Charitable Gift Law
Good Question Q: We are starting an international fundraising program and will be asking foreign alumni for gifts. Can donors in other countries receive tax benefits or deductions for gifts to our institution?

Implications of the Fiscal Cliff Deal on Giving to Education
Product During this webinar, a charitable giving expert outlines the provisions of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 and their potential impact on giving to colleges, universities and independent schools. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar presented Feb. 26, 2013.

Fiscal Cliff Deal Preserves Charitable Deduction
Article On Jan. 2, U.S. President Barack Obama signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8), legislation that preserves the charitable deduction and extends the estate tax and IRA charitable rollover.

Tax Policy Center: Fiscal Cliff Deal Will Increase Charitable Giving
Article In a January 2013 fact sheet (pdf), the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center estimates that the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (H.R. 8) will increase charitable giving by $3.3 billion or 1.3 percent.

White House Releases Report Criticizing Dollar Cap on Charitable Deduction
Article In a Dec. 6 report, the White House National Economic Council finds that dollar cap proposals would significantly reduce charitable giving and, in some cases, effectively eliminate the charitable deduction altogether. However, the NEC also continues to push for a 28 percent cap on charitable deductions, stating that such a cap would make “the tax code more fair.”

Defending Government Subsidy of Private Giving
Article The governments of Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States are reconsidering their encouragement of philanthropic giving, according to a strategic adviser and speaker at the recent CASE Asia-Pacific Institute in Educational Fundraising.

IRS Announces 2013 Inflation Adjustments for Insubstantial Benefit Limitations
Article The Internal Revenue Service has issued guidance on inflation adjustments for 2013.

How to Pass a Bond Issue or Tax Levy
Article Community colleges should use demographic data to determine the best time to request voter support for bond issues and tax levies, says a former institutional leader.

Election Impact on Educational Advancement
Product This webinar looks at how the results of the 2012 U.S. federal elections will affect issues important to education and advancement professionals. Robert Moran, of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, and Brian Flahaven, of CASE, discuss what the results will mean for the future of student aid policy, the charitable deduction, estate tax, IRA charitable rollover and other legislative issues critical to CASE members. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar presented Nov. 8, 2012.

Annual Review of IRS Rules & Regulations_with AASP
Product This annual review of changes in IRS rules and regulations looks at IRA rollover provisions; 2012 benefit limits; donor-advised fund and family (private) foundation issues; quid pro quo considerations; what is a gift and what is not; charity auctions; sponsorships; and special events. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar presented Jan. 24, 2013.

CASE Europe, UK Fundraisers Applaud Government for Shelving Charity Tax Plans
Article UK fundraisers and donors welcomed the recent decision by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne to abandon his plans to cap income tax relief on charitable donations. The reversal of the March budget proposal followed three months of sustained lobbying led by a consortium of organisations, including CASE Europe and Universities UK.

Summer Camp Revenue: Is it Unrelated Business Income?
Article Colleges, universities and independent schools that are holding or hosting summer camps this year should review the Internal Revenue Service rules on the treatment of unrelated business income.

IRA Charitable Rollover Expires
Article Congress did not act to extend the IRA Charitable Rollover prior to its expiration on Dec. 31, 2011. Many lawmakers hope to pass a retroactive extension of the IRA charitable rollover in 2012.

President's Perspective: Give and Take
CURRENTS Article While donors don't make charitable contributions to gain tax benefits, tax benefits do influence donors' decisions about when and how much to give. To reduce or eliminate the charitable reduction in the United States during a time when the need for philanthropic support has never been greater would be foolhardy.

CASE, Nonprofit Coalition Urge Lawmakers to Protect Value of Charitable Deduction
Article CASE and 22 other nonprofit associations and organizations have sent a joint letter to the U.S. House and Senate leadership urging lawmakers to protect the value of the charitable deduction by opposing efforts to cap the value of itemized deductions for charitable contributions.

CBO Report Outlines Options for Changing Tax Treatment of Charitable Giving
Article In a May 2011 report, the Congressional Budget Office outlined options for changing the tax treatment of charitable giving.

CASE Europe Welcomes New Measures to Boost UK Philanthropic Giving
Article CASE Europe welcomes the 23 March announcement by Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, that charities will be allowed to claim gift aid on donations worth £5,000 each year without a gift aid declaration.

Taxing Times
CURRENTS Article In this article, Caroline E. Mayer reports on the increase in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) being requested of colleges and universities in light of the budget shortfalls that municipalities are facing as a result of the recession. It explores successful PILOT agreements as well as unsuccessful attempts by local leaders to push for these payments and highlights institutional efforts to better communicate the value and benefits they bring to their community.

New IRA Charitable Rollover Resources Available
Article In December 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853), a bill that includes a two-year, retroactive extension of the IRA charitable rollover through Dec. 31, 2011. To help independent schools, colleges, universities and their foundations spread the word and encourage donors to consider IRA charitable rollover gifts, CASE has posted two new resources on its website–a sample promotional flyer and a transfer instruction letter template.

Major Gifts in 2011 and Beyond
Product This webinar discusses the new tax environment, which has created immense opportunities for major gifts for capital campaigns, major gifts programs and endowment campaigns. The speaker discusses how organizations can benefit from this situation and help donors increase their giving. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar originally presented Feb. 17, 2011.

Gift Planning in 2011 and Beyond
Product This webinar presents storytelling is the single most powerful communication tool that any advancement professional possesses. Participants learn specific ways to use stories to effectively engage an audience, inspire action and advance an organization's mission. This multimedia file is a recording of a webinar originally presented Feb. 10, 2011.

Gift Aid Forum Releases Recommendations, UK Responds
Article A group of treasury and charity representatives, including CASE's Joanna Motion, has released a report following its review of gift aid, a UK policy that enables tax-effective giving to charities.

Estate Tax, IRA Charitable Rollover Extensions Signed Into Law
Article On Dec. 17, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 4853 (pdf) into law, a tax bill that temporarily extends the federal estate tax and IRA charitable rollover.

Survey Indicates Wealthy Donors May Give More to Offset Higher Taxes
Article Nearly 90 percent of financial advisers expect income taxes to increase for most of their clients in the next 12 to 18 months, and one in four predicts clients will increase charitable giving to offset these tax hikes, according to new survey findings.

New UK Finance Act to Impact Cross-Border Giving
Article Changes brought in by the UK Finance Act 2010 are likely to have a significant impact on European charities and philanthropy.

Getting Closer to Cross-Border Charitable Giving in Europe
Article Europe-based charities can now take advantage of UK charity tax reliefs, a move that could signal a more liberal flow of giving between European member states.

CASE VP to be Part of Consultation on UK Gift Aid Reform
Article Joanna Motion, vice president of international operations for CASE, will participate in a sector-wide discussion group on a reform of gift aid in the United Kingdom.

UK Opts Out of EC Proposal on Succession, Wills
Article Following concern expressed by higher education institutions, CASE and other organizations, the UK government says it will not enter into a European Commission proposal to establish common rules concerning cross-border disputes about inheritance.

Brussels Court Makes Landmark Ruling on Foreign Donations
Article A recent ruling by a Brussels court on cross-border donations will “make it easier” for universities in the United Kingdom and other European Union countries to solicit foreign donations.

President's Perspective: A Is for Advocacy
CURRENTS Article CASE's president summarizes the organization's recent advocacy efforts, both within the United States and abroad as well as within the halls of government and academe.

Filing and Recordkeeping Requirements
Excerpt In this excerpt from Advancement Services: A Foundation for Fundraising, 2nd ed. (CASE, 2007), author Amy J. Phillips discusses IRS requirements and recordkeeping issues and practices.

Charitable Deduction
These resources explain the proposed cap on charitable deductions, who it impacts and its implications for educational institutions.

IRA Charitable Rollover
On Dec. 17, 2010, President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4853), legislation that includes a two-year retroactive extension of the IRA charitable rollover through Dec. 31, 2011. The rollover has now expired. These resources explain the IRA rollover, how it works, and points to keep in mind. There are also links to background documents.

Estate Tax Reform
CASE supports the continuation of the estate tax at its 2009 levels. These resources explain the issues surrounding estate tax reform.

EU Tax Relief Good News for Universities, Other Nonprofits
Article A recent European court ruling on tax relief could make it more attractive for universities in the United Kingdom and across Europe to compete for donors in other European Union countries.

IRS Rules and Regulations: What You Need to Know to Stay Out of Trouble
Alison L. Paul
Excerpt This chapter from John Taylor's Advancement Services: A Foundation for Fund Raising, 2nd ed. (CASE, 2007), discusses IRS rules and regulations for a variety of gift types, as well as filing and recordkeeping requirements for advancement services operations.

AdvanceWork: Spotlight on...
CURRENTS Article The general counsel of Catholic University of America maintains a Web site with information on the myriad federal laws that affect higher education.

AdvanceWork: Uncle Sam Wants You to Give
CURRENTS Article A report from Washington, DC-based Independent Sector finds that U.S. residents who itemize deductions on their income tax returns tend to be more philanthropic. The coalition concludes that "the tax code can be a powerful tool to influence the amount America gives."

AdvanceWork: Charity Begins at Work
CURRENTS Article In an effort to encourage more private sector philanthropy, in January 2003 the Australian Tax Office agreed to let workers make charitable donations through pretax payroll deductions. The program lets donors realize the benefits of giving immediately rather than after they file their taxes. This Advancework item is of interest to development and advancement services officers who want to develop giving incentives.

Cutting Red Tape
CURRENTS Article With drastic cutbacks in government support over the past decade, the education sector in Canada is actively competing with other nonprofit institutions for private gifts. Recognizing the need to promote charitable giving—and spurred by the Canadian Association of Gift Planners—the Canadian government began introducing tax incentives in the early 1990s. From 1997 to late 2001, Canadian institutions experienced a string of unprecedented years in fundraising—underscoring a growing trend in Canadian philanthropy.