IRF Update - October 27, 2011

Berdahl to Keynote CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations

Robert M. Berdahl, chancellor emeritus of the University of California, Berkeley, and former president of the Association of American Universities, will keynote the 20th Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations, April 18–20, 2012, in Chicago. A noted expert on higher education, Berdahl will share his insights and thoughts on how institutionally related foundations can best support their institutions.

The theme for this landmark conference is "The Basics, The Best, The Next" as CASE and our foundation members reflect on two decades of helping to strengthen the IRF field and look ahead to what foundations and foundation leaders can expect in the future. The conference is designed primarily for executives at foundations affiliated with four-year institutions and community colleges.

CASE will offer CPE credit for particular sessions, and the conference will again include special programs and sessions for community college foundation staff.

To register, visit the CASE website. A full agenda and speaker updates will be posted in the next few weeks.

Deadline Extended! CASE Commonfund IRF Award Nominations Due Friday, Nov. 11

Recognize the leadership of your foundation colleagues by nominating them for the 2011 CASE Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Awards. The deadline for nominations has been extended to Friday, Nov. 11, 2011.

The awards recognize individuals who have made valuable contributions through best practices, distinguished service and/or volunteer leadership to the foundation field. Senior leaders responsible for the day-to-day management of institutionally related foundations (chief executive, operating and/or financial officers, foundation counsels, etc.) are eligible to receive the award. View a list of past winners.

Nomination instructions are available on the CASE website. The awards will be presented at the 20th Annual CASE Conference for Institutionally Related Foundations.

The CASE Commonfund Institutionally Related Foundation Awards are supported by a gift from Commonfund. 

Senate Finance Committee Holds Hearing on Charitable Giving Incentives

On Tuesday, Oct. 18, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing to examine the tax treatment of charitable giving. Proposals to reduce the value of the charitable deduction were the main topic of discussion among committee members and witnesses. A number of witnesses voiced concern about proposals to cap the value of the charitable deduction at 28 percent for high-income taxpayers and urged the committee to preserve the deduction in its current form. Read CASE's recap of the hearing.

Reducing the value of the charitable deduction will likely be discussed by lawmakers serving on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (also known as the super committee) as they work to find ways to achieve $1.5 trillion in deficit reduction by Nov. 23. CASE will continue to urge lawmakers to protect and preserve the value of the charitable deduction.

Participate in CASE Survey of Educational Fundraising Campaigns

CASE is currently conducting its annual survey of fundraising campaigns at colleges, universities and independent schools in the United States and Canada. The deadline for participation in the 2011 survey is Nov. 14.

The survey results will be compiled in the annual CASE Campaign Report to help institutions benchmark campaign progress, sources and destinations of funds and staffing with their peers.

The greater the participation level, the greater the reliability of the data and the greater the value of the survey report. Advancement staff at institutions currently in a campaign at any phase or that will conclude on or before Dec. 31, 2011, are encouraged to complete the survey.

Participating institutions will receive a complimentary copy of the final report. Contact Andrew Paradise, CASE senior research specialist, at +1-202-478-5679 or paradise@case.org with any questions.

Headlines

Senate Rejects Proposal to Deny Grants to Charities that Use Offshore Tax Havens
Chronicle of Philanthropy, Oct. 24, 2011
On a 54-46 vote, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment offered by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to an appropriations bill that would have barred the Department of Justice from awarding grants to charities that invest in offshore accounts. If enacted, the amendment would have applied to charities that invest in offshore hedge funds to avoid paying the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT). Despite the defeat, Sen. Grassley is urging the deficit-reduction "super committee" to consider his proposal as part of the group's recommendations to trim the deficit.
Full article (subscription required)

Bills Aim to Help Put State Schools on ‘Level Playing Field'
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Oct. 23, 2011
Pennsylvania state lawmakers are considering legislation that would repeal prohibitions on university employees' participation in fundraising on behalf of the school's institutionally related foundation. The restrictions stemmed from recent court rulings.
Full article

Congressman Seeks Investigation of College Athletics
Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 21, 2011
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has sent a letter to the committee's chairman, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), asking for the committee to hold oversight hearings on intercollegiate athletics. In particular, Conyers is interested in learning how conference realignment could potentially impact smaller schools and conferences, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It is unclear if Chairman Smith will agree to hearings.
Full article

Wait and See
Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 12, 2011
The higher education associations in Washington are anxiously watching the deliberations of the bipartisan "super committee," the panel of lawmakers charged with finding $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction by Nov. 23. In addition to potentially reducing the value of the charitable deduction, an agreement could have consequences for a number of important higher ed priorities, including Pell Grants, research funding and tax incentives for students. If the super committee fails to reach an agreement, the results could be worse for higher ed, since mandatory, across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending would kick in.
Full article

Biggest States Face New Budget Gaps
Stateline, Oct. 12, 2011
With the economy still struggling to rebound, the nation's five most populous states face continued budget problems. Revenue gaps are particularly wide in California and Illinois, which must fill budget gaps in the current fiscal year. The other three states—Florida, Texas and New York—face gaps in future fiscal years.
Full article

Not the Academic Type? No Problem. You're Hired.
New York Times, Oct. 6, 2011
Columnist Ross Ramsey argues that more and more public system heads are former state officeholders known for their ability to attract resources to campus. Regents tend to select public officials to run systems and academics to run particular campuses.
Full article

How can I receive the CASE IRF Update in my inbox?

Contact Brian Flahaven, director of legislative, foundation and recognition programs, at flahaven@case.org.