Is Harvard A Charity?
Philanthropy Today - July 2009
- In a Los Angeles Times article, former Labor Secretary Robert Reich attests that since most donations go to institutions that serve the rich, they should not be tax-deductible. Reich questions whether extremely endowed organizations such as Harvard and Yale universities ought to receive the same benefits as those providing basic services. He argues that if a charitable donation goes to an institution or agency set up to help the poor, the donor should get the full tax deduction. If the donation goes to any other nonprofit, the donor would only get to deduct half the contribution: http://www.robertreich.org/reich/20071001.asp
- Representatives of leading philanthropic institutions from the Arab world participated in the eighth meeting of the Arab Foundations Forum in March 2009 in Abu Dhabi. The purpose of the meeting was to plan the first set of projects jointly sponsored by Arab foundations across the region. The meeting's themes included "Children's Well-being and Education," "Youth Development and Employment," and "Climate Change and Environmental Protection." The representatives also discussed the state of philanthropy in the Arab countries and how to promote strategic giving: http://www.thewcmp.org/wcmp/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48:philanthropists-fosters-partnerships-for-effective-development&catid=37:events&Itemid=81
- The American India Foundation has renamed its Service Corps Fellowship as the William Jefferson Clinton Fellowship for Service in India, in honor of its chairman and former US president Bill Clinton. The Fellowship sends 25 young American professionals each year to serve with Indian non-governmental organizations for 10 months. Since 2001, almost 200 Fellows have worked with more than 90 Indian NGOs. The Fellowship is an exchange of technical skills and intellectual resources that aims to build the capacity of Indian NGOs while developing American leaders with a commitment to India: http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/World/20090514/1253829.html