Over the next few months Congress will be debating methods for reducing our national debt. People can disagree on the approach that is best; however, there is one proposal that causes great concerns for nonprofits. That is the idea of limiting the amount of charitable deductions the wealthy can deduct.

When the discussion is about closing tax loopholes, charitable deductions are not tax loopholes. When a person makes a contribution to a charity, they receive no direct tangible benefit.

Limiting a person's ability to deduct their gifts to their church, the Boys & Girls Clubs, the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, the Y or the thousands of other charitable organizations will affect the service we can provide.

The IRS already limits how much can be deducted. Generally, you can deduct cash contributions up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. Aside from whether it has an impact on giving, the charitable deduction is a good idea for other reasons, it recognizes and rewards sacrifices that benefit others.

I hope the president and Congress will realize that limiting the charitable deductibility anymore -- of any individuals' gifts -- could jeopardize programs that have saved people's lives or at least improved their quality of the life.

Gregory G. Falk, president, Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin counties