On Behalf of Nonprofits.

Now that the dust has finally settled on the 2000 presidential election, the new administration and elected officials may be able to turn their attention to a plea from Independent Sector (IS), Washington, D.C., to strengthen the nonprofit sector. IS recommends the following six policies that Sara E. Melendez, IS president and CEO, says represent the "core principles" of its 700 member organizations. For more information on these recommendations, visit www.independentsector.org.

1. Encourage giving and volunteering, primarily by passing legislation that allows all Americans to deduct charitable giving from their taxable income.

2. Preserve the independence of the nonprofit sector by protecting and enhancing organizations' rights to educate, advocate, and lobby government.

3. Strengthen the capacity of the charitable nonprofit sector by ensuring a level playing field for both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors regarding access to financial support.

4. Increase collaboration between government and the nonprofit sector.

5. Encourage volunteering and community service through government action.

6. Ensure accountability of the nonprofit sector by increasing funding of the exempt-organization division of the Internal Revenue Service.