Nonprofit issues

• We advocate for policies that support charitable giving.
• We advocate on behalf of the Foundation as an employer.
• We are registered with the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3).

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The March of Dimes Foundation is a tax-exempt charity with 1,400 employees and millions of volunteers and donors. At both the federal and state levels, staff and volunteers advocate for public policies that support a healthy independent sector and encourage charitable giving. Current examples of our work include:

Federal
Our government affairs office is advocating for reauthorization of the "IRA Rollover," a federal tax provision enacted in 2006 which expired at the end of 2009.  Reinstating the provision would allow individuals aged 70½ and older to donate up to $100,000 from their Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to charity without having to count the donation as taxable income.

State
March of Dimes chapters often advocate in support of proposals to encourage charitable donations and to strengthen the environment for non-profit organizations. The following list of advocacy initiatives includes topics on which March of Dimes chapters have supported in recent years.

• Creating tax incentives to promote charitable contributions.
• Creating a check-off box on the state income tax return form to direct funds toward March of Dimes projects--this was achieved by the California Chapter with donations directed towards birth defects research.
• Creating an exemption for nonprofit organizations from restrictions on the use of raffles or lotteries.
• Exempting nonprofit organizations from sales tax and 800-number excise taxes.
• Exempting nonprofit organizations in states that adopt a "do not call" list. 
• Earmarking revenue for the March of Dimes from specialty license plates--this was achieved by the Florida Chapter.

 
See also: Advocacy and Government Affairs Issues and advocacy priorities