ACTION ALERT: America Gives More Act (HR 4719)
Call 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.”
- Additional Talking points (on page 2)
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
- America Gives More Act of 2014 (H.R.4719)
- Joint letter from WVNPA and Philanthropy West Virginia
- Sample Letter to Senators
- More on the Enhanced Food Inventory Deduction from Feeding America
- More on the Conservation Easement Deduction from Land Trust Alliance
- More on the IRA Charitable Rollover from Independent Sector
- More on the April 15 Contribution Deadline from Sec. 1403 of the Camp Discussion Draft on tax reform (see pages 19-20)
- More on the Foundation Excise Tax Simplification from Sec. 5204 of the Camp Discussion Draft on tax reform (see page 161)
- Extenders letter to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden from Feeding America, Land Trust Alliance, and National Council of Nonprofits, March 31, 2014
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.