[Retric]

Just as they are also supporting the Catholic Church, Atheist organizations, Mormons, Buddhists, etc and anyone else who fulfills the basic requirements to be tax deductible.

But the reality is only ~13% of US tax payers itemize deductions so in general there isn’t any such support when the average person donates to anything. It’s really just support for the kinds of people who can itemize their taxes rather than supporting charities.

[AlbertCory]

Irrelevant how many people overall itemize. The question is "how many NPR contributors itemize?"

I don't know what your point is in the first paragraph. Yes, we do "support" any 501(c)(3). Are you opposed to that?

[Retric]

I would personally get rid of 501(c)(3).

Anyway, a more relevant “how many NPR contributors itemize their donations.” But of course it’s roughly in line other such charity’s, because when your talking about such a wide selection of the population it tends to look like the general population. Aka, when you start talking millions there aren’t enough billionaires for the group to mostly consist of billionaires.

I had an aunt who got a 7 figure refund after an IRS audit because she wasn’t bothering with minor donations. No idea how representative that is, but people are strange especially when you look at large numbers of them.

[AlbertCory]

> how many NPR contributors itemize their donations.

what's your point? Who else's can you itemize?

> when you start talking millions there aren’t enough billionaires for the group to mostly consist of billionaires

who mentioned millionaires, or billionaires? For that matter, that entire paragraph doesn't make any sense. I proposed a very simple test, which we unfortunately can't get the data for (easily).

when you watch a PBS pledge drive, they do seem to emphasize "tax-deductible" a lot when they ask for your pledge. So they must think it matters, at least.

[Retric]

> what's your point?

Many people who could deduct donations don’t because they don’t bother with the paperwork. It’s a very meaningful distinction because the option doesn’t inherently cost tax payers anything only those who actually use it do.

Being tax deductible on the other hand is an easy way to saying they’re a legit charity. Anything that isn’t tax deductible that still wants donations should raise major red flags.

[AlbertCory]

OK, point taken. IF that's true. Where's your data on "Many people who could deduct donations don’t"?

Who would have this data, after all? Not the IRS, since by definition the taxpayer didn't file it.

Tax preparers would know if their clients decline to file itemized, but would they report it? Similarly, TurboTax or other servers might know, but I doubt they'd release such data.

So we're left with self-reporting.