Estate-Tax Repeal Would Hurt Giving, Report Says
If the estate tax were repealed, Americans would give about $10-billion less each year to charity than they now do, according to a new report. Hardest hit, says the report: private foundations, which typically receive the greatest share of money from charitable bequests. The report, prepared by OMB…
Group Releases Figures on Charity Deductions
Using statistics from the Internal Revenue Service, RIA -- a tax-information publisher -- has calculated the average deductions for charitable contributions taken in 2001 by taxpayers in six tax brackets: Average deductions ranged from $1,329 for taxpayers who earned less than $15,000 to $17,842…
Detroit, Salt Lake City Top Generosity Lists
Residents of Detroit donate a higher share of their discretionary income to charity than do people who live in any other of America’s 50 largest cities, according to a new study by The Chronicle. The study, which was based on 1997 data from taxpayers who earn at least $50,000 and who itemized their…
Reports Recommend Ways Charities and Corporations Can Deal With Crises
Two new reports focus on how philanthropy should respond to national emergencies, disasters, and other crises by examining how charities and corporations reacted to the September 11 attacks: Relief charities should not rely solely on news organizations to convey important information about their…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Wireless Entrepreneur Reaches Out to Symphony With $120-Million Gift
After the San Diego Symphony got out of bankruptcy in 1998, Irwin and Joan Jacobs began donating about $1-million ALSO SEE:America’s Most-Generous Donors: A searchable databaseThe Megagift PlungeHow The Chronicle’s Donor List Was CompiledBillionaire Casts Wide Net, But Stays Close to HomeShaped by…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
New Director Hopes to Build Stamina at Cyclist’s Cancer Charity
Eileen Earhart Oldag doesn’t own a bicycle. She hasn’t ridden much since elementary school, in fact, and that was more than 40 years ago. Yet, Ms. Oldag finds herself in the inner circle of one of the world’s most celebrated bicycle racers, Lance Armstrong. Last month, she became executive director…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Congress expected to debate plan to aid religious charitiesAs the new, Republican-led Congress begins next month, one issue expected to be high on the agenda is ALSO SEE:Federal Program to Help Religious Groups Makes Awards President Bush’s plan to make it easier for religious charities to compete…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Protestants Increase Share of Income Donated to Church, Report Says
Protestants are donating bigger shares of their incomes to churches, but the portion of their gifts earmarked to support church-sponsored social services is dropping, according to a new report. An analysis of 29 Protestant denominations by Empty Tomb, an Illinois research organization, shows that…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
Foundation Giving in 2002 Won’t Rise, Report Predicts
After five years of double-digit growth, the total amount of grants awarded by the nation’s ALSO SEE:Foundation TrendsGrowth in Foundation Assets, by Region, 1999-2000 foundations rose much more slowly last year, increasing by about 5 percent, according to a new report. Giving this year is expected…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor
3 Pittsburgh Foundations Halt Grants to Schools
A decision by three Pittsburgh foundations to suspend grant making to the city’s embattled public-school district has drawn mixed reactions from foundation officials and education advocates. The Grable Foundation, Heinz Endowments, and Pittsburgh Foundation, which together have given the school…
By Debra E. Blum
Contributor