The Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2018
Several Leadership 18 members were recognized as part of the Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2018.
Letter of Support for The Legacy IRA Bill
The Honorable Kevin Cramer
U.S. House of Representatives
1717 Longworth HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Earl Blumenauer
U.S. House of Representatives
1111 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
July 2018
Dear Congressmen Cramer and Blumenauer:
Leadership 18 thanks you for your commitment to encourage charitable giving by enabling seniors to make tax-free contributions from their individual retirement accounts (IRA) to charities through life-income plans. We support your efforts through H.R. 1337, Legacy IRA Act.
To operate effectively and advance our tax-exempt purpose, we are dependent on private philanthropy, including gift planning. A few years ago, when the IRA Charitable Rollover provision was made permanent in the PATH Act, many of our organizations saw a dramatic increase in charitable giving from IRAs. We believe the Legacy IRA bill simply offers another option and would incentivize more giving by seniors to help charities while helping seniors who need a lifetime income.
The undersigned CEOs support H.R. 1337, which would allow seniors starting at age 65 to make tax-free IRA rollovers to charities through life-income plans (charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust). The senior’s annual retirement income from the life-income plan is fully taxed. We believe this new giving option will be particularly attractive to middle income seniors.
Leadership 18 is an alliance of CEOs responsible for leading some of the country’s largest and most well-respected charities, non-profits and faith-based organizations. As a group, member organizations serve over 87 million people annually, with 5.6 million staff and volunteers, and represent $44 billion in total revenue. We are a community of leaders who share a profound commitment to ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant America, and with opportunity and effort, can live their lives to their fullest potential.
Leadership 18 offers our support and is willing to work with you and other Members of Congress to enact the Legacy IRA bill. America is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to give, to get involved, and to strengthen their communities.
Sincerely,
Leadership 18
Signers:
Susan Dreyfus
President & CEO
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Gary Reedy
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Gail McGovern
President & CEO
American Red Cross
Jim Clark
President & CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Sister Donna Markham
President & CEO
Catholic Charities USA
Michael Brown
CEO and Co-Founder
City Year
Sylvia Acevedo
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of the USA
Judy Vredenburgh
President & CEO
Girls Inc.
Jim Gibbons
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
Jerry Silverman
President & CEO
The Jewish Federations of North America
Charlotte Haberaecker
President & CEO
Lutheran Services in America
Paul Gionfriddo
President & CEO
Mental Health America
James Firman
President & CEO
National Council on Aging
Brian Gallagher
President & CEO
United Way Worldwide
Mike King
President
Volunteers of America
Kevin Washington
President & CEO
YMCA of the USA
Alejandra Castillo
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA USA
Letter of Support for The Universal Charitable Giving Act, H.R. 3988
The Honorable Mark Walker
U.S. House of Representatives
1305 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
July 2018
Dear Congressmen Walker:
Leadership 18 thanks you for your commitment to encourage and empower Americans to support their communities through charitable giving. As the first to recognize this vital issue calls for a legislative solution, we applaud your leadership to bring this critical matter to Congress through the introduction of The Universal Charitable Giving Act, H.R. 3988.
As you know, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) recently released a report confirming our mutual concern that unintended consequences of the current tax law would decrease charitable giving in 2018 by as much as $17.4 billion, or four percent of giving by individuals. Indeed, a recent poll by Independent Sector indicates that 35 percent of voters who filed itemized returns last year say they will stop giving or give less in 2018 and 72 percent predict their community will give less to charity this year. Charitable giving is by its very nature a selfless act. At the same time, research has consistently shown that people give more when the tax code supports giving.
Leadership 18 is an alliance of CEOs responsible for leading some of the country’s largest and most well-respected charities, non-profits and faith-based organizations. As a group, member organizations serve over 87 million people annually, with 5.6 million staff and volunteers, and represent $44 billion in total revenue. We are a community of leaders who share a profound commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant America, and with opportunity and effort, can live their lives to their fullest potential.
Leadership 18 offers our support and is willing to work with you and other members of Congress to enact a universal charitable deduction that maximizes charitable giving. Let us work together to help build a strong America where everyone has the opportunity to give, to get involved, and to strengthen their communities.
Sincerely, Leadership 18
Signers:
Susan Dreyfus*
President & CEO
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Gary Reedy
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Gail McGovern*
President & CEO
American Red Cross
Michael Surbaugh
Chief Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America
Jim Clark
President & CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Sister Donna Markham
President & CEO
Catholic Charities USA
Michael Brown
CEO & Co-Founder
City Year
Sylvia Acevedo
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of the USA
Judy Vredenburgh*
President & CEO
Girls Inc.
Jim Gibbons*
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
Jerry Silverman
President & CEO
The Jewish Federations of North America
Paul Gionfriddo
President & CEO
Mental Health America
James Firman*
President & CEO
National Council on Aging
Commissioner David Hudson
National Commander
The Salvation Army
Brian Gallagher*
President & CEO
United Way Worldwide
Mike King
President
Volunteers of America
Kevin Washington
President & CEO
YMCA of the USA
Alejandra Castillo
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA USA
*Executive Committee Member
Letter of Support for The Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act, H.R. 5771
The Honorable Christopher H. Smith
U.S. House of Representatives
2372 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Henry Cuellar
U.S. House of Representatives
2209 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
July 2018
Dear Congressmen Smith and Cuellar:
Leadership 18 thanks you for your commitment to encourage and empower Americans to support their communities through charitable giving. We support your efforts to preserve and expand charitable giving, and applaud introduction of The Charitable Giving Tax Deduction Act, H.R. 5771.
Not only is a universal charitable deduction a more fair and inclusive approach than current law, research has consistently shown that people give more when the tax code supports giving. Furthermore, a recent poll by Independent Sector reveals that 35 percent of voters who filed itemized returns last year say they will stop giving or give less in 2018 and 72 percent predict that people in their community will give less to charity this year.
Leadership 18 is an alliance of CEOs responsible for leading some of the country’s largest and most well-respected charities, non-profits and faith-based organizations. As a group, member organizations serve over 87 million people annually, with 5.6 million staff and volunteers, and represent $44 billion in total revenue. We are a community of leaders who share a profound commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant America, and with opportunity and effort, can live their lives to their fullest potential.
Leadership 18 offers our support and is willing to work with you and other members of Congress to enact a universal charitable deduction that maximizes charitable giving. America is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to give, to get involved, and to strengthen their communities.
Sincerely,
Signers:
Susan Dreyfus*
President & CEO
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Gary Reedy
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Gail McGovern*
President & CEO
American Red Cross
Michael Surbaugh
Chief Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America
Jim Clark
President & CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Sister Donna Markham
President & CEO
Catholic Charities USA
Michael Brown
CEO & Co-Founder
City Year
Sylvia Acevedo
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of the USA
Judy Vredenburgh*
President & CEO
Girls Inc.
Jim Gibbons*
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
Jerry Silverman
President & CEO
The Jewish Federations of North America
Paul Gionfriddo
President & CEO
Mental Health America
James Firman*
President & CEO
National Council on Aging
Commissioner David Hudson
National Commander
The Salvation Army
Brian Gallagher*
President & CEO
United Way Worldwide
Mike King
President
Volunteers of America
Kevin Washington
President & CEO
YMCA of the USA
Alejandra Castillo
Chief Executive Officer
YWCA USA
*Executive Committee Member
The Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2017
Several Leadership 18 members were recognized as part of the Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2017.
Statement in Support of Charitable Giving in America
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF CHARITABLE GIVING IN AMERICA
July 2017
For 100 years, our tax code has been a powerful tool to encourage and empower Americans to support their communities through charitable giving. Tax reform provides a unique opportunity to explore policies that could increase charitable investment in local communities. The charitable deduction has been included in current tax reform proposals, but efforts to increase the standard deduction and lower rates would actually reduce levels of charitable giving.
A recent study by Independent Sector and Indiana University indicates that current tax reform proposals would reduce charitable giving by up to $13 billion per year by doubling the standard deduction and reducing the top rate to 35%. This amount is roughly equivalent to the charitable donations of the six largest charities in the United States: Feeding America, TaskForce for Global Health, Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, United Way Worldwide, and YMCA of the USA.
We need to enact policies that encourage charitable giving, not curtail it. Taxpayers who receive a deduction for their contributions give more to charities than those that do not receive a deduction regardless of their income level. An above-the-line, or universal, charitable deduction would expand the deduction to all taxpayers and exclude all charitable gifts from taxation.
We recognize Congress’ desire to simplify our tax code and make it more competitive; at the same time, we encourage Congress to preserve and expand charitable giving in our country.
About Leadership 18
Leadership 18 is an alliance of CEOs responsible for leading some of the country’s largest and most well respected charities, non-profits and faith-based organizations. As a group, member organizations serve over 87 million people annually, with 5.6 million staff and volunteers, and represent $44 billion in total revenue. We are a community of leaders who share a profound commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant America, and with opportunity and effort, can live their lives to their fullest potential.
Signers:
Susan Dreyfus*
President & CEO
Alliance for Strong Families and Communities
Gary Reedy
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Nancy Brown
Chief Executive Officer
American Heart Association
Gail McGovern*
President & CEO
American Red Cross
Michael Surbaugh
Chief Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America
Jim Clark
President & CEO
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Sister Donna Markham
President & CEO
Catholic Charities USA
Sylvia Acevedo
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of the USA
Judy Vredenburgh*
President & CEO
Girls Incorporated
Jim Gibbons*
President & CEO
Goodwill Industries International, Inc.
Jonathan Reckford
Chief Executive Officer
Habitat for Humanity International
Jerry Silverman
President & CEO
The Jewish Federations of North America
Paul Gionfriddo
President & CEO
Mental Health America
Jim Firman*
President & CEO
National Council on Aging
Brian Gallagher*
President & CEO
United Way Worldwide
Michael W. King
President & CEO
Volunteers of America
Kevin Washington
President & CEO
YMCA of the USA
Casey Harden
Interim Chief Executive Officer
YWCA USA
*Executive Committee Member
Leadership 18 CEOs Speak Out In Support of Expanding the Charitable Tax Deduction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 18, 2017
Contact: Jennifer Devlin, 703-876-1714, jennifer.devlin@cox.net
Leadership 18 CEOs Speak Out In Support of Expanding the Charitable Tax Deduction
New research finds expanding the charitable deduction to 100 percent of taxpayers would result in an estimated $4.8 billion increase in donations to charitable organizations
(WASHINGTON, May 18, 2017) – Leadership 18, a coalition of some of the nation’s largest and most influential human service non-profits, announced today its support for efforts to expand the charitable tax deduction to all taxpayers, not just those who itemize. The effort was announced in response to new research commissioned by Independent Sector with funding from Leadership 18. Conducted by the Indiana University (IU) Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, the study shows that current tax reform proposals by Republican lawmakers and the Administration would decrease charitable giving by an estimated $13.1 billion.
“On the face of it, the tax reform blueprint from the Administration and Republican lawmakers appears to preserve the charitable tax deduction, which is good news,” noted Susan Dreyfus, chairman of Leadership 18 and president and CEO of the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. “However, by doubling the standard deduction, fewer households will opt to itemize their taxes, thereby having the unintended consequence of reducing the incentive for charitable giving, according to this new research. Fortunately, this study also provides data that indicates that a simple fix that would not just preserve charitable giving but in fact encourage more charitable giving in our country. By making charitable giving a universal deduction available to all, including non-itemizers, the incentive to give will be preserved.”
“America is recognized around the world for our charitable spirit and ability to come together as a nation in times of need to solve social problems,” commented Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide president and CEO and standing vice chair of Leadership 18. “Americans will never stop giving, but we know that tax incentives are important to how much they give. And for the human service organizations that Leadership 18 represents, charitable giving represents a majority of our funding – funding which enables us to fill the gaps in social services for vulnerable families.”
The study found that when those proposals incorporated an expanded charitable deduction for all taxpayers, including people who do not currently itemize on their taxes, charitable giving actually increased by an estimated $4.8 billion.
Research has consistently shown that people do give more when they are incentivized to do so through the tax code. In 2015, Americans gave nearly $265 billion to charitable organizations, a record amount.
A 2017 poll conducted by Independent Sector found that 85 percent of American voters support protecting the charitable tax deduction and 75 percent support expanding the charitable deduction to all taxpayers.
“We took the position last year that expanding the charitable deduction to 100 percent of taxpayers would encourage all Americans to give more and ensure that more dollars were being put back into communities for local, effective solutions,” said Daniel J. Cardinali, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “We are encouraged that the research shows that expanding the deduction has the potential to more than offset the estimated loss in charitable dollars resulting from current reform proposals. Those charitable dollars improve lives and the natural world for all Americans.”
“When talking about changes in tax policy, it is important that the debate is informed by research. This study provides important information about the expected effects of the proposed tax policy changes and the extension of the charitable deduction to non-itemizers.” said Patrick M. Rooney, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Research at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.
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About Leadership 18
Collectively, the members of Leadership 18 serve 87 million people with more than 5.6 million staff and volunteers. All of our member organizations share a specific mission to improve human development through deep community relationships. Leadership 18 members include the following: Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Catholic Charities USA, City Year, Feeding America, Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, Goodwill Industries International, Inc., Habitat for Humanity, The Jewish Federations of North America, Lutheran Services in America, Mental Health America, National Council on Aging, The Salvation Army, United Way Worldwide, Volunteers of America, YMCA of the USA, and YWCA USA.
About Independent Sector
Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse set of nonprofits, foundations, and corporations to advance the common good. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Leadership 18 Values Statement
We are a community of leaders who share a profound commitment to ensuring all people have the opportunity to contribute to a vibrant America and with opportunity and effort can live their lives to their fullest potential. This commitment is rooted in beliefs and values that support and guide our work together. Leadership 18 comprises CEOs of 22 of the nation’s largest social sector organizations including charities, non-profits, and faith-based organizations. We represent organizations that serve over 87 million people annually, with 5.6 million staff and volunteers, and $44 billion in total revenue.
We believe that societal challenges can be solved when all people have access to the supports and resources we all need to live safe, healthy and productive lives—for example access to a quality and affordable education, to a job that produces sufficient income, and to quality healthcare. When these supports and resources are not in place in all communities, our nation loses valuable human capital and our opportunity for growth and advancement is limited. Ultimately, this has negative effects on the vibrancy and vitality of our communities and our nation as a whole.
As such, we stand together behind the following values:
- We need everyone’s potential for the civic, social, and economic well-being of our communities.We want ensure that everyone can fulfill their potential and contribute fully to our economy and our communities. To achieve this goal, we need supports like a strong education system and job training that contribute to people’s physical, social, and financial well-being. We know that our communities are stronger when everyone can realize their potential.
- We are better together.We believe strong, self-sustaining societies are inclusive. Society should empower all people and allow them to live free from hate or diminishment, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, faith, or status.
- Strong communities are our most valuable resources.We believe that community-driven visioning and problem-solving is a pre-requisite to long-term human success. When entire communities come together to support comprehensive solutions, all parts of society benefit and progress becomes self-sustaining.
- Innovative supports, programs and services benefit everyone. We believe that everyone in society needs strong supports around them. We must ensure that all people have access to the resources and supports they need as they strive to live to their fullest potential. We must have strong health and social supports and programs available to ensure everyone has the chance to succeed. When those things are in place, our whole country moves forward.
- Cross-sector partnerships effectively solve problems. As vital as the charitable and nonprofit social sector is, we cannot replace the essential role of government and our partnership. Therefore, we believe in a strong governmental commitment to support the well-being of all. We call on all our elected leaders and governmental policy makers to support the physical, mental, economic and social well-being of all US citizens and residents. When we fail to do this, people who are sick, disabled, poor or marginalized, or discriminated against based on race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity are most immediately affected. And the consequences of failing to act reverberate across our society.
These values drive our alliance’s agenda and focus, and we advocate for them through community partnerships, public policy initiatives and civic campaigns. With our collective experience and expertise, we will do all we can to strengthen individuals and communities, create opportunity and ensure that the voices of all members of society are respected and heard.
The Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2016
Several Leadership 18 members were recognized as part of the Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2016.
The Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2015
Several Leadership 18 members were recognized as part of the Non Profit Times Power & Influence Top 50 2015.