Pick.Click.Give. edges toward permanence

April 16 -- An innovative program designed to make philanthropic giving easier for Alaskans is one step closer to permanence. A bill passed by the Alaska State Legislature on today will extend the PFD Charitable Contributions Program, known as Pick.Click.Give., by removing the three-year sunset provision that was included in the original 2008 authorization.

Senate Bill 171, sponsored by Senator Kevin Meyer, passed the Senate this afternoon. The bill, which carried language offered by Representative Bill Thomas to extend the program, had already passed the House of Representatives.

The bill also establishes a $250 nonprofit application fee to address the ongoing administration costs of Pick.Click.Give. Start-up costs for the program were supported by private funding.

Pick.Click.Give. allows Alaskans to make charitable donations when they file online for their Permanent Fund Dividend. Now in its second year, Alaskans have used the program to direct more than $1.45 million in charitable giving to qualified nonprofits, community foundations, and campuses of the University of Alaska.

SB171 will be transmitted to Governor Parnell for signature, and, if signed, takes effect January 1, 2011. This year's Pick.Click.Give. program, including the agency application, is not affected by SB171.

More information about Pick. Click. Give. is available online at www.pickclickgive.org.