A children’s museum seeks to woo youngsters and parentsThis summer, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will open the doors on its $25-million Dinosphere, a huge, ALSO SEE:‘Is It Real?': A Museum’s Challenge enclosed dome that will house the bones of a juvenile Tyrannosaurus rex and other young…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Bush Proposes New Incentives, Rules for Charitable Donors
Washington In his $2.4-trillion federal budget submitted to Congress this month, ALSO SEE:RELATED TABLES: The Nonprofit World and President Bush’s Budget: Key ProposalsThe President’s Plan President Bush proposed that donors to charity be required to do more to prove the value of clothing, used…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Proposed federal budget holds few changes for charitiesWashington President Bush’s proposed $2.4-trillion budget for 2005 holds few changes in spending for most federal programs that support charities and ALSO SEE:RELATED TABLES: The Nonprofit World and President Bush’s Budget: Key ProposalsBush…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Clothing Company CEO Wears Passion for Service on His Sleeve
Stratham, N.H. Jeffrey B. Swartz -- head of the Timberland outdoor-wear company and a prominent champion of the AmeriCorps ALSO SEE:Tough Times for National ServicePresidential Contenders Weigh In on AmeriCorps and National ServiceNew National Service Chief Vows to Improve Relations With Charities…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Revenue Service Releases Guidelines on Charity Ads
The IRS has released guidelines for charities and other tax-exempt groups that explain when such organizations must pay taxes on advertisements about political and social issues. The guidance, known in tax parlance as a revenue ruling, uses six examples to explain when such spending is taxable.…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Christian Group Asks IRS to Audit Churches
A Christian watchdog group has asked the Internal Revenue Service to investigate seven preachers who give televised sermons and to consider revoking the tax-exempt status of the churches where the ministers work. Wall Watchers, a group in Matthews, N.C., that evaluates Christian charities, says it…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
IRS Takes Hard Look at Patent Donations
The Internal Revenue Service has announced that it plans to crack down on improper charitable deductions claimed for donations of patents and other types of intellectual property. Taxpayers who claim such deductions, the revenue service warned, could be subject to penalties. The tax agency’s move…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Following are summaries of recent reports by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance. This private group reports on whether charities meet standards for fund raising, governance, financial management, and public information. The alliance does not approve or disapprove of charities, and urges potential donors…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Congress Hears From IRS on Credit-Repair Groups
The IRS is moving to stop nonprofit credit-counseling organizations from abusing their tax-exempt status, IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said at a recent congressional hearing. The IRS is increasing its scrutiny of applications for tax-exempt status submitted by credit-counseling organizations, and…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
IRS Announces 2004 Rates for Charitable Deductions
The Internal Revenue Service has made inflation adjustments for 2004 to the rules that govern some charitable deductions. Many of the adjustments apply to the federal law that governs how much of a payment to a charity can be claimed as a charitable deduction when the donor receives some item in…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor