The Chronicle of Philanthropy may have found that New Englanders are the most frugal in America about giving their money to charity, but let’s not leap to the conclusion the northern colonies are filled with cold-shouldered misers.

New Englanders are a hands-on bunch. While some may hesitate to write a check, few would turn down a sincere request to ladle food at a bean supper. Few would turn down a neighbor’s request for assistance, and many donate hours of time to social service that cannot be translated into a neat dollar amount to deduct on a Schedule A.

New England is strongly reliant on volunteer fire and rescue services. Just Sunday, hundreds turned out to support the March of Dimes in community walks. That walk was one of dozens of charity events thousands of New Englanders support.

Look at the Connections pages in this newspaper and you’ll see daily notices about community events that are organized and supported by volunteers.

The report issued by the Chronicle of Philanthropy makes conclusions about charitable giving trends based on Schedule A deductions compared to gross income, using Internal Revenue Service standards of tax deductions. That means donations of time, money or property to civic leagues and sports clubs are out. Volunteers, although they can deduct for out-of-pocket expenses for certain nonprofits and religious organizations, may not deduct the value of their time or talent.

A Sunday school teacher may deduct a financial contribution to the church basket but not the time spent in the classroom.

Parents who spend a Saturday helping to erect playground equipment at an elementary school may not deduct any portion of that volunteerism on their tax return.

A college student who spends afternoons and weekends coaching Little League may not deduct any of the time spent with young players.

The volunteer time donated by the teacher, the parents and the student equal real money because without these donations the church, the school and the municipality would have to hire these jobs out. The IRS doesn’t recognize that, so neither does the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

A true measure of generosity anywhere must calculate the considerable value of personal time. Anything less is an uncharitable characterization of giving.
Taxing chores


Christine Todd Whitman wasn’t the nation’s most popular choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency, so you’d think she’d be careful about her image.

She isn’t.

This agency chief has developed a sorry habit of treating $100,000 a year environmental crimes investigators like personal servants, asking one to hold her seat at a restaurant until she got there so she wouldn’t lose her reservation and asking another to return her husband’s airport rental car.

The agents who have been asked to do her personal bidding were assigned to help her detail with security as she travels, not perform domestic services.

Whitman, while a former governor who has earned the right to be called honorable, is not royalty.

She is a well-paid appointed official who can afford to hire personal assistants. Anything else is arrogant.

Taxpayers aren’t handing over hard-earned dollars to ease Whitman or any other public official’s comfort and convenience.


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