Serving Nonprofits. Strengthening West Virginia.

ACTION ALERT: America Gives More Act (HR 4719)

By on August 15, 2014 in Advocacy & Policy

us-capitalCall to Action

THANK YOU to everyone who advocated for passage of the America Gives More Act (HR 4719) in the U.S. House earlier in July.  Now our work moves on to getting the legislation onto the U.S. Senate Floor and advocating for our U.S. Senators Rockefeller and Manchin to vote for passage of the legislation.

What the America Gives More Act does:

  • Allows donations made through April 15 to be eligible for deductions on the prior calendar year’s taxes – which can create an additional “giving season” for nonprofits around tax time, in addition to the holiday season;
  • Makes permanent the ability of individuals age 70½ and older to donate directly from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) to nonprofits;
  • Makes permanent and enhances incentives to donate nutritious food to food banks;
  • Makes permanent the incentive for donating conservation easements; and
  • Streamlines the excise tax for foundation investment income.

In other words, there’s a lot to like about this law, which the House already passed, with strong bipartisan support.

U.S. Senators are scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., for only 15 working days in September before leaving again to campaign for re-election. This small window of opportunity for enacting permanent charitable giving tax incentives may be lost after the elections are over and 113th Congress adjourns.

Philanthropy WV, the West Virginia Nonprofit Association, and our national partner organizations have been working for many years now to get this legislation to become permanent.  WE need to ensure this bill becomes law.

But we DON’T have much time and your help is needed NOW more than ever.

Voice your Support

Senators Rockefeller and Manchin need to hear from their constituents about the importance of this bill to nonprofits and foundations. Here is a simple message you can deliver via phone, by email or on social media.

Subject: Support America Gives More Act – H.R. 4719

“Senator, don’t leave Washington in September until the Senate passes the America Gives More Act (H.R.4719); our communities are counting on you.”

“This important bill will help nonprofits and foundations like [insert your nonprofit or foundation name] better provide meaningful resources for our community and the citizens of West Virginia. Thank you for your support of West Virginia citizens, communities, and philanthropy.”

Contacting your U.S. Senators

By Phone or by Email

You can simply call or email the offices of Senator Rockefeller and Manchin at the live links below. Be sure to reference the bill number, H.R. 4719 in your conversation or message.

Office: Legislative Director: Phone: Email:
Senator Jay Rockefeller Mark Libell 202-224-6472 mark_libell@rockefeller.senate.gov
Senator Joe Manchin, III Pat Hayes 202-224-3954 patrick_hayes@manchin.senate.gov

 

Additional Resources

Thanks to our colleagues at PolicyWorks of the Forum of Regional Associations, the Council on Foundations, the National Council of Nonprofits, and the Independent Sector for sharing this critical information.

 

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