Philadelphia Inquirer Attacks the Black United Fund Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit source - "C. Clark Kissinger" Philadelphia Inquirer Attacks Black United Fund By C. Clark Kissinger Beginning April 25, the day after the very successful national demonstrations in support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, the Philadelphia Inquirer has published a series of attacks on the Black United Fund of Pennsylvania. In an editorial on May 13, the Inquirer basically threatened that if the BUF did not stop serving as a fiscal sponsor for the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, then the city should drop them from its employee payroll deduction plan for charities. In essence, the rulers of Philadelphia are putting a gun to the head of the major Black charity of Philadelphia, and saying "drop Mumia . . . or else!" What follows is reply to the Inquirer written by the head of the BUF. It was published by the Inquirer as a letter on May 14, but the Inquirer did not post it on its web site along with the other letters to the editor. Thus if someone from out of town looks at the Inquirer web site, all they can find is the attacks on the BUF and not the BUF's response. It is extremely important that progressive individuals and organizations come to the defense of the Black United Fund. Their address is: 2227 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19132-4502. Their phone is: 215-236-2100. * * * Explanation of technical terms: "Donor-advised funds" are where the person contributing the money to the charity specifies where they want the money to go. For example, a contribution to the Black United Fund that is earmarked for the legal defense of Mumia Abu-Jamal or for the International Concerned Family and Friends. This is different from a charity to which people contribute money and the charity decides how the money will be used. Tax laws require, however, that the charity sponsoring the donor-advised fund must oversee how the money is spent. United Way's "donor-choice program" was created as a mechanism that both allows for an employee to choose any charity to receive their gift, while restricting the visibility of those organizations not represented by the United Way. Donor Choice allows the United Way to represent itself as open and all-inclusive while simultaneously reducing the competition from other charities. Exclusion from the campaign brochure, invisibility during on-site campaign activities and the absence of any listing on the campaign pledge form result in relatively minimal dollars directed to agencies outside the United Way system. Philadelphia Inquirer, May 14, 1999 Black United Fund and Abu-Jamal In response to the article "Abu-Jamal donation may skirt federal tax laws" (Inquirer, April 25), please be advised of the following. The Black United Fund of Pennsylvania was chartered in 1982 to provide a mechanism for African Americans throughout the commonwealth to collectively address social and economic injustices by pooling the resources needed to empower their families and communities. BUF/PA provides grants and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations committed to improving conditions in African American communities. BUF/PA also provides fiscal sponsorship of donor-advised funds, programs and projects that are consistent with its mission to sustain quality of life issues for African Americans. We are the only independent black philanthropic organization in Pennsylvania that provides fiscal sponsorship of donor-advised funds. Some of those funds include Africans for Justice Against Texaco, the David P. Richardson Memorial Fund, the Roxanne Jones Memorial Fund, the Million Woman March, Sisters Remember Malcolm, the Uptown Cultural District Group, the North Broad Street Joint Venture, College for Kids, and the Philadelphia Alumni Chapter of the National Pan Hellenic Council's Scholarship Fund, as well as International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal. In response to questions regarding the fiscal sponsorship of donor-advised funds and programs, including the International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal, please note that the Black United Fund does, in fact, monitor all spending. Each donor-advised fund or program must submit a detailed check request form and attach a receipt or an invoice before a check is issued. In addition, the chief executive officer, as well as the vice president, must approve the request before a check is issued. BUF/PA's donor-advised funds are in no way similar to the United Way's donor-choice program, and, thus, cannot be compared. BUF/PA provides this service beyond the scope of traditional philanthropic organizations' inability to support programs working to strengthen the African American community. The board of directors, staff and management of BUF/PA make no apologies and are proud to help support and sustain programs, events and organizations that are working to strengthen African Americans. The Black United Fund movement is the only mechanism working to empower African Americans without prejudice and is truly, as our motto states, "The Helping Hand That Is Your Own." We are totally committed to and will continue our mission to empower African American communities throughout Pennsylvania. Linda Waters Richardson President/CEO Black United Fund of Philadelphia Inc. Philadelphia ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytrc-05.22.99-02:25:26-21482