Summary: The wealthy are using non-profits, charities, and foundations to push political agendas at the expense of taxpayers who are footing the bill because these institutions are also tax write-offs.<p>The article focuses on these organizations pushing advocacy, but I would also add that many &quot;non-profit&quot; organizations are actually incredibly profit-focused. An early introduction to this for me was growing up next to the Christian Broadcasting Network, a charitable organization that was raking in millions of dollars selling alternative medicines, opening five-star restaurants, hosting luxurious retreats, while also raking in donations from the poor people who would tune into the show seeking god&#x27;s grace [1].<p>I see the same thing with Mega Churches, which are springing up like fast food franchises all over the DC-Metro region. These enormous buildings are raking in profits every Sunday while giving nothing back in taxes to pay for the roads, utilities, and emergency services the community provides for them. Taxpayers are losing $71 billion a year in revenues because of these for-profit franchises [2].<p>It isn&#x27;t just religious institutions either. I&#x27;ve stopped giving blood to the American Red Cross in favor of donating it directly to my local hospital so they don&#x27;t have to pay the overhead that comes with Red Cross blood [3]. The DC-Metro area is packed with &quot;non-profits&quot; that are really for-profit companies that pay out their profits directly to CEOs and board members while sending lobbyists to the National Mall to buy expensive lunches for our Representatives.<p>The article notes that the alternative is the European system of not providing tax-breaks for these organizations--which results in much fewer organizations. It&#x27;s hard for me to accept that when I think of all the organizations I <i>perceive</i> as doing good in America, but maybe they aren&#x27;t really doing good and are simply enjoying the good sentiments that come with the words &quot;charity&quot; and &quot;non-profit?&quot;<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starnewsonline.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;20070327&#x2F;NEWS&#x2F;703270372?Title=Lawsuit-says-evangelist-Pat-Robertson-abuses-tax-free-status-to-push-product" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.starnewsonline.com&#x2F;article&#x2F;20070327&#x2F;NEWS&#x2F;70327037...</a><p>[2] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;bigthink.com&#x2F;21st-century-spirituality&#x2F;how-to-make-71-billion-a-year-tax-the-churches" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;bigthink.com&#x2F;21st-century-spirituality&#x2F;how-to-make-71...</a><p>[3] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;1991&#x2F;07&#x2F;07&#x2F;business&#x2F;all-about-blood-banks-a-multibillion-dollar-business-in-a-nonprofit-world.html?pagewanted=all" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nytimes.com&#x2F;1991&#x2F;07&#x2F;07&#x2F;business&#x2F;all-about-blood-b...</a>