Owings Mills Lawyer Speaks on Charitable Giving at Canadian Gift Planning Conference Attorney Jonathan Ackerman was a plenary speaker at the 10th Annual National Canadian Association of Gift Planners Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Mr. Ackerman, who recently completed a term as president of the National Committee on Planned Giving, has a solo practice focusing on charitable gift planning. The Law Office of Jonathan Ackerman, based in Owings Mills, Maryland, represents tax-exempt organizations and individuals throughout the United States. Planned Giving Today In the September, 2003 issue of Planned Giving Today, Jonathan published an article entitled, "Planned Giving Value Chain", which was adapted from his Presidents Address at the 2002 National Conference on Planned Giving in Nashville, Tennessee. [more...] CLT Forms In October, 2003, Jonathan prepared, on behalf of the Government Relations Committee of the National Committee on Planned Giving and with the assistance of Erik Dryburgh, Esquire, a response to Notice 2003-39, in which the IRS requested comments regarding the creation and publication of charitable lead trust sample forms. This program is very important to the planned giving community, because the publication of CLT forms by the IRS will further legitimize, and hopefully increase the use of, this under-utilized and extraordinarily valuable, planned giving vehicle. Jon Ackerman Testifies on Capitol Hill On October 18, 2001, a week after the discovery of anthrax particles at various government buildings in our nation's capital, Jonathan presented testimony on Capital Hill in favor of Senate Bill 1300 (the repeal of the 2% excise tax on private foundations), on behalf of NFL Pro Bowl Defensive End Michael McCrary's private foundation, Mac's Miracle Fund, at a press conference held by Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Evan Bayh (D-IN).