Florida Senate - 2010                            (NP)    SR 2868
       
       
       
       By Senator Gaetz
       
       
       
       
       4-05304A-10                                           20102868__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing the important contributions
    3         of Florida’s charitable private foundations and other
    4         nonprofit organizations and encouraging the formation
    5         and creation of these entities in this state.
    6  
    7         WHEREAS, the National Center on Charitable Statistics
    8  reports that there are currently more than 71,000 nonprofit
    9  organizations in this state which feed the hungry, shelter those
   10  who are cold, support education and research, and promote the
   11  arts, among other missions, and
   12         WHEREAS, the Florida Philanthropic Network reports that the
   13  number of foundations in this state continues to grow, and one
   14  half of the existing organizations were created since 1995, and
   15         WHEREAS, Foundation Center data show that Florida is home
   16  to more than 4,000 foundations that gave out more than $1.43
   17  billion to charitable organizations and causes in 2007, and
   18         WHEREAS, the Florida Philanthropic Network reports that
   19  individuals, foundations, and corporate donors in this state
   20  gave $17.7 billion in charitable contributions in 2007, a 32
   21  percent increase over 2001, with 75 percent of Floridians giving
   22  money to a charitable organization in 2008, and
   23         WHEREAS, foundations and charities benefit and contribute
   24  to this state’s economic and social systems because of their
   25  autonomy and corresponding abilities to operate, innovate, and
   26  take responsible programmatic risks in ways that government and
   27  business cannot, NOW, THEREFORE,
   28  
   29  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         That the charitable foundations in this state are
   32  recognized for their innovative work in advancing quality
   33  education and cutting-edge research, feeding the hungry,
   34  providing basic financial literacy information, preserving
   35  Florida’s culture and rich history, and supporting initiatives
   36  that benefit all Floridians.
   37         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the State of
   38  Florida supports advancing laws and policies to facilitate
   39  innovation in Florida’s foundations, protect their ability to
   40  self-govern, lessen the bureaucratic burden on the nonprofit
   41  community, encourage the creation of nonprofit organizations,
   42  and safeguard their vital work.