(WASHINGTON, May 24, 2010) — Independent Sector President and CEO Diana Aviv sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairmen Sander Levin urging passage of legislation to extend incentives that encourage support of the vital work of charitable organizations.

In her letter, Aviv strongly supported passage of the American Jobs and Closing Loopholes Act (HR 4213), which reinstates the IRA Charitable Rollover and two other giving incentives that expired last year.  Over the past three years, the IRA rollover had helped generate millions of dollars in new contributions that nonprofits of all sizes have used to provide a wide range of community services.  However, uncertainty about the reinstatement of this important incentive has resulted in donors’ holding back contributions until they are more certain about the provision’s future.  The result has been damaging to the organizations that would receive these gifts and the people who would benefit from the resulting services.  

At a time when government services and funding have been slashed across the country, it is important to provide as many incentives for individuals and businesses to help fill the gap.

To read the letter and learn more on tax incentives for charitable giving, visit: http://www.independentsector.org/ira_rollover. 

Independent Sector is a nonprofit, nonpartisan coalition of approximately 550 charities, foundations, and corporate giving programs, collectively representing tens of thousands of charitable groups in every state across the nation. Its mission is to advance the common good by leading, strengthening, and mobilizing the nonprofit and philanthropic community.