September 21, 2000 | Read Time: 1 minute
With new federal disclosure laws and the Internet making it easier than ever for donors, journalists, and others to obtain access to an organization’s tax returns, charities need to become more aware of their public images, says Trusts & Estates magazine (September).
“An organization that fails to make the best case for itself may be at a competitive disadvantage among donors,” the magazine says. “If one thing is clear for charities that operate in this ‘era of transparency,’ it is that the hard questions are getting easier and easier for the world to ask.”
Trusts & Estates recommends that charities pay special attention to the way they fill out their informational tax returns. “Organizations filing returns with the I.R.S. must ask, ‘Are we presenting the best picture of ourselves?’” the magazine writes.
