San Francisco- September 2000. NewTithing Group (www.newtithing.org), a not-for-profit philanthropic research organization founded by former money manager Claude Rosenberg, will debut its on-line philanthropic budgeting tool, PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator, on September 7 at the respective web sites of Minnesota Public Radio, and KQED Public Radio.

Arguably the first web-based tool designed to help American tax filers budget specifically each year for charity, PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator will help kick off "Sharing the Wealth," a conference on philanthropy organized by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and its "Civic Journalism Initiative."

MPR is posting PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator and its related educational content as part of a permanent web site on philanthropy, to be based on its "Sharing the Wealth" conference, which will also be covered on MPR&s business radio programs, Sound Money and Market Place.

KQED is offering the feature as a public service to its web site visitors. KQED Inc. operates KQED TV9, the nations's most-watched public television station; KQED 88.5FM, one of the most-listened-to public radio stations in the nation; and the KQED Education Network (EdNet).

PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator allows users to enter an array of financial data via the internet, and explore affordable giving levels. Users can see how a change in their finances would affect their giving wherewithal, or how a desired giving level would affect their finances.

"This tool can change the way people think about affordable giving by helping them proactively budget for charity each year, instead of simply reacting to solicitations," says NewTithing Group founder, Claude Rosenberg.

"The potential for PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator to increase charitable giving is great, adds NewTithing Group executive vice president, Tim D. Stone "Our conservative research suggests that even after generously meeting living expenses and other expenditures, well-off individuals can comfortably give an additional $244 billion to charity this year -- above and beyond what they already plan to give -- without impairing start-of-year investment assets. PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator will enable many donors to grasp this concept in a highly customized and personal fashion."

Says Leonard Witt, executive director of the Minnesota Public Radio Civic Journalism Initiative, "PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator is a great tool for everyone who wants to budget for charitable giving, just as they do for retirement savings. The new economy has made charitable giving possible for more Americans than ever before. That new environment will set the stage for our "Sharing the Wealth" summit, in which philanthropists discuss an unprecedented transfer of wealth."

"KQED is pleased to offer the NewTitheGuide through kqed.org as a service to KQED website visitors who wish to learn more about philanthropy and the own capacity to give," says Mary Bitterman, President and CEO of KQED. "Everyone at KQED has long respected Claude Rosenberg's tireless efforts to expand the breadth and depth of philanthropy, and we are pleased to be among the very first organizations to join him in this important new endeavor."

After years of IRS-based research on wealth and giving, NewTithing Group developed PrudentPal^TM Charitable Giving Calculator.

Also see: Affordable Donations 2001