Urban Institute: Nonprofits

Sarah Rosen Wartell, Think Tank Executive and Housing Finance Expert, to be the Urban Institute's Third President

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Sarah Rosen Wartell, a public policy executive and housing markets expert who co-founded the Center for American Progress (CAP) and serves as its executive vice president, will become the third president of the Urban Institute at the end of February.

Composition of Tax-Deductible Charitable Contributions

paffairs@urban.org ( Joseph Rosenberg ) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Taxpayers who elect to itemize can claim a deduction against federal income tax liability for contributions made to registered charitable organizations. While cash gifts still account for the vast majority of charitable donations reported on tax returns, gifts of noncash property have grown as a share of total contributions. Gifts of corporate stock, mutual funds, and other investments account for the largest share of noncash donations and are almost exclusively reported by high-income taxpayers.

Tough Times, Creative Measures: What Will it Take to Help the Social Sector Embrace an Outcomes Culture?

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Venture Philanthropy Partners ) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Sparked by the publication of Leap of Reason by Mario Morino, this symposium convened a select group of twenty leaders from government, nonprofits, philanthropy, and business to discuss a challenge that has limited the collective impact of the social sector: the lack of encouragement and support in the nonprofit community for disciplined, data-driven management. The symposium explored barriers to and opportunities for making performance management more common in the social sector. Participants discussed possible solutions that would advance performance management, including the Outcome and Effective Practices Portal (now called PerformWell), an online resource for nonprofits seeking assistance with identifying indicators and tools to measure their outcomes.

Late Fall 2011 Nonprofit Fundraising Study

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Additional Authors ) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofits report being "cut to the bone" in their budgets and fundraising results have not improved over the past year. Nonprofit organizations, particularly smaller entities, are struggling to secure funding for the vital services they provide in their communities. The Late Fall 2011 Nonprofit Fundraising Study examines fundraising results and their implications for organizational operations, and alerts managers and donors alike to consider the priorities facing the nonprofit sector in 2012 and beyond. The survey represents a unique collaboration by the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics with Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Giving USA Foundation, Blackbaud, and GuideStar.

The Property Tax Exemption for Nonprofits and Revenue Implications for Cities

paffairs@urban.org ( Daphne A. Kenyon, Adam H. Langley ) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The charitable property tax exemption can have significant revenue implications for municipalities with large nonprofit sectors and heavy reliance on the property tax. Interest in policies to offset these revenue implications has grown because of the growth of the nonprofit sector in recent decades and the fiscal crisis currently facing many local governments. This policy brief discusses some of these policies, including nonprofit payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTs), municipal service fees, heavier reliance on user fees and special assessments, in-kind contributions from nonprofits, state aid to municipalities hosting tax-exempt nonprofits, and local control over the charitable property tax exemption.

Are You Ready for the Charity Challenge?

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

More than 1.4 million nonprofit organizations were registered with the Internal Revenue Service in 2009, 19 percent above 1999. How much do you know about the nonprofit sector?

What's Been Happening to Charitable Giving Recently? A Look at the Data.

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

This brief attempts to access the trends in charitable giving and how the current economic turmoil has affected the nonprofit sector - the main topic of an August 2011 roundtable hosted by the Tax Policy and Charities project at the Urban Institute. Twenty-five experts on tax policy and the nonprofit sector convened to discuss past trends in giving, the charitable sector's current situation, and the possible effects of proposals to modify the charitable deduction.

The Nonprofit Sector in Brief: Public Charities, Giving and Volunteering, 2011

paffairs@urban.org ( Katie L. Roeger, Amy Blackwood, Sarah L. Pettijohn ) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

This brief highlights trends from the eighth edition of The Nonprofit Almanac 2011, prepared by the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute. We highlight the growth in the number and finances of 501(c)(3) public charities, as well as key findings on private charitable contributions and volunteering.

The Tax Treatment of Charities & Major Budget Reform : Testimony Before the Committee on Finance United States Senate

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

Eugene Steuerle testifies before the Senate Finance Committee on "Tax Reform Options: Incentives for Charitable Giving," presenting options on how to increase tax revenues with minimal impact or perhaps even an increase in charitable giving. Among other recommendations, he suggests a floor under charitable giving, improved compliance measures, greater restrictions on non-cash gifts, a better system of information reporting, allowing taxpayers to immediately deduct contributions they make while filing their tax returns, extending the deduction to taxpayers who don't itemize, raising the ceiling on allowed charitable giving for some types of gifts, and reforming the foundation excise tax.

The Nonprofit Research Collaborative: Survey on current charitable organizational practices around fundraising

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Additional Authors ) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

As the fourth quarter of 2011 beginstypically the most important time of year for fundraisingfewer than half of surveyed nonprofits reported fundraising increases during the first half of 2011 compared with the same period in 2010. This report from the Nonprofit Research Collaborative fundraising survey discussing changes in giving in the first half of 2011, fundraising methods, investments in fundraising, and campaigns. The survey represents a unique collaboration by the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics with Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Foundation Center, Giving USA Foundation, Blackbaud, and GuideStar.

A Better Measure of Fundraising Success

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Association of Funding Professionals ) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute and the Association of Fundraising Professionals established the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) to conduct research on fundraising effectiveness (maximizing growth), and help nonprofit organizations increase their fundraising results. The basic FEP concept is that overall growth in giving from one year to the next is the net of gains minus losses, and can be increased most effectively by reducing losses. Piloted in November 2006, FEP collects and publishes annual fundraising data from nonprofit organizations enabling them to measure and compare their fundraising gains and losses to those of similar organizations. This article describes Growth-in-Giving (GiG) reportsa simple, reader-friendly format that provides a picture of fundraising gains and losses. The article illustrates scenarios that support growth-oriented fundraising strategies

2011 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Association of Funding Professionals ) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute and the Association of Fundraising Professionals established the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) to conduct research on fundraising effectiveness and help nonprofit organizations increase their fundraising results.Piloted in November 2006, FEP collects fundraising data from nonprofit organizations beginning with data for 2004-2005. The Fundraising Effectiveness Survey enables participating groups to measure and compare their fundraising gain and loss ratios to those of similar organizations. This report incorporates data from the 2,377 responses with 2009-2010 results received as of February, 2011 and covers year-to-year fundraising results for 2010.

2010 Fundraising Effectiveness Survey Report

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Association of Funding Professionals ) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy at the Urban Institute and the Association of Fundraising Professionals established the Fundraising Effectiveness Project (FEP) to conduct research on fundraising effectiveness and help nonprofit organizations increase their fundraising results.Piloted in November 2006, FEP collects fundraising data from nonprofit organizations beginning with data for 2004-2005. The Fundraising Effectiveness Survey enables participating groups to measure and compare their fundraising gain and loss ratios to those of similar organizations. This report incorporates data from the 1,982 responses with 2008-2009 results received as of February, 2010 and covers year-to-year fundraising results for 2009.

Revoked: A Snapshot of Organizations that Lost their Tax-Exempt Status

paffairs@urban.org ( Amy Blackwood, Katie L. Roeger ) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

More than 275,000 organizations have lost their tax-exempt status for failing to file a return with the IRS for three consecutive years. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 required most tax-exempt organizations to file a return with the IRS and called for automatic revocation for nonprofits that failed to file a return for three consecutive years. The majority of organizations are believed to be defunct, but the IRS announced special steps to help existing nonprofits reapply for tax-exemption. This brief provides a snapshot of the nonprofits that have lost their tax exempt status and examines these organizations by type, age and location.

Head Start and the Changing Demographics of Today's Young Children

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden ) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

The increasing diversity of America's young children has important implications for Head Start and Early Head Start programs. This paper summarizes recent changes in the racial and ethnic composition of young children, particularly increases in Hispanic and Asian children, as well as shifts in where young children live, with some northeastern and Midwestern states losing children while southern and southwestern states are rapidly gaining. Based on these trends and recent Urban Institute research, the paper makes four recommendations about how local Head Start practitioners can best meet the needs of today's young children and their families.

Robert Reischauer Stepping Down as President of the Urban Institute

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

After serving more than eleven years as president of the Urban Institute, Dr. Robert D. Reischauer will be stepping down at the end of 2011, the Institute's board chairman Joel Fleishman announced today.

The 2010 Nonprofit Fundraising Survey: Funds Raised in 2010 Compared with 2009

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Additional Authors ) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Two-thirds of surveyed charities report contributions held steady or improved in 2010.Nonprofits that invested in fundraising staff or resources were more likely to see increases.The winter report from the Nonprofit Research Collaborative discusses fundraising in 2010 by size of organization, type of charity, tactics or fundraising vehicle used, and share of contributions received from different donor types (individuals, foundations, corporations, bequests, and other charities). The survey represents a unique collaboration by the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics with GuideStar, Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Foundation Center, and Blackbaud.

Nonprofit-Government Contracting in the Nation's Capital: Challenges and Opportunities

paffairs@urban.org ( Erwin de Leon ) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Findings from the Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropys National Survey of Nonprofit-Government Contracting and Grants show that a majority of human service organizations in Washington, D.C. are struggling due in part to challenges posed by working with the government in providing programs and services to District residents. At a forum of nonprofit leaders and government representatives, participants confirmed the studys findings, shed light on issues unique to the city, and proposed initial recommendations to address some contracting challenges.

Challenges and Policy Options for Creating and Preserving Affordable Housing near Transit and in Other Location-Efficient Areas

paffairs@urban.org ( Rick Haughey, Ryan Sherriff ) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

One goal of the new Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities is the promotion of affordable housing near transit. This report synthesizes discussions with practitioners and experts about the challenges of addressing this goal. These focus areas include developing inclusive, sustainable communities, ensuring long-term affordability, serving low-income residents, and promoting affordable housing in the broader neighborhood.

Connecting Residents of Subsidized Housing with Mainstream Supportive Services: Challenges and Recommendations

paffairs@urban.org ( Rebecca Cohen ) — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

This report outlines a series of non-statutory policy options that HUD could adopt to improve access to mainstream supportive services by residents of subsidized housing. These policy options respond to commonly reported challenges, including lack of onsite specialized capacity, limited and unreliable funding, and constraints on the use of common space to deliver services.In addition to policy recommendations, this report identifies four critical pathways to improving access: promoting co-location and coordination among housing and service providers, enabling housing providers to use existing funding more effectively, supporting access to service coordinators, and developing and initiating a forward-looking research agenda.

What Opportunities do Michael Vick, David Robinson, and Ted Leonsis Have in Common?

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 00:00:00 EST

Footballer Michael Vick, baseballer Alex Rodriguez, and golfer Tiger Woods have been highlighted in broadcasts lately, having come back to their games after losing "hero" status by harming their families, friends, teams, fans, and sports. Perhaps the greatest cost of their prior actions was movingly stated by Frank Deford, when he asked if young fans today had anyone to look up to.

The Nonprofit Research Collaborative: November 2010 Fundraising Survey

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute, Additional Authors ) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Nonprofit Fundraising Survey reports on the fundraising results of more than 2,500 nonprofit organizations in 2010. Overall, 35 percent of charities reported an increase in private contributions for the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Thirty-seven percent reported a decline. The major factors cited for the decline included fewer individuals giving, and smaller amounts for the typical gift. The survey represents a unique collaboration by the Urban Institute's National Center for Charitable Statistics with GuideStar, Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Foundation Center, and Blackbaud.

From Awareness to Action: A Case Study of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption's Philanthropic Strategy

paffairs@urban.org ( Francie Ostrower ) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption was created in 1992 to increase adoptions from foster care in North America. A decade later, the Foundation concluded that it needed to change its philanthropic approach to achieve that goal. In response, the Foundation launched the Wendy's Wonderful Kids initiative, in partnership with Wendy's, to implement and evaluate an alternative method to finding families for hard-to-place children. This case study examines the Foundation's philanthropic strategy to enhancing its effectiveness, identifies lessons that may help other foundations, and draws implications for the respective roles of private and public initiative in addressing major social issues.

Rising Foreclosures Overwhelm Washington, D.C. Area Counseling Organizations; : Results from a survey of housing counseling and legal service organizations.

paffairs@urban.org ( Leah Hendey ) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

This report discusses the results from surveys of housing counseling and legal service organizations and interviews with social service organizations in the Washington D.C. area. These organizations are working hard to help households in the region cope with the foreclosure crisis. Current counseling capacity is only sufficient to assist a small proportion of households who are behind on their mortgage payments or in foreclosure. In order to fully meet the needs of troubled homeowners and renters, funding for foreclosure prevention counseling needs to be increased and diversified. Improving relationships with servicers is essential to achieving better outcomes for counseled homeowners.

National Study of Nonprofit-Government Contracting: State Profiles

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

This compilation of state profiles from the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit-Government Contracting and Grants, provides national and state-by-state snapshots of human service organizations that have contracts and grants with local, state and federal governments. The individual state profiles are designed to document the extent of nonprofit-government contracting, processes and problems. They also examine the impact of the recession on these organizations and the cutbacks they have made to keep their programs operating. States are also ranked according to number of grants, types of issues, and actions taken by human service nonprofits to address the challenges they face.

Human Service Nonprofits and Government Collaboration: Findings from the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit Government Contracting and Grants

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

This report explores the results of the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit-Government Contracting and Grants, a study of human service organizations designed to document the extent of nonprofit-government contracting, processes and problems. It also examines the impact of the recession on these organizations and the cutbacks they have made to keep their programs operating. While contracting problems are not new, many are exacerbated by the deep recession that has reduced government budgets and private contributions. Nearly 33,000 human service nonprofits have government contracts and grants, and 9,000 organizations with expenditures over 100,000 were surveyed for this study.

Contracts and Grants between Human Service Nonprofits and Governments

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

This brief summarizes results of the 2010 National Survey of Nonprofit-Government Contracting and Grants, a study of human service organizations designed to document the extent of nonprofit-government contracting, processes and problems. It also examines the impact of the recession on these organizations and the cutbacks they have made to keep their programs operating. While contracting problems are not new, many are exacerbated by the deep recession that has reduced government budgets and private contributions. Nearly 33,000 human service nonprofits have government contracts and grants, and 9,000 organizations with expenditures over 100,000 were surveyed for this study.

Hammered by the Recession, Most Human Service Nonprofits Say They're Having Major Problems with Government Contracts

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:00:00 EST

Wracked by the anemic economy, human service nonprofits helping families and communities weather the recession report "serious and widespread" problems with their government contracts and grants, a new Urban Institute study concludes. These problems include government payments that do not cover the full cost of services, complex and time-consuming applications and reporting requirements, and governments changing the terms of existing agreements and paying contracts late.

D.C. Out-of-School Time Programs Tackle Outcome Measures

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

Funders and nonprofit leaders are increasingly looking for information that demonstrates the achievements of community-based programs. In this results-oriented environment, the Urban Institute, The Center for What Works, and the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation worked together to create a pilot program that developed and tested a series of outcome measures for out-of-school time (OST) programs. This brief describes the process followed and the results achieved. The pilot demonstrated that OST providers are eager to learn how to better manage their programs, keep young people engaged, and demonstrate their accomplishments. The challenge is to expand this work to all OST programs in the District and beyond.

The Nonprofit Sector in Brief: Public Charities, Giving and Volunteering, 2010

paffairs@urban.org ( Kennard Wing, Katie L. Roeger, Thomas H. Pollak ) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

This brief highlights trends in the number and finances of 501(c)(3) public charities as well as key findings on private charitable contributions and volunteering, two vital resources to the nonprofit sector. It includes the most recent data available.

Small Nonprofit Organizations: A Profile of Form 990-N Filers

paffairs@urban.org ( Katie L. Roeger ) — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

In an effort to keep better track of nonprofit organizations, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 mandated that the more than 714,000 nonprofits with gross receipts less than $25,000 needed to file the new Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard. This new form requests basic information such as an organization's address, officer name, and website and is the first data to ever be collected on the smallest nonprofit organizations.

This brief provides an overview of the new 990-N filing requirement, profiles the organizations filing the 990-N, compares 990-N filers to larger filers, and provides a brief look at small nonprofits reporting terminations on Form 990-N.

Assessing the Train-the-Trainer Model: An Evaluation of the Data & Democracy II Project

Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

This report concludes a comprehensive evaluation of The Data & Democracy II project, a program funded by The California Endowment and implemented by UCLA. These organizations sought to increase the capacity of local community-based organizations (CBOs) to collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify and prioritize areas for action. The program was structured after the Train-the-Trainer model, in which a group from local CBOs is trained in these skills and required to disseminate the information by conducting workshops in their own communities. We examine the program's effectiveness, long-term impacts, and challenges through observations, surveys and case studies.

Charitable Giving Patterns of the Wealthy

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

This 1987 study still provides some of the most comprehensive data on charitable giving by the wealthy. Giving by top wealthholders at death tends to be much larger than annual giving during life, wealth has only a limited effect on lifetime giving, and giving is more correlated with realized than with economic income. The last conclusion implies that tax incentives to avoid realizing income tend to reduce giving. Also, that top wealthholders often forego available tax saving demonstrates both a lack of planning and the extent to which they gain psychic benefits from wealthholding itself.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: A Look at Organizations that May Have Their Tax-Exempt Status Revoked

paffairs@urban.org ( Amy Blackwood, Katie L. Roeger ) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

In an effort to keep better track of nonprofit organizations, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 mandated that the more than 714,000 organizations with gross receipts less than $25,000 needed to file the new Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard. Any organization that fails to file for three consecutive years will have their tax-exempt status revoked. The three year window closed for most organizations on May 17, 2010 and over 292,000 organizations have not yet complied with the new mandate. This brief highlights the type, size, age, and location of organizations that have not yet filed Form 990-N.

Who Helps Public Schools? Public Education Support Organizations in 2010

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EST

There are more than 19,000 nonprofit organizations devoted to supporting public education in the United States. These organizations include booster clubs, parent-teacher groups, public education funds, scholarship funds, high school alumni associations, and others. This report assesses the current status of education support organizations; provides details on the activities, capacities, and resources of public education funds; and compares Public Education Network member organizations with other types of education funds. On the basis of a survey of public education funds and an analysis of the latest data available from the National Center for Charitable Statistics, the report identifies key similarities and differences among the groups.

The Nonprofit Sector in Brief : Public Charities, Giving and Volunteering, 2009

paffairs@urban.org ( Kennard Wing, Katie L. Roeger, Thomas H. Pollak ) — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:00:00 EST

This brief highlights trends in the number and finances of 501(c)(3) public charities, as well as key findings on private charitable contributions and volunteering, two vital resources to the nonprofit sector. Figures on giving and volunteering include the most recent data available. Data reported on the nonprofit sector are from 2007—a snapshot of the sector just before the U.S. economic recession.

Measuring Racial-Ethnic Diversity in the Baltimore-Washington Region's Nonprofit Sector

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita, Katie L. Roeger ) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

The nonprofit sector in the Baltimore-Washington region is undergoing a profound, albeit quiet, revolution driven by demographic change. The people and communities that nonprofits serve increasingly reflect a multiracial and multi-ethnic world, and a new generation of leaders will soon emerge as baby boomer executives retire. This report examines whether the Baltimore-Washington regions nonprofit sector reflects the new demographic realities. The report, based on a representative sample of 501(c)(3) organizations, documents the extent to which the regions nonprofit boards, staff, and executive leadership are racially and ethnically diverse. It also analyzes diversity by the organizations size, type, and geographic location, and examines how the sector has been affected by the current economic downturn.

Grassroots Civil Society : The Scope and Dimensions of Small Public Charities

paffairs@urban.org ( Elizabeth T. Boris, Katie L. Roeger ) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

This report discusses small organizations below the radar screen in most analyses of the nonprofit sector. Research and media reports usually focus on large nonprofits with household names. However, smaller organizations engage and support communities in myriad activities and provide platforms for social interaction. They include scholarship funds, sports teams and clubs, animal protection groups, community service clubs, and many more. This report, based on 2007 Form 990 data from the National Center for Charitable Statistics, summarizes research on small public charitiesthose reporting more than $25,000 in gross receipts and less than $100,000 in revenues, expenses, and assets.

A New April 15: Make It a Day of Giving (Efficiently)

paffairs@urban.org ( C. Eugene Steuerle ) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EST

President Barack Obama on January 22 signed into law a provision allowing charitable gifts made for Haiti relief during February and most of January 2010 to be deducted on 2009 federal tax returns. This noble sentiment would work a lot better if deductions were allowed for all giving made to qualified charities by April 15.

Good Intentions Aren't Enough

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita ) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

In an interview for Faith & Leadership, DeVita discusses the role of faith-based organizations in disaster relief and Katrina's lessons for relief in Haiti. Faith-based organizations are good at providing immediate relief, but have less capacity to support sustained recovery in areas devastated by natural disasters. Planning ahead, working with large, established organizations and connecting with local people are keys to successful relief efforts.

Balance Child and Family Protection with Immigration Enforcement Goals, Study Recommends

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

As Congress again tries to draft comprehensive immigration reform legislation, lawmakers should balance the protection of children and the integrity of their families with immigration law enforcement objectives, according to a new Urban Institute study. "Facing Our Future: Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement" takes a hard look at current immigration policies' impacts on children of unauthorized immigrants, a part of the immigration picture that has so far been left out of focus. The report chronicles the experiences of more than 100 children affected by six worksite raids or targeted arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Facing Our Future : Children in the Aftermath of Immigration Enforcement

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST

This report examines the consequences of parental arrest, detention, and deportation on 190 children in 85 families in six locations, providing in-depth details on parent-child separations, economic hardships, and children's well-being. The contentious immigration debates around the country mostly revolve around illegal immigration. Less visible have been the 5.5 million children with unauthorized parents, almost three-quarters of whom are U.S.-born citizens. Over several years, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) intensified enforcement activities through large-scale worksite arrests, home arrests, and arrests by local law enforcement. The report provides recommendations for stakeholders to mitigate the harmful effects of immigration enforcement on children.

An Analysis of Potential Tax Incentives to Increase Charitable Giving in Puerto Rico : In Brief

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

This policy brief summarizes the findings of a larger report on potential tax incentives to increase charitable giving in Puerto Rico. Improved incentives for private charitable giving would strengthen nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico. Taxpayers may choose between a 100 percent deduction for contributions over 3 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) or a 33 percent deduction for contributions with no floor. Deductions may not exceed 15 percent of AGI. Removing the 15 percent ceiling would be a relatively cost effective way of encouraging more giving.

An Analysis of Potential Tax Incentives to Increase Charitable Giving in Puerto Rico : Final Report

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

Improved incentives for private charitable giving would strengthen nonprofit organizations in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico's income tax allows itemizers to deduct charitable contributions, but with limits. Taxpayers may choose between a 100 percent deduction for contributions over 3 percent of adjusted gross income (AGI) or a 33 percent deduction for contributions with no floor. Deductions may not exceed 15 percent of AGI. Removing the 15 percent ceiling would be a relatively cost effective way of encouraging more giving. Reducing the 3 percent floor, though generating less additional giving per dollar of revenue loss, would encourage broader participation.

Community-Based Organizations and Immigrant Integration in the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Area

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 EST

This study examines immigrant integration through the lens of community-based organizations. Based on interviews with nonprofit leaders and an analysis of data from the National Center for Charitable Statistics, the study found that immigrant-serving nonprofits provide a wide range of programs and services to foreign-born communities which promote the social and political mobility of newcomers. Findings also suggest a potential spatial mismatch between immigrant-serving organizations and the people they serve. The organizations are concentrated in the metropolitan area while immigrant populations are growing in the outer suburbs. Moreover, different political and administrative structures and policies affect the ability of these nonprofits to serve their constituents.

Measuring Racial-Ethnic Diversity in California's Nonprofit Sector: An Overview

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita, Katie L. Roeger ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

This policy brief summarizes the findings of a larger report on racial-ethnic diversity in California's nonprofit sector (see www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID=411977). It documents the extent to which California's nonprofit boards, staff, and executive leadership are racially and ethnically diverse, and analyzes diversity by an organization's size, type, funding patterns, and geographic location within the state. The brief examines how California nonprofits with diverse leadership have been affected by the current economic downturn, and presents three models for measuring diversity using different definitions of organizational diversity.

Measuring Racial-Ethnic Diversity in California's Nonprofit Sector

paffairs@urban.org ( Carol J. De Vita, Katie L. Roeger, Max Niedzwiecki ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Decisionmakers in California and across the country are facing critical challenges related to diversity. But until now, there has not been a comprehensive picture of how California's nonprofit sector has responded to this demographic transition. This report, based on a representative sample of California's 501(c)(3) organizations, documents the extent to which California's nonprofit boards, staff, and executive leadership are racially and ethnically diverse. It analyzes diversity by an organization's size, type, funding patterns, and geographic location within the state, and examines how California nonprofits with diverse leadership have been affected by the current economic downturn. The report also presents three models for measuring diversity using different definitions of organizational diversity.

Latinos Are the Least Represented Group of Color in California's Nonprofit Sector

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

Latinos, California's largest minority population, are the most underrepresented group of color in the state's nonprofit sector, according to the first systematic study of racial and ethnic diversity in California's nonprofits.

Policy Polymath Eugene Steuerle Returns to the Urban Institute

paffairs@urban.org ( Urban Institute ) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Eugene Steuerle, one of the nation's most respected public policy experts, whose portfolio ranges from taxes and federal spending on children to entitlements and the vitality of nonprofits, has rejoined the Urban Institute as an Institute fellow and the Richard B. Fisher

Evaluation Matters : Lessons from Youth-Serving Organizations

paffairs@urban.org ( Mary Kopczynski Winkler, Brett Theodos, Michel Grosz ) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Nonprofits face growing demands to demonstrate their impact. Their ability to report on program performance is essential to organizational legitimacy and financial survival. This report chronicles the evaluation experiences of four youth-serving nonprofits that participated in the East of the River Initiative, a multi-year effort to increase the capacity of agencies to assess their performance. We detail key successes and challenges with the goal of sparking a dialogue between nonprofits, funders, and technical assistance providers about the proper value of evaluation in the sector.