Joe Miller Authors New Book Advocating Legal Reforms to Encourage International Philanthropy

Joseph E. Miller of Faegre Baker Daniels LLP has authored Changing Our Approach to Changing the World: Encouraging and Enhancing American Engagement in International Philanthropy Through Tax Law Reform, published by the Council on International Law & Politics.

Changing Our Approach to Changing the World focuses on the legal issues of international philanthropy. In his book, Miller supports a "learning-driven" approach to international charitable giving and proposes corresponding legal reforms. He recommends federal tax law changes that would drive international philanthropy by encouraging American citizens to give directly to foreign charitable organizations while simplifying the international grant-making process for American private foundations.

"It's vital that we revisit the federal tax rules on charitable giving in light of today's global realities," Miller said. "It has been 75 years since Congress imposed a general prohibition on tax deductibility for individual gifts to foreign charities. In that era, the United States' role in world affairs was markedly more limited than it is today. The reform proposals outlined in my book would help bring our charitable giving laws into the 21st century and promote more and better international philanthropic involvement by American citizens and private foundations."

Miller's book also offers an overview of the U.S. philanthropic sector, and he analyzes and explains the legal framework, policy matters and regulations that currently affect international philanthropy among taxpayers in the U.S.

Miller is a partner in FaegreBD's exempt organizations group, where he provides legal counsel to private foundations, colleges and universities, churches, and other religious organizations, trade associations, and other tax-exempt organizations. He advises on nonprofit corporate governance, charitable giving, international engagement, subsidiaries and affiliated organizations, and the development of organizational and operational strategies for public-private partnerships.

The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com.

The Council on International Law and Politics is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting peaceful, just and fair political and trade relations between different peoples, nations, countries and regions around the world.