Help Us Protect Your Charitable Tax Deductions

Next week, leadership from Goodwill Industries International will join over 130 other nonprofits in meetings with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill as part of the Charitable Giving Coalition. The Charitable Giving Coalition represents a broad cross-section of nonprofit organizations across the country. The services provided by these organizations and their local members including Goodwill, are vital to our economy and society. As Congress considers comprehensive tax reform, we’re asking that lawmakers preserve and protect the full scope and value of the charitable tax deduction.
While focusing on a number of priorities including job creation, American competitiveness, and spurring our economy, we need to enact policies that encourage charitable giving, not curtail it. The services provided by charitable giving create positive ripple effects for families and communities. For example, in 2015 local Goodwill organizations connected 312,000 people with employment in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, local Goodwill organizations provided career and financial services to more than 37 million people, including 2 million people who engaged face-to-face with Goodwill team members to make their lives better along with 35 million people who used Goodwill mobile and online learning to improve their skills or access virtual coaching and counseling services. When people receive a job or become more competitive by improving their skills they are likely to earn more, help provide security to their families, and be more engaged in their community.
2017 marks the 100^th anniversary of the charitable deduction. The charitable deduction is different than other itemized deductions in that it encourages individuals to give away a portion of their income to those in need. A calculation of the deduction suggests that those in need receive $2.50 in benefit for every $1 of tax benefit going to the donor. This rate of return suggests that tax policy should encourage all Americans, regardless of income, to make charitable gifts.
Follow us on @GoodwillCapHill and join our Legislative Action Center for more information on how you can help nonprofits in your community by supporting our efforts to connect with lawmakers.