Government Takeover of Charities Next

Lots of attention–appropriately–is being paid to the federal government’s new, extended reach into the private economy, setting salaries and owning auto companies. But, beneath the radar, a combination of Obama Administration initiatives is extending government influence over philanthropy and charitable organizations, as well.

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New tax rules may pull up to $7 billion away from private charity–at a time when six of ten United Ways already report steep drops in giving. And a new White House office (of Social Innovation) will make its own grants to non-profits–but only for select purposes.

Finally, a big authorized increase in the program called Americorps–from 75,000 participants to 250,000–will turn legions of prospective volunteers into government-supported labor, awarded, again, through a government grant process–not private philanthropy. It all could combine to change philanthropy as we know it, as I explain in this article on Town Hall.

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