Policy Update

Year in Review: Nonprofit Issues (OMB Watcher)

12/13/2005

Source: OMB Watcher

Nonprofit Issues

A Year of Attacks on Advocacy, Flawed Anti-Terrorism Measures
According to a survey of Louisiana residents released last month by Louisiana State University, faith-based organizations and nonprofits got higher marks than government for their hurricane recovery efforts. While not surprising given the abysmal government response, the findings raise larger questions about the role of the federal government in providing resources to the nonprofit sector.

Nonprofits face major long-term budget challenges at the federal level that will continue to make it more difficult to serve the people and missions they exist to serve. More >>

Treasury Seeks Comments on Revised Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines for Charities
On Dec. 5 the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a revised version of its November 2002 Anti-Terrorist Financing Guidelines: Voluntary Best Practices for U.S.-Based Charities. The Treasury Department announcement requested public comment on the revisions by Feb. 1, but stated the revised guidelines are now operational.

The 2005 version not only does not incorporate the Principles of International Charity, a proposed alternative to the earlier guidelines developed by a working group of nonprofit organizations and released in late 2004, but moves in the wrong direction by adding new and onerous requirements on nonprofits. More >>

Nonprofits Urged to Comment on Proposed IRS Exemption from Privacy Act
The Internal Revenue Service is proposing a new Privacy Act system of records exempt from release for Tax Exempt and Government Entities (TE/GE) case management, which could have implications for audited 501(c)(3) organizations. More >>