October 27, 2005 (Baltimore, MD) - Lutheran Services in America (LSA) signs on to the Report of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector

Lutheran Services in America has signed on to the Report of the Panel on the Nonprofit Sector, uniting with other nonprofit organizations in the effort to serve as responsible stewards of the public's generosity.

The report, which has incorporated input from thousands of nonprofit leaders, proposes a comprehensive series of recommendations to strengthen the sector's transparency, governance, and accountability. The report recommends more than 120 actions to be taken by charitable organizations, Congress and the Internal Revenue Service. If the recommendations are implemented they would constitute the most sweeping changes to the governance, operations and regulation of charities and foundations in 3 decades.

"These recommendations are intended to strike a balance between providing the oversight needed to prevent abuses and protecting the independence that is a vital element in the charitable community's innovation and effectiveness," said Paul Brest, the Panel's co-convener and President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The Panel will provide additional comments in the fall regarding financial reporting and transparency, accreditation and standard setting, and possible changes in the legal framework, including federal and state regulation of fundraising activities.

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