From: nattyreb@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 21 May 1999 03:10:37
Subject: !*Response from Black United Fund-PA on Inquirer Attack

FORWARDED MESSAGE
===================

From: "C. Clark Kissinger" 
Date: Wed, 19 May 1999 14:41:27 -0400

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