It's extremely important for charitable organizations to make sure lawmakers have all the facts before them.

It's an opportunity for citizens who care about issues to communicate with lawmakers about what's happening in their communities. Without that input, lawmakers might not be able to make informed decisions.

In the First Amendment, people have the right to petition the government. That is a constitutional right and we take that obligation very seriously.

With government funding being cut back, charities are being hard-pressed to turn away money that's legal. We don't get into why people give money.

These recommendations are another part of the charitable sector?s commitment to come together and ensure that its organizations meet the highest possible ethical standards. The Panel will continue to work with the sector and government officials to encourage implementation of its comprehensive proposals.

Our past research shows that adults are twice as likely to volunteer if they began participating when they were teens.