Support for the Inclusion of the Bipartisan Legacy IRA Act

04/30/2021

On behalf of the undersigned non-profits, including charities and faith-based organizations, we want to express support for the inclusion of the bipartisan Legacy IRA Act in the “Securing a Strong Retirement Act of 2021” due to be marked up shortly. 

We appreciate you placing a priority on increasing retirement savings so more individuals can plan for a financially secure retirement. Just as COVID-19 has shaken the economic support for millions of individuals and their families that will have long-term consequences on their finances and retirement, nonprofits are also facing serious challenges now and well into the future. According to Johns Hopkins’ Center for Civil Society Studies, the nonprofit sector is still down by nearly one million nonprofit jobs, as of this January, and it will take nearly two years for the sector to return to its pre-COVID level of employment. 

As part of the broader Securing a Strong Retirement Act, the Legacy IRA provision will encourage more charitable giving by enabling seniors to make tax-free contributions from their individual retirement accounts (IRA) to charities through life-income plans. It is an important piece of broader efforts to facilitate our sector’s long-term recovery. Many of our organizations are dependent on private philanthropy, including gift planning. We believe the Legacy IRA provision simply offers seniors another philanthropic option and would incentivize more giving to help charities while helping middle-income seniors who need a lifetime income. 

We strongly support the inclusion of the Legacy IRA Act as part of the Securing a Strong Retirement Act. America is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to give, to get involved, and to strengthen their communities. 

Sincerely, 

ACCESS 

Alliance for Strong Families and Communities 

ALS Association 

Alzheimer’s Association 

Alternate ROOTS 

American Alliance of Museums 

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 

American Heart Association 

American Lung Association 

American Red Cross 

Americans for the Arts 

Association of Art Museum Directors 

Association of Fundraising Professionals 

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America 

Boys & Girls Clubs of America 

Council for Advancement and Support of Education 

Council for Christian Colleges & Universities 

Council on Foundations 

DANCE/USA 

Girl Scouts of the USA 

Girls Inc. 

Goodwill Industries International, Inc. 

Habitat for Humanity International 

Hemophilia Federation of America 

Independent Sector 

JDRF 

Jewish Federations of North America 

League of American Orchestras 

Lutheran Services in America 

March of Dimes 

Mental Health America 

National Alliance on Mental Illness 

National Association of Charitable Gift Planners 

National Association of College and University Business Officers 

National Health Council 

National MS Society 

OPERA America 

Performing Arts Alliance 

Providence St. Joseph Health 

The Nonprofit Alliance 

The Salvation Army USA 

Theatre Communications Group 

UNICEF USA 

United Philanthropy Forum 

YMCA of the USA 

YWCA USA 

Read More