National Guides to Funding Edited by Elizabeth H. Rich These guides from the Foundation Center profile foundations, corporate-giving programs, and charitable organizations that have demonstrated support for specific causes. The center recently published updated editions focusing on six areas:…
By C. Quinn Hanchette
Contributor
Delaware Creates Committee to Review Charitable Giving
The Delaware General Assembly has approved plans to form a commission that will study potential tax changes and other steps the state can take to encourage individuals and companies to increase their donations to non-profit groups. The “Delaware Gives Task Force” -- which will be composed of…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
California Enacts Law to Curb Car-Donation Abuses
Gov. Pete Wilson of California has approved a measure passed by the Legislature that is intended to crack down on donors who take excessive charitable tax deductions for gifts of used cars, boats, and airplanes. The new law requires a charity -- or a “commercial fund raiser” working for a charity…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Tax Court Sinks Value of Boat Donation to Charity
The U.S. Tax Court has ruled that a man who gave a 42-foot boat to charity placed a value on the gift that was much too high and now owes the government a special penalty for a “substantial valuation misstatement.” Barry John Sergeant, who lived in Connecticut at the time, bought the Trojan Motor…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
IRS Policy on Crisis Relief Worries Foundations
The Council on Foundations is concerned that the Internal Revenue Service is taking an inappropriate stance on corporate grant makers that help company employees cope with such emergencies as floods, fires, and severe illnesses. The service recently described its position in the latest version of…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: Community health. The Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leadership Program (Boston) has announced the 1998 recipients of its annual awards, which recognize individuals who…
Survey: Young Adults’ Faith in Power of Charities Is Limited
Young adults are committed to solving social problems, but they have little faith that their volunteer work at charities will make much of a difference, according to a new survey. The survey, commissioned by Public Allies, a non-profit group based in Washington that works to develop leadership…
By Paul Demko
Contributor
Maryland Has Broadest Requirement for Community Service by Students
When nearly 43,000 public high-school students in Maryland were awarded diplomas last year, they had racked up some three million hours of community service. Maryland is the only state in the union that bars public high-school students from graduating unless they fulfill a service requirement.…
By Susan Gray
Contributor
Phone Solicitors Keep Most Conn. Proceeds
Connecticut charities received slightly less than a third of the money raised for them by telemarketing companies last year, according to a new report released by the state’s Attorney General. In response to telephone solicitations, Connecticut residents gave more than $9.5-million last year to…