NRB: Encourage, Don’t Constrain Charitable Giving

NRB spoke out this week in defense of the charitable tax deduction, a proven policy that has been in place for nearly a century. Moreover, NRB asserted that the federal government should further encourage, not constrain, giving.

In letters to President Obama and Congressional leaders, NRB President & CEO Dr. Frank Wright stated, “Many of our members are non-profit organizations that not only powerfully illuminate public needs, but directly work to help the hungry, hurting, addicted, and vulnerable in the United States and abroad.” He declared any diminishment of the charitable deduction to be potentially “devastating to their efforts.”

Dr. Wright also cited research from United Way Worldwide showing the vast majority of Americans believe in the value of the charitable deduction for non-profits and their communities. “Rather than capping or otherwise constraining this longstanding deduction,” Dr. Wright urged, “the federal government ought to expand opportunities for the charitable impulse of Americans to thrive.” As an example, he highlighted NRB’s proposal, which is formally pending before the FCC, that noncommercial broadcast stations be permitted to use up to one percent of their annual air-time to fundraise on behalf of third-party charitable organizations.

• Find NRB’s letters to the President and Congressional leaders, as well as the accompanying press release. 

By Aaron Mercer, Vice President Government Relations

Published: December 7, 2012