A corporate charitable donation in Alaska is highly subsidized due to the state’s Educational Tax Credit.
Campaign Finance + Massive Inequality + Philanthropy = Democracy Deficit
Joanne Barkan’s essay in Dissent does a great job of tracing the historical concerns about philanthropy’s threat to democracy.
Shutdown’s Likely ‘Paid Vacation’ for Federal Employees
Shutdown follies: Republicans shut down government, but offer retroactive pay to furloughed federal workers. Rather than giving federal employees an unscheduled paid vacation, they could have simply reopened the government and let people do their jobs.
Sector Shifting: Local Arts Venue Goes Nonprofit
One of the signs of the times is that more and more organizations are questioning their “sectors.” After 22 years, an alcohol-free music venue in La Cross, Wisconsin, has filed to become a nonprofit. Its efforts to stick around are being funded by a community of fans and supporters from across the country.
Entrepreneurship Run Amok: Seattle’s $2,000 Homelessness Tour
A so-called “social entrepreneur” in Seattle wants to offer tours of Seattle’s homeless life for $2,000 a pop. Really?
Philadelphia School Advocates Mobilize with Funding Shortfall
The Philadelphia school system is facing a budget shortfall of $304 million, leading the Public Interest Law Center to wonder if the state would be able to provide an adequate education to the city’s students. Together with a parents’ group, and in conjunction with an online information and advocacy hub, the PILC is taking action to equip parents with useful tools and reinforce media coverage of the story.
Activists Push for Ouster of David Koch from Board of WGBH
An environmental group has gathered thousands of signatures in support of removing conservative billionaire David Koch from the board of Boston’s preeminent public broadcasting station.
Should We Abolish Boehner, Cantor, Pelosi, and the U.S. House?
It is hard to imagine a path out of the nation’s budget impasse. Ireland nearly voted its senate out of existence. Perhaps the U.S. electorate might want to abolish an intransigent, dysfunctional House of Representatives.
Government Shutdown Will Impact Millions of Service Volunteers
What will happen to millions of national service volunteers relying on living stipends to continue serving nonprofits if the government shutdown continues indefinitely?
States with Worst Records of Health Insurance
Texas is absolutely the worst state in the nation when it comes to the proportion of residents with health insurance coverage. More than one out of five persons in Nevada, Florida, and Alaska also lack health insurance coverage. This is why the nation needs the federal government’s Affordable Care Act or an even better substitute.
Do Congressional Salary Givebacks Add Insult to Injury?
In an act of irony, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle say they’ll forgo or donate salaries during the federal shutdown.
The Occupy Movement and “Tiny Houses” in Madison
Those involved in Occupy Madison found that a large number of the people camping with them were without homes. Now, they’re working to create a village of tiny houses with shared facilities to give them safe, comfortable places to live.