* Elaine L. Chao, former president of United Way of America and currently a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, says that adoption of a flat tax in place of the current income tax would be good for charities -- even if taxpayers would no longer be able to take charitable-contribution deductions. The…
By Grant Williams
Contributor
IRS Panel Says Donors Exaggerate Value of Artwork
The Internal Revenue Service’s Art Advisory Panel has reviewed and recalculated the values of hundreds of pieces of artwork claimed by taxpayers who donated them to charities or left them to heirs. As it has in the past, the committee found that many people exaggerated the value of paintings,…
By Grant Williams
Contributor
The Abraham Fund (New York): Appointed Ellen Isler, director general at the World ORT Union (London), to be executive vice-president. Advertising Council (New York): Appointed Peggy Conlon, vice-president and group publisher for the Broadcasting & Cable Group at Cahners Business Information (New…
On-Line Grocery Solicits Food Gifts for the Needy
A Web site that gives on-line grocery shoppers a chance to donate food to the hungry got 84 credit-card gifts from 75 donors in its first five days. The donations totaled $4,000 worth of food. NetGrocer, based in North Brunswick, N.J., is collaborating on the donation effort with Second Harvest, a…
By Marilyn Dickey
Senior Editor, Copy
Bowling Organization Loses Charity Status
The I.R.S. has revoked an amateur-bowling organization’s tax-exempt status because it furthered the private interests of its officers, directors, and others, and failed to carry out its charitable mission. The non-profit organization, which the I.R.S. did not identify as a matter of policy, said on…
By Thomas J. Billitteri
Contributor
Court Approves Exemption for Anonymous-Gift Fund
A federal appeals court has ruled that an organization created to make it easier for people to give anonymously to charity is entitled to tax-exempt status. William J. Lehrfeld, a lawyer in Bethesda, Md., established the Fund for Anonymous Gifts in 1993 to permit donors to support unpopular or…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
The following awards have been presented for work in philanthropy, fund raising, volunteerism, and non-profit management: AIDS. Funders Concerned About AIDS (New York) has presented its 1999 R.A. Radley AIDS Grantmaker Award to Joe Cristina, founder and board chair of the Children Affected by AIDS…
Technology Bits: Planned Giving Design Center Expands
* The Planned Giving Design Center -- an on-line service that provides free news and information on planned gifts and related topics -- has been expanded. Formerly open only to financial advisers in 60 regions of the country, the service is now available nationwide to anybody. Subscribers get…
By Holly Hall
Contributor
Guide Helps North Carolina Groups Find Technology Advice
Non-profit organizations in North Carolina can receive free, on-line help in locating technology resources -- including low-cost Internet accounts and Web-site-development assistance -- through a new Internet site. The resource directory is interactive and searchable by geographic location,…
By Kristen R. Batch
Contributor
Poverty Issues Discussed on New E-Mail List
A free e-mail list that provides information about poverty issues has been created by the Coalition on Human Needs. The coalition will use the list to distribute analyses of Congressional bills, action alerts, and notices of meetings on topics such as the federal budget, Social Security, and food…
By NICOLE WALLACE
Features Editor
Paper Urges Dialogue on Role of Non-Profit Groups
Vision and Values: Rethinking the Nonprofit Sector in America, edited by Deborah S. Gardner, is a paper commissioned by the Nathan Cummings Foundation to explore the role that non-profit organizations should play in society. The paper includes essays from Peter Dobkin Hall, director of the Program…
By C. Quinn Hanchette
Contributor
‘Outside’: Green Groups Go to the Grassroots
As the modern environmental movement ends its third decade, “we’ve arrived at the age of the little guy,” says Outside magazine. While most major national organizations have been forced to trim their staffs and refocus their programs after losing support, the magazine says, much of the movement’s…
By Stephen G. Greene
Contributor
‘Kiplinger’s’: Churches Hope to Stem Giving Declines
Many churches can barely keep their doors open, due to flat or declining donations, says Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine (May). Contributing to the problem are shrinking membership lists -- the Methodist church alone has lost 1.6 million members since the 1970s -- and some 25 years’ worth of…
By Holly Hall
Contributor
The W.K. Kellogg Foundation paid to produce and publish this book about the history of philanthropy in Michigan. Proceeds from sales of the book will finance efforts to encourage young people to get involved in philanthropy. The Dayton Hudson Foundation sends this “Community Notebook,” which has…
Kellogg and Other Foundations to Be Honored for Communication Efforts
The Council on Foundations this week will present 71 awards to honor grant makers ALSO SEE:Foundations That Won Awards for Excellence in Communications that have made outstanding efforts to inform the public about their work. The 16th annual Wilmer Shields Rich Awards for Excellence in…
How New Rules on Charity Disclosure Work
Basic Requirements: Timing. As of June 8, charities will be required to send copies of their informational tax forms to anyone who requests them in writing. ALSO SEE:IRS Issues Final Rules for Charities on Making Tax Forms Available to Public Charities generally have 30 days from the receipt of the…