FPN Public Policy Update

Florida Grantmakers Discuss Key Philanthropy Issues on Capitol Hill

Florida Philanthropic Network led a team of Florida grantmakers to Washington, D.C., on March 25, 2009, for visits with a record-high 23 members of the state's congressional delegation and their staffs, as part of the annual Foundations on the Hill event, which was co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations and the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers.  FPN coordinated and led the Florida delegation for the event, in partnership with the Southeastern Council of Foundations.

The Florida grantmakers discussed several key federal issues of interest to foundations today, including maintaining the current tax rate for itemized charitable deductions, expanding and extending the IRA charitable rollover provision, simplifying the private foundation excise tax, and allowing foundations to make program-related investments to low-profit limited liability companies (L3Cs). 

As a result of FPN's meeting in Washington with Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas (D-24), Rep. Kosmas introduced the IRA Charitable Giving Act on May 14, 2009, to extend the tax-free treatment of distributions from individual retirement plans for charitable purposes.

Florida grantmakers meet with Senator Bill Nelson as part of FPN's participation in the 2009 Foundations on the Hill event: (L-R) Steve Lesky, Allegany Franciscan Ministries; Blythe Duckworth, Jessie Ball duPont Fund; Debra Jacobs, The Patterson Foundation; Mark Pritchett, Gulf Coast Community Foundation in Venice; Sherry Magill, Jessie Ball duPont Fund; Senator Bill Nelson; Belinda Turner Lawrence, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Katie Ensign and David Biemesderfer, Florida Philanthropic Network.

 

Congressman Ron Klein (D-22), second from left, visits with (L-R) Steve Jubb, PGA Foundation; Belinda Turner Lawrence, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; and David Biemesderfer, Florida Philanthropic Network.		Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-18), second from right, meets with (L-R) David Biemesderfer, Florida Philanthropic Network; Belinda Turner Lawrence, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation; and Steve Jubb, PGA Foundation. FPN also appeared on Ros-Lehtinen's blog.