Evangelical and Progressive Groups to Provide Perspectives on Clearer IRS Rules for Nonprofits
Jan. 26, 2015
Evangelical and Progressive Groups to Provide Perspectives on Clearer IRS Rules for Nonprofits
Public Citizen, Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, Center for American Progress and Alliance Defending Freedom to Explore the Need for Better Guidance for Charities and Churches
WHAT: A panel discussion on the need for clearer IRS rules for nonprofits.
Much of the discussion on the topic of changing tax rules for nonprofits has focused on 501(c)(4)s, which are allowed to engage in a certain amount of political campaign-related activity and have become more engaged than ever in our electoral system since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling. But the vague test that currently defines political activity has been criticized by charities and churches for its failure to provide clear guidance on what is and is not permissible. The panelists will discuss the widely accepted agreement that clearer guidance is needed for nonprofits and will share their recommendations for such guidance.
WHEN: 9-11 a.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 29
WHO: Keynote speech by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
Panel discussion featuring: Mike Batts, chairman of the Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations
Alex DeMots, vice president and deputy general counsel at the Center for American Progress
Ezra Reese, partner at Perkins Coie LLP and member of the Bright Lines Project Drafting Committee
Erik Stanley, senior legal counsel at the Alliance Defending Freedom
Panel moderators: Dan Busby, president of the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability
Lisa Gilbert, director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch division
WHERE: First Amendment Room, the National Press Club, 529 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Seating for the event is limited, please make sure to RSVP.
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The Bright Lines Project, housed at Public Citizen, has been working for years to create clear, fair rules that would apply to all nonprofits and would encourage nonpartisan civic engagement while removing opportunities for abuse.