02/06/2025

Sens. Lankford, Coons Reintroduce Charitable Act

The legislation would restore and expand the charitable deduction options for some

Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) last week reintroduced the Charitable Act, legislation that would restore and expand the charitable deduction for non-itemizers.

The bill would ensure Americans who donate to charities and other nonprofits of their choice are able to deduct that donation from their federal taxes at a higher level than the previous $300 deduction. This provision was first enacted as part of the CARES Act during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Lankford's office, the policy resulted in 90 million tax returns utilizing the deduction, and households making between $30,000 and $100,000 saw the largest increase in charitable giving. Charitable organizations received $30 billion in increased donations.

"America's first safety net should never be the government—government is the least efficient caregiver by far," Lankford said last week. "Our families, churches and other nonprofits do incredible work to lift up those who need it most. Updating the tax law to incentivize giving empowers Americans to make an even bigger impact for the homeless, hurting, and hungry."

This article was provided to OSAP by ASAE's Power of Associations and Inroads.