Issue
The charitable deduction is a tax provision which allows individuals to reduce their taxable income by the total amount of charitable contributions they made in that tax year (with some limitations, depending of the type of gift—i.e. cash, stocks, property—or the type of organization receiving the gift). As a result, taxpayers who claim the charitable deduction are generally not subject to federal income taxes on money they give to charity.
Council’s Policy Position
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. The Council urges Congress to foster a policy environment that supports and grows charitable giving by incentivizing taxpayers to give to the organizations and causes important to them.
Additional Resources
Council Summary: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Public Law: 115-97)
Council’s Analysis of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) (P.L. 115-97)
Council Summary: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020
A Note on Lobbying by Private Foundations on this Issue
The Council’s legal team has determined that private foundations may engage in lobbying communications with Members of Congress and their staff on the universal charitable deduction.
While private foundations are generally prohibited from conducting direct or grassroots lobbying activity, the “self-defense” exception to that rule, found in the Treasury Regulations at §53.4945-2(d)(3), allows a private foundation to communicate with a legislative body regarding legislation that affects the “existence of the private foundation, its powers and duties, its tax-exempt status or the deductibility of contributions to such foundation” (emphasis added). Legislation that would change the structure of the charitable deduction, making it available to all taxpayers, would likely affect the deductibility of contributions to private foundations as well as other charitable organizations, and would therefore fall under this exception.
If provisions affecting the charitable deduction (such as enacting a universal deduction) are included as part of a more comprehensive tax reform bill, the conservative approach for private foundations would be to limit direct lobbying communications to those portions of the bill which address the charitable deduction and any other provisions that affect the existence of the private foundation, its tax-exempt status or the powers or duties of the private foundation. However, understanding the practical problems this may present, the Council has previously taken the position that private foundations may advocate for the passage of a bill that includes one or more provisions that would qualify for the self-defense exception, even if other portions of the bill do not. For example, when simplification of the private foundation excise tax is included in a bill with other provisions that may not directly affect the existence, powers or duties of a private foundation, it is the Council’s position that the private foundation may still contact legislators urging support for the bill.
It is important to note that the self-defense exception is not available for activities that would constitute grassroots lobbying—such as encouraging grantees or others to contact their legislators.
Finally, the Council respects its members’ own determinations regarding legal issues, and individual policies or practices related to lobbying activity. We encourage members to consult with their own legal counsel regarding any questions.
More on Charitable Deduction: Private Foundation Lobbying Activity and the Self-Defense Exception
