Charities Are Allowed to Do Some Lobbying, but Many Do None at All
Only a fourth of charitable nonprofits have ever formally lobbied the government — far fewer than the three-fourths that did in 2000.
By Heather MacIndoe and Mirae Kim
Recent Op-Ed Misreads the Moment: Free Speech Is Worth Defending
Organizations must not fall into the trap of only protecting free expression when it advances their goals.
The founder of the philanthropy consulting firm for left-leaning donors blames the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling for injecting billions of dollars into the political process.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
Bob Bothwell’s Support for Progressive Nonprofits Was Ahead of Its Time
Bothwell regularly argued that nontraditional charities deserved respect, recognition — and inclusion in workplace giving campaigns.
As LGBTQ Rights Come Under Threat, Lambda Legal Mounts Effort to Raise $180 Million
The group is urging donors to support its efforts to take on more cases, particularly at the state level, where more than 500 bills targeting LGBTQ+ people were proposed and nearly 90 were enacted last year.
By Stephanie Beasley
Senior Writer
Expiring Tax Breaks, Charitable Giving, and What’s at Stake for Philanthropy
Proposed changes to the tax code will significantly reduce donations, the author argues, spelling trouble for charities.
By Jack Salmon
Contributor
Is a House Panel Providing Charity Oversight or ‘Ideological Policing?’
The Republican chair of the House Ways and Means Committee has raised concerns about donations from the Tides Foundation to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its associated foundation.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
A New Lawsuit Could Erase the Red Line Between Politics and Charity
If successful, the suit brought by a small nonprofit would damage the charitable world’s legitimacy and fuel partisan divisions.
By Craig Kennedy
Contributor
Are Race-Conscious Scholarships on Their Way Out?
Are scholarships that use race as part of their criteria a thing of the past? The short answer is “no.” But based on a review of the 2023 Supreme Court decision and other precedent, such programs will have to pass a tough judicial test. Even then, race can’t be the only factor.
By Jeffrey C. Sun and Charles J. Russo
Inconsistent Regulations, Crackdown on Civil Liberties Hinder Nonprofits, Experts Say
Conservatives are pushing laws to block services to immigrants and limit activities of racial justice and environment groups, said lawyers and scholars at a meeting last week. Meanwhile, federal and state efforts need more resources and new approaches.
By Stephanie Beasley
Senior Writer
A Wisc. Ruling on Catholic Charities Raises the Bar for Religious Tax Exemptions
Exemptions that allow religious groups to avoid paying the state’s unemployment tax don’t apply here because the organization’s on-the-ground operations aren’t primarily religious, a divided court ruled.
By Todd Richmond
Associated Press
A Hidden Burden on Low-Income Communities That Philanthropy Can Help Fix
Matched-fund requirements make accessing federal infrastructure and climate dollars all but impossible for the very communities grant makers seek to help.
By Louise Lief
Contributor
Foundation Leaders Consider Next Steps as Race-Based Grants Are Tested in Court
A new study finds that the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling has not significantly changed how grant makers support programs focused on race.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
To Help Grantees Win Infrastructure Dollars, Business as Usual Won’t Cut It
Philanthropy has an unprecedented chance to support communities that were often harmed and rarely benefited from federal infrastructure projects.
By Michael McAfee
Contributor
A Plea From Progressive Foundation CEOs: Make Election Grants Now
20 foundations are speeding grants to protect voting and elections. Meanwhile, House GOP members are asking whether philanthropy is stepping into partisan politics.
By Alex Daniels
Senior Editor, Foundations
The federal mandate is vague, and some hospitals spend no money at all on charity care.
By Jonathan Wynn and Daniel Skinner