It costs (as lost tax revenue) the nation $50,000,000,000 annually, i.e., allowing taxpayers to deduct donations. Think what that $50 billion could do elsewhere?
It's a funny thing how one tends to often include the word charitable (defined as, aiding the poor, ill, or helpless) when speaking about donations. A misnomer.
A change is needed in the tax law, the economic situation demands it. So, if the non-profit is not specifically engaged in charity work, then its not a charity and should not hold non-profit status.
So let's change IRS regulations so that non-charitable non-profits are required to disburse at least 3%, perhaps 5%, of assets annually to real charities. Or instead pay into local city/town budgets - for health care perhaps.
Keep in mind that not all non-profits are of the charitable type, e.g. Holy Cross, WCCA, or the Main South CDC, they only benefit the employees with hefty salaries.
The Catholic Charities, Goodwill, Red Cross, Salvation Army are truly charitable organizations - they help the poor, needy and helpless.
If you feel the need to donate, then do some real good - give charitably.
