Opinion: IRS Slow to Approve on Nonprofit Journalism Groups, Too
Leaders of a transparency watchdog group and a nonprofit investigative-reporting organization assert in a Washington Post opinion piece that the “real scandal at the Internal Revenue Service” is not about targeting conservative political groups but about stifling journalism outfits.
Respected Pollster Threatened by Russian Nonprofit Crackdown
The director of the Levada Center, Russia’s only independent polling agency, said it might be forced to shut down after being ordered by prosecutors to register as a “foreign agent” amid a crackdown on nonprofit organizations, writes The New York Times.
Donor-Advised Funds Are Booming, but Nonprofits See Little Benefit
Congress should require at least 20 percent of fund assets to be distributed each year—or at least allow more generous deductions for certain gifts.
By Alan M. Cantor
Reporter
Immigration Issue Brims With Ethical Concerns for Nonprofits
If the system changes, the losers may be many of the very desperate people worldwide whom grant makers most want to help.
By John F. Rohe
Contributor
Documentary Paints a Bleak but Fair Picture of Detroit’s Decline
The film, which aired on PBS, demonstrates the challenges journalists and documentary filmmakers face when benefactors make public-relations demands.
By Vincent Stehle
Contributor
Young Wealthy Donors Bring Taste for Risk, Hands-On Involvement to Philanthropy
People in their 20s and 30s want to take risks and welcome chances for hands-on involvement in philanthropy.
By Michael Moody
Contributor
What Nonprofits Say About Spending and How Donors Respond
A Chronicle review of the statements four charities made in recent fundraising letters about how much they spend on their programs.
By Suzanne Perry
Contributor
IRS Should Allow Social-Welfare Groups Unlimited Advocacy
The inspector general’s report on the Tea Party scandal teaches an important lesson about the inherent difficulty of trying to regulate an activity that is impossible to define.
By Suzanne Garment and LESLIE LENKOWSKY
Hershey Trust Settlement Shows What Matters on Board Duties
The Pennsylvania attorney general took a high standard in deciding whether anybody had breached fiduciary duty at the $9-billion trust and said nobody broke the law amid allegations of insider deals.
By michael peregrine
Contributor
The disclosure that the Internal Revenue Service had singled out applications from conservative advocacy groups seeking tax-exempt status for extra scrutiny has raised questions about the agency’s ability to regulate charities. See updated coverage of the controversy and documents that offer context on what it means to nonprofits.
By Chronicle Staff
Contributor