The IRS has warned people who want to donate cars to charity not to inflate the value of their vehicles, saying that some operators of charitable-donation programs are encouraging donors to deduct more than the fair-market value of the cars. It also warned donors to make sure the charities that…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Group Loses Battle Over State Charity Law
A white supremacist group that says it is not a charity but a church suffered a legal setback when the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a law governing charitable organizations. The ruling means that the group, the World Church of the Creator, might be required to register as…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
New Mexico to Put Charity Data Online
New Mexico is working with Philanthropic Research, a nonprofit group in Williamsburg, Va., that posts charities’ financial data on its GuideStar Web site, to disseminate information on charities that operate in New Mexico. New Mexico will be the first state to work with Philanthropic Research on…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Religious Charity Seeks Exemption for Theme Park
A religious charity that runs a Christian theme park in Orlando, Fla., is suing Orange County to receive a property-tax exemption after county officials denied the exemption. The charity, Zion’s Hope, in February opened the Holy Land Experience, which features a depiction of Jesus’s tomb and aims…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Atlanta Arts Coalition Braces for Lean Performance in 2002
The head of an Atlanta charity that supports the performing arts says the ALSO SEE:War and Recession: A Challenge for CharitiesTrimming Holiday HopesMinnesota’s Freeze Hinders AIDS GroupYouth Group Asks Loyal Donors to Remove Strings on Their GiftsStar Widens Refugee Groups AppealMood at the Denver…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
IRS Eases Rules for People Who Donate Paid Leave
Employees who donate the value of their unused paid leave to charity this year or next won’t have to pay income taxes on the money, the Internal Revenue Service says in a notice. Following the terrorist attacks, several employers considered allowing their workers to give up paid vacation, sick…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
President Bush Renews Call for Charity Tax Incentives
President Bush last week asked Congress to pass several tax breaks to encourage charitable giving and to make it easier for small, community-based groups to gain charity status. Several of the measures are similar to those President Bush proposed earlier this year to help faith-based groups. Among…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Easing of IRS Policy Lets Relief Groups Disburse Funds Regardless of Need
Charities that collected disaster-relief funds following the September terrorist attacks say they will now be able to distribute money far more quickly because the Internal Revenue Service has reversed its longstanding policy requiring nonprofit groups to support only people who are financially…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Handwritten notes, phone calls, and other gestures impress donorsFor years, David Dunlop, now retired as a major-gifts fund raiser for Cornell University, would spend part of his Thanksgiving Day calling a handful of donors to let them know how much he appreciated their support. The recipients of…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor
Guarding Against Future Threats
Attacks prompt many grant makers to pursue new programs aimed at curbing terrorismAfter spending more than $95-million to support emergency relief and recovery ALSO SEE:A Sampling of Grants to Fight Terrorism services after the September 11 terrorist attacks, foundations are now considering…
By Elizabeth Schwinn
Contributor