On the 100th anniversary of the charitable deduction, we should be celebrating instead of preparing for a possible funeral. However, new research released from the Tax Policy Center indicates that the House tax reform bill, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1), will reduce giving by up to $20 billion annually. This reduction is the equivalent of feeding every single person in Chicago three meals a day for a year.
In addition to disastrous cuts to giving, the House bill would no longer protect nonprofits from outside pressure to engage in partisan political activity. The sector has always been a trusted “safe-haven” from politics, and the repeal of the Johnson Amendment would be a dangerous step in opening the door for politicians and special interest groups to use charities to serve politics instead of missions.
Independent Sector, the Council on Foundations, and the National Council of Nonprofits have come together in united opposition to of H.R. 1.
There is still time to take action.
Please take a moment to contact your members of Congress. We as a sector need to be united and let Congress know how dangerous this legislation is to the future of the charitable sector in the U.S.
How you can help:
- Contact your Representative to vote NO on H.R. 1.
- Contact Senate Finance Committee members and urge them to support the Wyden-Stabenow amendment that would expand the deduction to all taxpayers.
We are running out of time. The House and Senate are both on recess next week.
Every single action matters. We must act now before it’s too late.
