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2 weeks ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
Advocates for the charitable sector say they’re working hard to remove harmful provisions from President Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” which passed in the House on Thursday. But the lobbyists for foundations and nonprofits may need to pound the halls of the Senate just to keep things from getting worse.
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3 weeks ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
The tax bill released by House Republicans on Monday calls for escalating taxes on investment income at the nation’s foundations and universities, which means the richest foundations and universities would pay by far the highest rates. The excise tax on endowment income at foundations would stay at 1.39 percent for foundations with $50 million in assets or less, but it would double — to 2.78 percent — for foundations with assets of $50 million to $250 million.
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1 month ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
Soon after the launch of the Community Impact Coalition, which is fighting potential tax increases on nonprofits, the group posted a slick video on its website featuring charities meeting basic needs. The music starts upbeat and inspiring. “Nonprofit organizations are the heart of our communities. They feed the country, shelter the homeless, educate children, and support veterans and hard-working Americans.
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1 month ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
President Trump’s tariff announcements and the accompanying stock-market volatility are leading online donors to pull back, according to several big fundraising companies. Experts disagree on how fundraisers should proceed, with some urging caution and others saying charities need to push ahead with ambitious campaigns — a strategy choice reminiscent of what groups faced in the pandemic’s early days.
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1 month ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
After President Trump claimed last week that many nonprofits have “abused” their tax-exempt status, organizations are braced for White House moves that may represent the administration’s most direct action against nonprofits to date. Experts are urging charities not to panic, noting the legal safeguards and review process that protect groups. But leaders of some charities say such assurances offer cold comfort given that Trump has sidestepped legal precedent many times before.
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1 month ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
President Trump’s shifting approach to tariffs is adding new headaches for nonprofits already grappling with chaos related to executive orders from his administration. Even after Trump backed away from his plan for reciprocal tariffs on about 90 countries, most goods entering the country will still face a 10 percent tariff.
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2 months ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
Every charity seems to have a story about the bequest that fell into their lap. But as competition ramps up for a share of the Great Wealth Transfer, those unanticipated legacy gifts will be harder to come by. Planned-giving officers have a lot to consider — whom to target, what appeals to donors, how to know when a donor is ready, and how to work with advisers. Here are tips to make sure some of the upcoming wealth transfer ends up at your charity. Encourage estate planning.
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2 months ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
Millennial donors are becoming an increasingly important source of support for charities, outspending older Gen X donors by 18 percent, according to a new report by Giving USA and the fundraising firm Dunham+Company. Millennial households were already giving slightly more than Gen X donors in 2021, but the gap has grown, the study found. In 2024, millennial donors gave an annual average of $1,616 to charity, compared with just $1,371 for Gen X donors.
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2 months ago | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose |Nathan Lindstrom
The eye-popping projections for the Great Wealth Transfer make you wonder why charities aren’t going all in on planned giving. Past promises of a golden age of bequests didn't pan out, but charities that are prepared are likely to reap the rewards this time. Total giving from all sources — living individuals, foundations, corporations, and bequests — rang up at $557 billion in 2023, according to “Giving USA” estimates.
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Feb 26, 2025 | 
philanthropy.com | Ben Gose
Galli Murray is the suicide-prevention coordinator for Clackamas County, Ore., which in recent years has seen a sharp rise in the number of people taking their life with a firearm. But she’s perhaps not the best person to explain the connection between firearms and suicide in the rural, mostly conservative parts of the county. A licensed social worker, Murray was born and raised in Seattle, lives in Portland, and identifies as queer. And she doesn’t own a gun.
