Philanthropy Colorado and a great team of member foundation executives traveled to Washington D.C. in late February for Foundations on the Hill 2024. We participated in learning and met with Colorado’s congressional delegation to advance Philanthropy Colorado's 2024 Public Policy Priorities, developed and recommended by our Public Policy Committee and approved by our Board of Directors.
A special thank you to Senator Michael Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper for our productive meetings. Our appreciation also to policy staff in the offices of our House Representatives who met with us while the House was out of session.
Thank you to these philanthropic leaders who represented Colorado at Foundations on the Hill 2024:
- Megan Ledin, (Executive Director of Grand Foundation, Philanthropy Colorado board member and co-chair of our Public Policy Committee),
- Robin Wood-Mason, (CEO of Community Shares of Colorado and a new Philanthropy Colorado board member),
- Tim Wohlgenant, (CEO of Yampa Valley Community Foundation),
- Naomi Amaha, (Director of Policy and Government Affairs with The Denver Foundation) and
- Anthony Grimes (Director of Communications with Bonfils-Stanton Foundation)
- Philanthropy Colorado CEO Joanne Kelley, Director of Advocacy and Engagement Jan Brennan, and incoming CEO Noah Atencio rounded out the group.
Review Philanthropy Colorado’s 2024 Public Policy Priorities on our Policy Issues and Positions page.
- CHARITABLE GIVING INCENTIVES
Philanthropy Colorado’s position: We support public policy that encourages and expands charitable giving and caution against legislative changes that reduce tax incentives as a way of paying for other government programs. We support current federal legislation that protects the charitable deduction and makes it available to all taxpayers -- with the aim of providing the necessary incentives needed to support the critical work of the broader nonprofit sector.
A priority for Foundations on the Hill 2024 was to urge support to restore a Universal Charitable Deduction (S.566 - Charitable Act/H.R.3435 – Charitable Act). Since the substantial increase in the standard federal deduction, only the 12% of Colorado taxpayers who continue to itemize their deductions have access to a federal charitable giving deduction. A temporary measure allowing a $300/$600 universal charitable deduction in 2020 provides compelling data that the charitable deduction makes a dramatic difference in generating smaller donations that benefit under resourced communities and issues. When private dollars flow into nonprofit organizations, this reduces the burden on government services, a key reason this bill has strong bi-partisan support.
Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5) and Rep. Brittany Petersen (CO-7) have signed on as co-sponsors of the House bill.
Watch for more in Part II.