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