On Giving Tuesday, Congressman Mark Walker (R-NC) re-introduced the Universal Charitable Giving Act. The Center issued the following statement of support for this bill.
The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits strongly supports the Universal Charitable Giving Act and applauds Congressman Mark Walker for reintroducing this important legislation.
Nonprofits use private charitable contributions to provide essential services such as food, education, health care, spiritual development, job training, youth programs, arts and culture, child care, services for seniors, affordable housing, and assistance for victims of domestic violence. Recent studies such as the annual Giving USA survey indicate that charitable giving declined in 2018, particularly among middle-class Americans. When the NC Center for Nonprofits asked North Carolina nonprofits about giving patterns earlier this year, nearly a third said that they expect a further drop in individual giving this year.
At a time when 56% of North Carolina nonprofits are unable to meet basic needs, any decline in charitable giving takes away from nonprofits’ ability to serve communities and increases the number of North Carolinians relying on government services. This costs taxpayers money and diverts public funds from other pressing needs.
By encouraging all Americans to give more generously to support the work of charitable nonprofits, the Universal Charitable Giving Act would strengthen nonprofits’ capacity to provide essential services in communities across North Carolina.
For more information: David Heinen, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy, N.C. Center for Nonprofits, 919-790-1555, ext. 111 or dheinen@ncnonprofits.org.