Three cheers for John Stephenson, Executive Director of the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation in Atlanta, for testifying this morning at the House Ways and Means Oversight and Income Security and Family Support Subcommittees Joint Hearing on "Food Banks and Front-Line Charities: Unprecedented Demand and Unmet Need." (Click here to view his written testimony.) If you've not done it, I assure you that the first-time experience of testifying before Congress is quite intimidating. Yet Mr. Stephenson appeared confident in every respect as he offered clear, concise and compelling testimony in articulating the challenges facing the Atlanta Food Bank and other charities struggling to meet basic human service needs in the wake of the "Perfect Storm" wrought by the recession and the spike in unemployment. He explained how foundations like his have expanded the scope of their giving beyond traditional bricks and mortar projects to special grants to the food bank and other front-line charities.
Mr. Stephenson also outlined three ways Congress can facilitate greater philanthropic investment in meeting these overwhelming needs: (1) Continue to defeat any moves to cap charitable deductions; (2) Enact the single, revenue-neutral excise tax proffered in H.R. 4090/S. 676; and, (3) Extend the rollover of IRAs to charities without penalty, and expand the provision to include donor-advised funds at community foundations per H.R. 1250 and S. 864. Mr. Stephenson was followed in his testimony by Brian Gallagher, CEO of United Way Worldwide, who echoed his support of those three measures.
We thank Mr. Stephenson for his courage, and for the time and energy he invested in preparing and delivering his testimony and travelling to Washington. Let's hope Congress listens and acts!
By the way, 2009 was the first year that Mr. Stephenson, a former Southeastern Council of Foundations Board Chair, participated in Foundations On The Hill. Now this! Clearly, he recognized that the stakes for philanthropy on the government affairs front are at an unprecedented high. What about you? Please consider writing your Representative and Senators with your own stories about your foundation and community, encouraging them to embrace these critical proposals. And plan on joining Mr. Stephenson and your foundation colleagues who will convene on Capitol Hill for the next Foundations On The Hill March 16-17, 2010.
Mr. Stephenson also outlined three ways Congress can facilitate greater philanthropic investment in meeting these overwhelming needs: (1) Continue to defeat any moves to cap charitable deductions; (2) Enact the single, revenue-neutral excise tax proffered in H.R. 4090/S. 676; and, (3) Extend the rollover of IRAs to charities without penalty, and expand the provision to include donor-advised funds at community foundations per H.R. 1250 and S. 864. Mr. Stephenson was followed in his testimony by Brian Gallagher, CEO of United Way Worldwide, who echoed his support of those three measures.
We thank Mr. Stephenson for his courage, and for the time and energy he invested in preparing and delivering his testimony and travelling to Washington. Let's hope Congress listens and acts!
By the way, 2009 was the first year that Mr. Stephenson, a former Southeastern Council of Foundations Board Chair, participated in Foundations On The Hill. Now this! Clearly, he recognized that the stakes for philanthropy on the government affairs front are at an unprecedented high. What about you? Please consider writing your Representative and Senators with your own stories about your foundation and community, encouraging them to embrace these critical proposals. And plan on joining Mr. Stephenson and your foundation colleagues who will convene on Capitol Hill for the next Foundations On The Hill March 16-17, 2010.
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