We’ve been promoting philanthropy on WCLV for several years now and I thought you might like to listen to the latest set of on-air marketing.
Archive for March, 2007
I invested my time this past Wednesday on Capital Hill with 400 of my colleagues from foundations throughout the county. Foundations on the Hill is an annual event to connect with our legislators and to educate them on the issues and opportunities facing organized philanthropy. I had never attended before but I felt compelled to do so this year, and I wasn’t alone. Participation was almost doubled from last year. So what has changed?
For me it was the implications of the Pension Protection Act passed in August of 2006. This is probably the most significant set of regulations impacting the nonprofit sector since the Tax Relief Act of 1969 but unlike its predecessor, there was no opportunity for nonprofit professionals or the general public to discuss the provisions of the Act before it was enacted. My task on Wednesday was to help inform our elected leadership on the good and bad of that bill and to ask support for remedies. Specifically, we asked them to:
- co-sign and support a forthcoming bill that will extend the IRA Charitable Rollover beyond its 2007 deadline and expand charitable beneficiaries to include donor advised funds, supporting organizations and private foundations.
- co-sign and support the Pension Protection Act Improvement Act that will remedy some of the unintentional consequences of the original including the prohibition of scholarships and similar charitable grants from donor advised funds.
- help establish and join the Philanthropic Caucus which was introduced by the Council on Foundations at the event.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. Our Ohio delegation of twenty-one had approximately 15 minutes with each legislator and I was immediately struck at 9 am when we exited security at the Longworth Building that we were not alone. The halls of congress were filled with similar groups seeking to inform, educate and influence the laws of our land. But after hours of running between offices for both sides of congress and meeting with sixteen of our Senators and Representatives (or their staff), I returned to Lorain County with a renewed sense that our system of government works and a reaffirmation of the importance of communication.
Despite the brevity of our visits, I’m convinced that we were heard and understood. Salient points were emphasized and captured and I believe the next round of legislation will rectify much of the unintentional damage caused by the Pension Protection Act. I believe that we were successful in sharing our desire and efforts to insure ethical philanthropy in our organizations and our zero tolerance for charitable abuses. I’m hopeful that we widened a door for further conversations on the next law related to an issue or opportunity facing organized philanthropy.
In retrospect, those might have been the best investments of 15 minutes I’ve made in a long time.
