Public Policy

Members of the Philanthropy-Joining Forces Impact Pledge and the Veterans Philanthropy Exchange will gather for  learning and sharing. Any funders supporting veterans and military families are encouraged to join this learning exchange. This year’s meeting will provide a funders-only…

Join the Congressional Philanthropy Caucuses, staff, the Council on Foundations, and valued partners for a reception on Thursday, April 14 during Philanthropy Week in Washington 2016. This reception  will celebrate and lift up the critical role of philanthropy in communities and the importance…

News from the Hill This Week in Tax Reform... Yesterday, the Brookings Institute held an event entitled Tax Policy in 2016: What’s New and What’s Next. Council Vice President for Public Policy Hadar Susskind attended this event, where keynote addresses were given by Ways and Means Chairman Kevin…

  Download the Presentation Slides Attending Foundations on the Hill in April? Curious about how the fast-paced, animated, and often complex political environment can trickle down to influence your work? Wondering about whether tax reform will ever happen and, when it does, how these…

News from the Hill Congress was in recess this week, so updates from Capitol Hill have been relatively slow. However, much of the attention in Washington has turned toward the marble columns of the building across the street—the Supreme Court of the United States. This week, DC remembers Supreme…

On February 19, 2016, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service issued proposed regulations regarding the prohibition on certain contributions to Type I and Type III supporting organizations and the requirements for Type III supporting organizations.  The Council is helping to…

News from the Hill POTUS Sends FY 2017 Budget Proposal to Congress On Tuesday, President Obama released his Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Proposal. The $4.1 trillion Budget sets forth the Administration’s spending and policy priorities for the coming year, including several provisions that have…

The Council supports the President’s proposal to simplify the private foundation excise tax to a single flat rate. Together with our members, we have long argued that a single flat rate will simplify tax compliance, eliminate a substantial tax burden, and free up resources for increased community…

News from the Hill Ways & Means Working Toward Tax Reform Tax reform has been a hot topic among the House Ways and Means Committee this week. On Monday, the Committee met for a retreat to discuss priorities for 2016. Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX-8) spoke later that day at the Heritage Foundation…

Dear Readers: The predictions of the DC area being buried in snow that we noted in last week’s Snapshot turned out to be very accurate! Despite the federal government being closed on Monday and Tuesday, that didn’t stop some Washingtonians from enjoying a day on Capitol Hill… News from the…

The Council on Foundations has named Hadar Susskind its Vice President of Public Policy, a new position intended to advance the Council’s public policy work on behalf of its members. Hadar joins the Council’s nationally recognized Public Policy and Legal Affairs team led by Sue Santa. Hadar joins…

Dear Readers: Due to the predictions that many of us in the DC metro area are going to be buried in snow by the end of this week, we are sending Washington Snapshot to you a day early. For those of you who are also prepping for cold weather—stay warm! News from the Hill Upcoming Ways & Means…

News from the Hill POTUS Delivers his Final State of the Union Address In his final State of the Union address, President Obama spoke of his hope and vision for the future of the nation. Rather than listing specific policy plans, President Obama emphasized themes that harken back to the early…

  Download the Presentation Slides As foundation leaders, we know that philanthropy is a pillar of American society. While we may assume this is widely understood, that is often not the case. In light of the upcoming 2016 election and the impending changes in government leadership, it is…

Executive & Regulatory News Treasury, IRS Withdraw Proposed Rule for Gift Substantiation Yesterday, the Treasury Department and the IRS announced it has withdrawn the proposed rule that would have created an alternative way for charitable organizations to acknowledge and substantiate gifts…

April 11 - 15, 2016 Philanthropy Week in Washington provides the opportunity to highlight the role and power of philanthropy in our country and across the globe. During Philanthropy Week in Washington, we shine a spotlight on American philanthropy’s critical role as a unique stakeholder in…