I just received a clipping of your Nov. 29 article in which officials at Brigham Young University challenged The Chronicle of Philanthropy's ranking of BYU as the 15th most popular charity in the United States. BYU officials object because the money is received through tithing to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm afraid that BYU officials have pulled the wool over your reporter's eyes. Just about all of their statements are incorrect.The fact is, private donations are private donations. Just because BYU's private donations are channeled through the church, which calls them tithing, doesn't somehow turn them into taxes. People have a choice about donating to a church; they have no choice about paying taxes.
You state that BYU does not make its finances public. As a tax-exempt organization registered with the IRS, BYU is required to make its tax return available to anyone who asks to see it.
Your article says that The Chronicle did not confirm the information with BYU. That is not true. We received the data from Clyde R. Morell, assistant vicepresident for finance. BYU agreed to provide the numbers after we asked to see the university's tax return.
Philip W. Semas
Editor
The Chronicle of Philanthropy
Washington, D.C.