Conservation Charities Come Under Questioning by the Senate
Washington Laying the groundwork for broad legislation that could affect all types of nonprofit groups, key senators took aim this month at one of the country’s best-known charities, while calling into question improper practices at many organizations. During three hours of intense questioning into…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Wealthy Americans Are Putting More and More Money Into Foundations
Gifts to philanthropic foundations rose by 8 percent last year -- a bigger percentage gain than any ALSO SEE:Giving Ticks Upward other type of nonprofit group experienced, according to estimates released last week by “Giving USA,” an annual report on the state of philanthropy. Philanthropic…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Blending Tax Law and a Passion for the Arts
For a tax lawyer and someone who has spent much of his time the past few years reading, analyzing, and ALSO SEE:Fighting Nonprofit AbusesInvestigating Charities: Key Actions By Senate Finance Committee discussing complex legal issues while overseeing the Senate Finance Committee’s examination of…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
A top Senate aide pursues tough questions about charitiesWashington Leaning forward, head down, Dean A. Zerbe moves briskly through the Senate Dirksen Office Building, through a room ALSO SEE:Blending Tax Law and a Passion for the ArtsInvestigating Charities: Key Actions By Senate Finance Committee…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Nonprofit Groups Urge Congress to Curb Tax Shelters, Inactive Funds
Washington Preliminary recommendations from an influential group of nonprofit leaders urge members of Congress to take swift action to fix problems with donor-advised funds, improperly used supporting organizations, and abusive tax shelters -- and offer more than 100 proposals for making the…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Poking Fun at Ugly Cars to Attract Donations
Los Angeles “Ain’t nobody gonna hit the bucket,” says Larry Lockett, creeping his 1982 Chevrolet Citation into a busy intersection near Los Angeles International Airport. Cars in both directions slow down to let him in. “See what I mean?” Mr. Lockett says, gliding into traffic. “Who’s gonna want to…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Pa. Court Tells Bank It Cannot Raise Fees Charged to Multimillion-Dollar Trust
In a case that many charities and grant makers are following closely, a Pennsylvania court has blocked a bank from increasing the fees it charges to oversee a charitable trust. The 9-0 ruling by the Superior Court of Pennsylvania overturns a lower-court decision and prevents Wachovia Corporation…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Problems Prompt One Fund to Adopt New Restrictions
As lawmakers debate ways to regulate donor-advised funds -- a giving technique that members of Congress say has been abused -- officials at one fund that has experienced problems with its accounts have put in place new rules to try to prevent trouble and encourage greater charitable giving. The…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
At Senate hearing, nonprofit leaders voice concerns as lawmakers prepare rules to stem abusesWashington Lawmakers are preparing to introduce an ambitious legislative package that they say could alter the ALSO SEE:Charities and Foundations Take Steps to Improve Accountability, Studies Find nonprofit…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor
Close Monitoring of Charitable Trusts Adds Up to Big Sums for One Group
In the past few years, hundreds of charities have won millions of dollars in legal settlements from banks accused of ALSO SEE:Loss of TrustBank Sues Philadelphia Trust in Quest for Additional Compensation misdeeds. Convinced that banks are mismanaging charitable trusts and other philanthropic…
By Brad Wolverton
Contributor