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November 11, 2008

Independent Sector
Independent Sector Considers Stand on Raising Taxes

Members of the nonprofit world are weighing how to ask for more federal money from the Democrat-controlled Congress and White House in 2009.

Specifically, Independent Sector has drafted a set of priorities for the next president and Congress that includes asking for higher taxes to maintain spending for nonprofit organizations and for social services, such as food stamps and health care for low-wage earners.

The extra money is necessary as the economic crisis increases demand for charitable services while at the same time current tax revenues are drying up, the group argues.

But the choice to ask for higher taxes remains controversial among nonprofit service providers and the individual donors and foundations that give them money.

“As essential as government revenues are to the work of so many in this community, taxation and fiscal policy are not something on which the nonprofit sector has had a collective, vocal position,” said Diana Aviv, president of Independent Sector, which wrapped up its annual meeting today in Philadelphia.

While Ms. Aviv and others at the conference urged members to speak up in favor of higher taxes, some attendees were reluctant.

William C. Daroff, vice president for public policy at United Jewish Communities, said his donors support the organization for the work it does, not “because of specific policy positions they feel are outside or beyond the scope of our mission.”

“There are many ways to increase revenue, and many of our key stakeholders would prefer that we not take out the Tax Code and decide who the winners and losers are,” he said.

— Eric Kelderman

Tuesday November 11, 2008 | Permalink

Comments

1. Fabulous! Let’s take a vibrant and independent nonprofit sector and turn it into another bailout beggar. Apparently it never occurred to Ms. Aviv that you can kill the joy of voluntary giving pretty easily by demanding that donors relinquish control of more and more of their money to the charitable whims of the federal government.

   — JF    Nov 12, 02:45 PM    #

2. That is a brilliant idea. Lets see – who is the largest giver to charities? Duh, individuals. So why don’t we raise taxes on the people who give the most money. That way, they will have less money to give us. Great idea!

   — GF    Nov 12, 03:18 PM    #

3. If Ms. Aviv is so keen to get run a government program, maybe she should quit Independent Sector and find something in the Public Sector.

   — Bif    Nov 12, 04:33 PM    #

4. Government money is the most expensive money for non-profits to manage. Why would we want more administrative and accounting nightmares? All while we watch general operating funds (contributed by individuals) decline?

   — BH    Nov 12, 04:37 PM    #

5. AMEN!

   — Dr. Steve W. Batson, CFRE    Nov 12, 08:05 PM    #

6. Since the government has gotten into the charitable organization business, donations from normal individuals (i.e. not Bill Gates and Warren Buffett) have decreased. Increasing taxes and increasing government spending through charitable organizations tells the average donor that he need not donate – the government is going to take care of it.
   Ms. Avia has made a big mistake with this initiative. Who are her advisors?

   — Frank A. Monti    Nov 15, 09:14 PM    #

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