President Trump claims that churches suffer from the over-regulation of their political speech. In reality, oversight is lax for religious groups and secular tax-exempt nonprofits alike.
The Forrests have bold ambitions for their philanthropy – perhaps inviting some cynics to be dismissive of their aims.
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The record donation by Twiggy Forrest highlights the rise of more strategic philanthropy, which tries to tackle the root causes of complex problems through collaboration, research and advocacy.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan are giving billions to charity through their donor-advised fund instead of a traditional foundation.
Jeff Chiu/AP Photo
As these tax-exempt vehicles transform philanthropy, they’re drawing more scrutiny. Will Congress or the Trump administration tinker with the rules that encouraged their rapid growth?
It is an attractive proposition to say we would gain significant efficiencies if there were a limited number of major providers of government-funded human services.
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If we continue to base our views of the charity sector on incorrect assumptions and perceptions we run the risk of doing considerable damage to a national asset.
Should government perform any tasks listed in the Yellow Pages?
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In a world where educational opportunity is unjustly distributed, there are questions as to whether private schools should be exempt from paying income tax.
Only about one-third of all registered charities are eligible for tax-deductible donations.
AAP/Joel Carrett
Does sport really improve young people’s development?
Lyndon Johnson, who was friends with evangelist Billy Graham, wasn’t targeting religious groups when he pushed his eponymous amendment in 1954.
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President Trump recently repeated his pledge to eliminate the 63-year-old law, which bans charities from engaging in political activities, at the National Prayer Breakfast.
A medium-sized Australian charity will share more of its donors with the Salvation Army or the Red Cross than with Parkinson’s Australia.
AAP/Joel Carrett