Talking Points for the 2025 Tax Discussion
Overview
Many provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) will expire at the end of 2025, prompting the need for Congress to pass legislation before the end of next year that extends, amends, or expands the TCJA, or some combination thereof. This guide supplements other Council resources that can help you schedule and structure a Hill meeting, as well as conduct follow-up afterward.
The tax discussions are an opportunity for philanthropy to share about your work with policymakers. Many of the policies that impact the operations of foundations and incentivize charitable giving are tax issues, meaning any tax package has the potential to affect the philanthropic infrastructure. Be sure to weave stories and data about your foundation’s impact on the specific member’s state or district into these talking points. Even better if you can tie it to issues they care about.
How to use this page
Use these resources as a guide when talking with congressional offices. Adapt and incorporate the talking points and legislative asks to fit your work and the community you serve.
After your meeting, reach out and let us know how it went. We can follow-up here in Washington, DC. with any additional resources or information. Plus, let us know what story you told: knowing those stories helps enrich our lobbying and advocacy work.
Key Messages for Policymakers
Tell Your Story: How is your foundation responding to urgent needs and/or investing to foster more vibrant communities?
Additional Key Messages
- Philanthropy is a partner in advancing the greater good: Spanning the ideological spectrum, the philanthropic sector both represents and supports communities across the country and around the world. We have the convening power to work across broad cross-sections of society, from business to education to government to international organizations to everyday Americans. Foundations work hard to maintain a delicate balance between advancing the greater good today and staying ready to help in a crisis tomorrow.
- Strengthen incentives to encourage more individuals, families, and organizations to make charitable contributions to support the causes and communities they care about: Throughout history, Americans’ generosity has shined as an example for the rest of the world. Philanthropic contributions support our communities in ways that mirror our values, playing a key role in promoting civic engagement. A policy environment that supports and grows charitable giving will lead to stronger, more vibrant communities.
- Ensure flexible giving tools, like donor-advised funds, can continue to meet community needs. Foundations and other grantmaking organizations champion an array of causes and organizations, and employ a variety of grantmaking strategies and tools, to further their charitable missions. Donor-advised funds and other giving tools allow donors of all financial means to expand their giving capacity over time while developing a charitable legacy. These funds also ensure there are stable charitable resources to support community needs not only during moments of economic strength, but also economic downturn.
- We want to be a resource for you. Foundations are on the ground, providing resources to charitable organizations and responding to community needs on a day-to-day basis. We have a deep understanding of not only our local geographies but also how to connect charitable dollars with the communities that need it. We are an information resource; please reach out to us for additional perspective on how policies you propose could impact our community.
Actions Policymakers can take to Support Philanthropy
- Co-sponsor the Charitable Act
