Making the Case for Philanthropy: Van Milligen Meets with Congressional Leaders
Nancy Van Milligen, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque (CFGD), met with staff from the offices of Senator Harkin, Senator Grassley and Representative Braley on March 21-22 to explain how donors’ gifts are improving the Dubuque area and why federal policies that support local philanthropic giving are critical to the program’s continued success.
The meeting was part of the annual Foundations on the Hill (FOTH), an effort by community, private and corporate foundation grantmaking representatives from across the country to communicate philanthropy’s value to federal lawmakers. More than 200 foundation representatives traveled to the nation’s capital show how the philanthropic sector is using its financial resources to provide innovative solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing social problems and help communities to recover from the recent economic downturn.
Though 2012 is an election year—and expectations are low that Congress will achieve much in the next nine months—comprehensive reform of federal tax policies that affect CFGD’s ability to serve our community is scheduled for 2013. One of the best-known policies to be targeted by some lawmakers is the charitable tax deduction. Congressional cuts to the deduction could jeopardize support for much-needed community programs that improve public schools, make affordable health care available, retrain workers for potential jobs in in-demand industries, or feed and shelter people in our region during this critical period in our nation’s economic recovery.
“CFGD joined its philanthropic colleagues in Washington, D.C., for Foundations on the Hill to show Congress that the Community Foundation’s leadership initiatives and grantmaking support our region by enhancing a vibrant culture, thriving families and strong nonprofits,” says Van Milligen. “Oftentimes, the generous giving of individuals can fill gaps to make many essential community programs possible.”