National Heritage Foundation
The National Heritage Foundation (NHF), based in Falls Church, Virginia (EIN 58-2085326), was established in 1994. It shares an address, web site and many of its executive staff with Congressional District Programs.[1]
The NHF attracted accusations that it helped donors get inappropriate tax breaks. The organization said it complied with the law.[2] In 2006, the Pension Protection Act outlawed a practice of the organization of allowing employees to donate, get a tax reduction for it, then draw a salary from the same pool of money.[2] It was also one of the largest operations using a practice called charitable-split dollar, which was prohibited in a new law in 1999. Members would make tax-deductible donations, that the organization would use to pay for life insurance policies. Most of these were taken out for the benefit of the donors' heirs, and only a small portion went to charity.[2]
In January 2009, the NHF filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection,[3] after the court ordered it to pay millions of dollar to donors it said were misled.[2] In October a reorganization plan was approved by the Federal Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.[3]
References
- ↑ Barrett, William P. (March 2, 2009). "Charity Moved $1 Million Before Bankruptcy Filing". Forbes. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 National Heritage Foundation Files for Bankruptcy After Court Orders Payout. By: Blum, Debra E., Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1040676X, 2/12/2009, Vol. 21, Issue 8
- 1 2 Jacobs, Deborah L. (11 November 2009). "Charity Bankruptcy Leaves Many Donors in Distress". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 July 2015.