July 18, 2011 | Read Time: 1 minute
Independent Sector, the coalition of charities and foundations, took out a full-page paid advertisement today in the political newspaper Politico, urging government leaders to avoid cuts to programs that work with nonprofits and objecting to President Obama’s proposal to limit the value of the charitable deduction.
The ad was signed by 126 leaders at nonprofits, including the American Cancer Society, YMCA of the USA, the Craigslist Foundation, the League of American Orchestras, the Sierra Club, and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network.
The move is an effort to catch the attention of the White House and Congressional leaders who are now in talks on a deficit-reduction deal that must be negotiated before an August 2 deadline to raise the federal debt ceiling.
Nonprofits worry that many key programs to help the needy will be cut as lawmakers attempt to hash out a deal. In addition, lawmakers have discussed reducing the tax write-offs available to the wealthy, including those for charitable contributions. Independent Sector is against such a change, saying that it would reduce an important incentive for charitable giving.
“Not only is the charitable deduction fair, it is an efficient way for the government to spur investment in communities,” the ad said.
Independent Sector did not disclose the cost of the advertisement, but the rate for a one-time, full-page color ad in Politico runs $12,940. The money for the ad came from some of the groups that signed the advertisement as well as other donations, Independent Sector said.
