Universal Charitable Deduction

PANO supports policies that incentivize individuals of all income levels to financially contribute to the work of nonprofit organizations in Pennsylvania. Recent tax reform legislation limited this incentive to the top 5 percent of income earners. PANO supports policies that would expand this incentive to all American earners.

The charitable tax deduction allows individuals to get a deduction for dollars they give to eligible charities. Of the $410.02 Billion raised in 2017 in the United States for charitable work, 70% came from individuals. Many of these individuals itemized their giving on their tax returns. 2017 also marked the 100th anniversary of the charitable tax deduction.

In December 2017, H.R. 1: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased the standard deduction. While this increased tax-free dollars for individuals, it reduced the number of those eligible to itemize from 30% of tax filers to 5% of tax filers. The Joint committee on Taxation estimates that this will reduce overall giving by 5%, a decrease of $13 billion annually.

PANO joins hundreds of organizations around the country supporting legislation that would incentivize individuals from all income brackets to give to charities.

People give because they care; they give more with the tax incentive of a charitable deduction.

Share your organization’s giving story; let us know what charitable deduction makes possible for your organization, your fundraising efforts, and your donors. Send a letter, email and post on social media (use hashtags #100yearsofgiving and/or #ProtectGiving).