Parts of the Tax Reform Bills Could be Dire for Nonprofits

December 6, 2017 – The tax reform bills recently voted on by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have the potential to do great harm to the Connecticut Audubon Society’s conservation work. And to the great work other nonprofits do as well.

Please contact your elected officials in Washington about it.

Here’s why:

1) The bills will effectively eliminate 95% of itemized deductions for charitable contributions.

That means 95% of taxpayers would receive no tax incentive for donating to the work of charitable nonprofits, according to the NonProfit Quarterly publication.

One third of the money donated to Connecticut Audubon to fund our conservation work comes through charitable gifts. Our concern is that if our donors lose the tax incentive for donating, they will reduce their donations significantly.

A reduction of that size would have a devastating affect on our conservation work.

Nationwide, the estimate is that charitable giving could plummet by $13 billion.

2) Section 5201 of the House bill repeals the long-standing ban on partisan activity by nonprofits.

That would allow political operatives to pressure community nonprofits to endorse or oppose candidates for public office. Powerful donors could exert pressure by giving or threatening to withhold charitable contributions in exchange for endorsement or opposition to candidates the donors’ prefer.

Connecticut Audubon strongly opposes both.

The Senate and the House are working on a bill that reconciles the differences in their two bills, so there is still time to improve them.

Contact your Representative and Senators. Tell them:

Please retain itemized deductions for charitable contributions to non-profits.
Please do not repeal the ban on partisan activity by nonprofit organizations.

Contact both of Connecticut’s U.S. Senators:

Senator Blumenthal
(202) 224-2823 or (860) 258-6940

Or via his website:
https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/contact/ (choose “taxes” under the topic and a form will pop up into which you can put your message and contact info).

Senator Murphy
(202) 224-4041 or (860) 549-8463

Or via his website:
https://www.murphy.senate.gov/contact (instructions as above).

Find your House member here:

John B. Larson
D.C. (202) 225-2265.
Hartford (860) 278-8888
https://larson.house.gov/contact/email

Joe Courtney
D.C. (202) 225-2076.
Norwich (860) 886-0139.
Enfield (860) 741-6011 https://courtney.house.gov/contact

Rose DeLauro
D.C. (202) 225-3661.
New Haven (203) 562-3718
https://delauro.house.gov/contact/email

Jim Himes
D.C. (202)225-5541.
Bridgeport (203) 333-6600 or (866) 453-0028.
Stamford (203) 353-9400
https://himes.house.gov/contact/email

Elizabeth Esty
D.C. (202) 225-4476.
New Britain (860) 223-8412.
https://esty.house.gov/contact/email

Thank you! We also thank the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance for its leadership on this issue.