IRS : ....AND NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

What a difference two weeks can make!  Less than two weeks ago, the IRS was getting blasted in the media and in Congress for looking closely at applications for 501c4 status from conservative organizations.  Here is a May 16th OP-ED article from the NYTIMES about the “brouhaha.” 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/opinion/the-real-irs-scandal.html

As the article eloquently and correctly states, the problem is not that the IRS was looking closely at the “Tea Party” applicants for 501c4 status.  The problem is that the IRS was not--and is not--looking closely at ALL applicants and ALL current 501c4 organizations to impartially determine if they ALL legally qualify for the rights and privileges of 501c4 status.   

And sure enough, here is a front page NYTIMES article from two days (May 27^th) reporting that many of the new conservative applicants were NOT worthy of the 501c4 status because their primary purpose was to influence the outcome of specific 2012 election contests. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/us/politics/nonprofit-applicants-chafing-at-irs-tested-political-limits.html?pagewanted=all

If we want our governmental institutions to function properly, we have to adequately fund them.  Under capitalized organizations—whether for profit businesses, nonprofits, or government agencies—will frequently underperform.   The nonprofit sector needs to protect the public trust that it enjoys and depends upon by supporting adequate funding of the IRS so it can uniformly enforce its own laws and regulations.  Thoughts? 

"Seven Faces of Philanthropy" on Display at Lincoln Center Gala

There’s an article in this morning’s NYTIMES about Reynold Levy, President of Lincoln Center in NYC for the past 11 years.  Before he retires this fall, he plans to hold one final big gala at which he anticipates raising $8 million in one night.  

In our program’s introductory course on Philanthropy, we study a theory of donor motivations called the Seven Faces of Philanthropy.   This theory says that different donors have different reasons for giving and that a successful fundraiser will know and play to these different reasons.  

A paragraph from the article indicates that Mr. Levy is a master at following this strategy:  “He has perfected the personal touch — researching potential donors and then targeting his pitches to their specific interests. And though donors sometimes find Mr. Levy’s earnest enthusiasm for Lincoln Center a little over the top, his belief in the cause generally carries the day. People reach for their checkbooks.” 

The complete article contains other insights into his successful approach to fundraising and can be found at

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/06/arts/a-fund-raisers-finale-at-lincoln-center.html?ref=arts&_r=0

Thoughts?