Government Matters Articles

GAO Issues Report on Exempt Organizations

The General Accounting Office has issued a report requested by the Senate Finance Committee that reviews oversight of charities and makes recommendations for improvement. Tax-Exempt Organizations: Improvements Possible in Public, IRS and State Oversight of Charities is available at Report GAO-02-526.

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NPTalk Spring 2002 Reader Survey Results

Results and observations from the NPTalk 2002 Reader online survey conducted between April 1 and May 1, 2002. We hope this summary will prove useful to other groups as they conduct their own member/reader/user surveys. Before we share the findings from our first-ever reader survey, we wanted to share a few notes and observations:
  • We received about a 7% response rate out of roughly 900 subscribers. Our average subscriber base throughout the year is about 1100. We currently do not actively advertise the list, so folks who find us generally do so through word of mouth.

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Research on Nonprofit Advocacy Released

Preliminary findings of a multi-year study of nonprofit charitable organizations' public policy participation indicate strong recognition by nonprofit leaders of the importance of public policy participation as it relates to serving their mission and community. However, a number of key barriers stand in the way of unleashing nonprofits' civic potential. The Strengthening Nonprofit Advocacy Project (SNAP), which is a joint effort of OMB Watch, Tufts University and Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest, is the first national research effort designed to

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Stop Permanent Repeal of the Estate Tax

This alert provides background information on the estate tax and 5 action steps you can take to help prevent repeal of the estate tax. Read through the alert and then contact your Senators through this legislative link -- the talking points included in this alert are also available there to provide suggestions for your letter or call to your Senators.

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Agency Data Quality Guidelines Issued

In the last two weeks, most agencies covered by the Paperwork Reduction Act published proposed guidelines to implement the Data Quality Act, which was passed as a rider to an appropriations bill. The agency guidelines are to comport with guidelines developed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) earlier this year. The list of agency guidelines is available online. Most agencies provide until the end of May to submit comments on the guidelines.

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The Ever Expanding Superwaiver

A superwaiver provision is moving through the House that would bring a huge shift of power to the Executive Branch and states to override congressional authorizations and funding decisions for a variety of low-income programs.

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Survey for Nonprofits With Government Grants

Federal agencies are now working to streamline the federal grants process. We are conducting an online survey of nonprofits to provide input to the agencies on priorities. In 1999, Congress passed the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act, Public Law 106-107 initiating a process to create uniform grant applications and reports. (The law is the result of nonprofits advocating for this streamlining process and passed Congress unanimously.) Federal agencies are now working to implement the law, and a major focus of the program is E-Grants.

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PACs Get Extension for Filing IRS Reports

The IRS has extended the deadline for PACs to file their registration and disclosure reports to July 15.

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Rumors Swirl Around CARE Act

The faith-based initiative compromise bill introduced in the Senate by Sens. Joe Lieberman (C-CT) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) is expected to come before the Senate Finance Committee before Memorial Day, and rumors about substitute bills and amendments continue to circulate.

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No Alternatives for TOP and CTCs Available in FY 2003

On May 20, the federal Community Technology Centers (CTC) program is expected to release it's third grant notice, to help create and expand technology access within the context of educational opportunity and lifelong learning for the public in underserved and economically distressed urban and rural areas. This may, however, also be the last grant notice for the program.

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