as a possible reason why some in the charitable community may not support the Senate’s package. Appearing before the subcommittee, Majority Whip Blunt highlighted four key charitable incentives that are a part of his legislation: 1) a charitable deduction for non-itemizers 2) the IRA charitable rollover 3) increase in the cap on corporate charitable contributions from 10% to 20% 4) enhanced deductions for food donations. Majority Whip Blunt said that he applauds the efforts of both the House and Senate to enact a charitable deduction for non-itemizers and the IRA charitable rollover this year and believes “there is cause for optimism.” Both the non-itemizer and IRA rollover provisions are included in the Senate’s charitable package that congressional leaders may attach to pending pension reform legislation. Subcommittee members also heard testimony in support of charitable incentives from: Benny Lee, Chief Executive Officer, Top Innovations, Inc. (Kansas City, MO) Michael W. Halterman, Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Charities of Kansas City — St. Joseph (Kansas City, MO) Diana L. Aviv, President and CEO, Independent Sector (Washington, DC) Paulette Maehara, President and CEO, Association of Fundraising Professionals (Washington, DC) Subcommittee Chairman Graves and Ranking Minority Member John Barrow (D-GA) were the only two subcommittee members present for the hearing. Representative Barrow indicated that he would sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 3908.