Nonprofit news roundup for July 13, 2009

July 13, 2009

With nonprofits representing over half the 5,482 hospitals in the U.S. and not paying federal, state or local taxes, senators working on health-care legislation are considering provisions to trim the billions of dollars in tax breaks U.S. hospitals, enjoy, The Wall Street Journal reported July 10 (see hospital tax break story).

A survey by Barclays Wealth of 500 wealthy Britons and Americans found roughly three in four had not reduced their charitable giving, while more than one in four had increased their giving in the last 18 months, the Telegraph reported July 13 (see British charity story). With governments overburdened with debt, wealthy individuals believe it is more important than ever to give to charity, the report said.

A new survey finds one in five Christian nonprofits has increased its reliance on volunteers to offset the economic downturn, as well as freezing new hiring, reducing full-time staff, and reducing, eliminating or delaying outside counsel and consulting expenses, the Christian Post reported July 9 (see Christian volunteers story).

Sixty-four orchestras are getting one-time grants of $25,000 to $50,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts to save administrative and artistic jobs. summer concerts and education programs, the Associated Press reported July 10 (see orchestra stimulus grants story).

Private foundations, wealthy families' estates and the health-care industry have given $156 million since 2004 to the University of Louisville Foundation to fund a broad range of university research and studies, the Courier-Journal in Louisville reported July 12 (see university fundraising story). The newspaper has fought since 2001 to gain access to the list of people who have given money to the school through the foundation, which receives and manages donations made to the university.

With more people losing their jobs, charities across Canada are seeing fewer contributions of cash and second-hand items, and greater demand for services from out-of-work people, the Canadian Press reported July 12 (see Canadian charity story).

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