Why Charities Shouldn’t Start Ignoring the Ban on Partisan Politicking
The Johnson Amendment, which prohibits explicitly partisan activity by 501(c)(3) groups, remains the law of the land, despite President Trump’s executive order seeking a curb on enforcement.
By Matthew Shell
Contributor
Daily News Roundup: Red Ink Prompts March of Dimes to Sell Headquarters
The iconic charity put its national office on the market following years of multimillion-dollar losses. Also, Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy winners talk about the roots of their giving, and conservative philanthropy leaders make a case against impact investing.
Daily News Roundup: Congress Moves to Restrict IRS Oversight of Nonprofit Politicking
Language in House spending bills would bar the agency from using appropriated funds to scrutinize “dark money” 501(c)(4) groups. Also, how a federal investigation of antiquities imports by Hobby Lobby could affect the new Bible museum backed by the store chain’s owners.
Daily News Roundup: Finance Titan’s Charity Sues to Recoup $25 Million Fraud Loss
Hedge-fund billionaire Louis Bacon’s foundation was ensnared in a Ponzi-like scheme orchestrated by a Wall Street peer. Also, Turkish police detain the head of the country’s Amnesty International chapter, and Oscar winners create virtual-reality experiences for charity.
Daily News Roundup: Charities Got $200 Million From Suspect in Massive Malaysia Fraud
Also, Leonard Lauder reaffirms his $1 billion art pledge to the Metropolitan Museum of Art amid the institution’s organizational upheaval, and the head of the Obama Foundation talks about the postpresidential charity’s goals for boosting civic engagement.
Nonprofits Experienced at Surviving Funding Cuts Share Their Strategies
As President Trump’s administration pushes for big reductions in federal spending, five charities tell how they learned to do more with less.
By Eden Stiffman
Senior Editor
House Looks to Weaken Church-Politicking Ban Via Spending Bill
An early draft of an appropriations bill would prevent the IRS from stripping a church of nonprofit status for prohibited political activities unless authorized by the agency’s top official, and would require Congress to be notified of the move.
By Timothy Sandoval and Megan O’Neil
Daily News Roundup: Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Restructures as Endowment Dwindles
The operator of the historic Virginia site will shed jobs and outsource operations following steep financial losses. Also, Harvard gets set to overhaul its endowment portfolio, and a jury backs the government’s long-running effort to seize a Manhattan skyscraper from an Iran-linked charity.
Daily News Roundup: GuideStar Sued Over ‘Hate Group’ Labels
Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal nonprofit, said it was defamed by the since-removed tags at the charity tracker’s website. Also, two states are looking into Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow’s charity operations, and the Kellogg Foundation commits $24 million to organizations battling racism.
Daily News Roundup: Trump Lawyer and His Family Got Millions From His Nonprofit
A media report details the financial dealings of Trump defense attorney Jay Sekulow’s Christian charity network. Also, Los Angeles lawmakers approve George Lucas’s plan to build his $1 billion museum in the city, and the internet gets it wrong on Mitch McConnell’s childhood polio treatment.
Daily News Roundup: Supreme Court Rules Church Can Get Government Grant
School-choice advocates said the decision, which concerned a state program to help nonprofits renovate playgrounds, bolsters their call for taxpayer-funded private-school vouchers. Also, Blackbaud makes a big move into crowdfunding, and a charity backed by big tech bucks works to get coding into classrooms.
Daily News Roundup: GuideStar Drops ‘Hate’ Label From Nonprofit Profiles
The charity tracker drew strong criticism from conservative organizations for adopting the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “hate group” tags. Also, Michael Bloomberg unveils a $200 million program to help cities address big social and environmental challenges.
Daily News Roundup: Eric Trump Charity Remakes Board and Changes Name
The president’s son is no longer on the board of the former Eric Trump Foundation, now called Curetivity. Also, looks at nonprofits developing artificial intelligence for social good and challenges faced by foundations that opt to spend down and close.
Daily News Roundup: Responses to Bezos Giving Tweet at 42,000 and Counting
Experts liken the Amazon founder’s approach to philanthropy to his disruption of the retail industry. Also, Susan G. Komen Arizona is shutting its doors, and the Girl Scouts adds an achievement badge in cybersecurity.
Daily News Roundup: Tight Ga. House Race Resurrects Komen-Planned Parenthood Flap
The Democratic candidate in the bellwether special election is highlighting his GOP rival’s role as a Susan G. Komen executive when the cancer charity briefly cut off grants to Planned Parenthood. Also, commentaries on the implications of megagiving and Jeff Bezos’s philanthropic plans.
Daily News Roundup: Calif. to Counter Trump Health Cuts With $20 Million for Clinics
The state grant program aims to shore up community and Planned Parenthood clinics facing potental shortfalls. Plus, a philanthropy consultant critiques Jeff Bezos’s Twitter call for giving advice, and New York State shuts down a cancer charity investigators say was effectively run by a commercial fundraiser.