National charities clash with their affiliates over how best to solicit donations locally Second Harvest, the nationwide network of more than 185 food banks, devotes most of its time to fighting hunger. But lately the national office and its affiliates have also been spending time bickering over…
By Marilyn Dickey
Senior Editor, Copy
IRS Says Property Value Set When Option to Buy Expires
The I.R.S. has ruled that a gift of property that comes with the donor’s right to purchase the land back must be valued after, not before, the option expires. In 1993, a corporation granted a tract of valuable land to the charity but retained an option to repurchase the tract for a nominal amount…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Lamar Alexander Proposes Double Charitable Deduction
Lamar Alexander, the former Tennessee Governor who is again likely to be a Republican Presidential candidate, wants to create an enhanced charitable deduction for donors. Mr. Alexander wants to double the deduction that taxpayers could claim annually if their charitable gifts for the year exceeded…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
Senate Panel Wants IRS to Review Health Clubs
The Senate Appropriations Committee wants the Internal Revenue Service to make sure that charities that run health clubs or provide “fitness services” do not compete unfairly against businesses. But the panel’s wishes have drawn criticism from nine Senators who warn that the government could…
By GRANT WILLIAMS
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: Arts. The Business Committee for the Arts (New York) and Forbes magazine have announced the recipients of the 1998 Business in the Arts Awards: -- The Founders Award went to the…
E-Mail Advice Available for Fund Raisers
Charities now have their own on-line “Dear Abby.” Kim Klein, co-founder of the Grassroots Fundraising Journal, which is published by Chardon Press, has started an on-line advice column that will answer readers’ questions about raising money. “Sure, ‘Dear Abby’ can help you with your family…
By Paul Demko
Contributor
Web Site Helps Charities Comply With Disclosure Rules
A new Web site is offering to post charities’ informational tax returns and applications for tax-exempt status -- but few non-profit groups seem to be interested. Eric Mercer, manager of services at DU Educational Technology Services, a non-profit group that provides on-line education programs, is…
By Paul Demko
Contributor
Advocacy Groups ‘Marching’ for Changes in Social Security
Two advocacy groups are planning an on-line “march” on Washington to support an overhaul of Social Security. The “Billion Byte March,” sponsored by Third Millennium, in New York, and Economic Security 2000 Action, in Washington, hopes to prod at least 250,000 people to sign an e-mail letter asking…
By Paul Demko
Contributor
How Survey on Salaries Was Compiled
Despite a new federal law that will soon force charities to make salary information more readily available to the public, more than a dozen organizations in The Chronicle’s salary survey required an in-person visit to obtain the information or declined to give it out at all. The annual survey is…