Let Scouts, not Courts, Determine Beliefs
In ruling this month that a local Boy Scout council could not expel a Scout leader because he is homosexual, the New Jersey Supreme Court accepted a narrow and dangerous standard for charities -- especially those with strong moral beliefs. The decision, which runs counter to a 1998 ruling by the…
By LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Contributor
Group’s Land Policy Was Mischaracterized
To the Editor: Your cover article “Preserving Open Space for the Ages” profiles a very important issue that should concern every American, and I applaud you for giving all of us in the land-conservation movement such a boost. Unfortunately, your comment that “Ducks Unlimited preserves wetlands…
The ‘Fatal Conceit’ of the Land-Trust Movement
To the Editor: At the conclusion of Stephen G. Greene’s “Preserving Open Space for the Ages” (July 29), a leader in the New England land-trust movement is quoted as saying: “Our work has to change the way people live their lives, or there’s no point in us doing it.” How fitting that in the year…
Crisis Calls for New Foundation Strategy on Housing
A few months ago the McKnight Foundation made a striking announcement: The Minnesota foundation awarded a grant of $23-million to the Family Housing Fund to build 5,000 units of low-cost housing in the Twin Cities over the next four years. The award is the largest grant to a single organization in…
By Lisa Ranghelli
Contributor
How Charities and Foundations Fared in the Congressional Tax Bill
ALSO SEE: Tax Bill Shows Appeal of Charities CHARITABLE DEDUCTIONS FOR SMALL GIFTS House of Representatives Senate Compromise Version Passed by Congress Estimated Cost to the Federal Government No provision. Would allow people who do not itemize on their federal income-tax returns to claim a…
Tax Bill Shows Appeal of Charities
Many provisions to foster giving made final version -- or came close President Clinton hates the tax bill Congress passed this month ALSO SEE:How Charities and Foundations Fared in the Congressional Tax Bill because he thinks its tax cuts are too charitable to the rich. But the bill is a big hit…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
PBS Donor-List Flap: a Red Herring
To the Editor: Regarding the recent flap in Congress over donor lists (“Swapping of PBS Mailing Lists Raises Issue of Donor Privacy,” July 29): What is the problem? The privacy issue can easily be dealt with by letting donors have an “opt out” option. Beyond that, anybody who thinks that…
The Downside of Giving via the Internet
Concerned about starving children in Africa? If you have access to the Internet, there are several quick and easy ways to help. For starters, you could call up the Web site of an international humanitarian-aid charity such as CARE (http://www.care.org), click on the “Make a Donation” link, and…
By LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Contributor
PBS-List Debate: a Lot of Hot-Air Time
Last month’s ruckus in Congress over the disclosure that dozens of public-television stations had exchanged their donor ALSO SEE:The Donor Name GameControversy Over Shared Donor Lists Prompts Broadcast Agency to Revise Rules lists with both major political parties shows how little some lawmakers…
By HENRY GOLDSTEIN
Contributor
Loan Conversions Require Scrutiny
To the Editor: In his response (“Story on Conversion of Student-Loan Groups Lacked Balance,” Letters to the Editor, July 15) to your June 17 article “Another Conversion Bonanza?” Nellie Mae Foundation C.E.O. Lawrence W. O’Toole takes pains to shoot the messenger (both The Chronicle’s reporters and…