President's message:

Under attack: Nonprofit postage
discounts and charitable giving   

Legislation has been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives to slash the nonprofit bulk mail rate from 40 percent to 10 percent to help reduce the U.S. Postal Service's budget shortfall. A House committee is expected to take action in October. Click here to find out more.

Congress also is seriously considering ending or capping tax deductions for charitable giving. We strongly believe a national show of support from the nonprofit community is vital to preserve this incentive and ensure that the work of the sector is respected and protected in the policy debates in Washington.

That's why HANO is joining the national grassroots campaign to protect the charitable giving incentive led by our national affiliate, the National Council of Nonprofits. You too can participate in this national letter-writing campaign, demonstrate the importance of both the nonprofit community and the charitable giving incentive. Click here for more information in this month's newsletter.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2nd annual Conference of Nonprofit Communities on Nov. 29 and 30 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. HANO and our partners -- the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Aloha Chapter, Chaminade University and Hawaii Community Foundation, the conference's title sponsor -- are planning to convene an event rich with educational content and networking opportunities. Click here for more details and to register. 

The conference -- known more fondly to us as "The Mega Nonprofit Conference of 2011" -- is also being supported by the Aloha Society of Association Executives and the Partnership for Philanthropic Planning Hawaii. Please don't miss this exciting event!

We also thank HANO's new corporate sponsors, VALIC, HiHR, ToKa Media and UBS -- partners we need now more than ever to support our common goals of community strengthening and improvement. Enjoy this month's newsletter.

Lisa Maruyama
HANO president & CEO