That is one of the most frequent questions we at the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) receive from our members, the public, and the news media. This action alert allows you to help shape the answer. Please sign onto the nonprofit community letter calling on our federal office holders to protect the charitable giving incentive.

Tell Congress to Protect the Charitable Deduction

Help us make the case to Congress that it must not take away the charitable giving incentive. Changes being considered by Congress threaten the ability of nonprofit organizations to serve those most in need and to continue to strengthen our communities.

Background

Federal tax law currently encourages individuals to give to the charitable organizations whose missions they support by providing an itemized deduction. Maintaining the charitable giving incentive is essential to the ongoing work of nonprofit organizations in delivering needed services, enhancing quality of life, and uplifting the spirit of faith, innovation, and inspiration in local communities across America.

Policymakers in Washington - now and for the foreseeable future - are focusing on how and how much to reduce the federal budget deficit through spending cuts, entitlement reforms, and tax increases and reforms. The President, Senators, Representatives, bi-partisan commissions, and think tanks have all put forward plans to address these issues, and all propose changing the charitable deduction in one way or another. Yet, no one knows the true impact that any of these proposals will have on the ability of nonprofits to raise the resources needed to provide the programs and services that fulfill their missions.

Regardless of political party or philosophy, politicians presume that nonprofit organizations will just step in to fill the gaps and address the needs in our communities. In all likelihood, Congress will cut federal spending and reform tax laws and entitlement programs in ways that curtail the ability of nonprofits to maintain programs and services, much less to expand them to meet the increased needs. We must be able to count on the current tax incentives for charitable giving if there is to be any validity in the presumption of policymakers that nonprofit organizations will be there to fill the gaps.

Read the nonprofit community letter. Sign on so your voice is heard. Learn more about the issue.

By signing onto this letter you can lift the voice of millions in communities across the country who rely on nonprofits and the resources provided by charitable donations.