The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently profiled the contenders for the White House and their thoughts about the issues that affect nonprofit groups. Here is a selection of their views:  
 
Sen. John McCain, Republican of Arizona
Education: Believes all federal financial support should be predicated on giving parents the ability to move their children, and the dollars associated with them, from failing schools to ones that meet higher standards.
Source: McCain campaign here and here
Health: Would promote federal research into autism, promote early screening, and identify better treatment options for the disorder. Co-sponsored the Combating Autism Act of 2006.
Source: McCain campaign
National Service: Joined 42 members of the Senate who wrote a letter in 2003 asking President Bush to request additional money for AmeriCorps following a fiscal crisis that forced the program to slash its budget.
Source: Letter from 43 senators to the president on July 17, 2003
Nonprofit Groups: Has said "it is essential that I as president do everything I can to expand the nonprofit sector." Would work to allow people who do not itemize tax deductions to deduct charitable gifts, to help nonprofit groups compete for government contracts, and to highlight the work that nonprofit groups do - for example, through White House conferences.
Source: Response to Nonprofit Primary Project question.
 
Sen. Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois
Education: Would provide $10-billion a year to create Early Learning Challenge Grants to stimulate state projects; quadruple the number of eligible children for Early Head Start and increase Head Start funds; create a Presidential Early Learning Council to increase federal, state, and local collaboration.
Source: Obama campaign
Housing: Would create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop low-cost housing in mixed-income neighborhoods. It would use a small percentage of the profits of two government-sponsored housing agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to create new housing units.
Source: Leadership Council of Aging Organizations presidential candidates survey
Nonprofit Groups: Has pledged to create a Social Investment Fund Network, which would distribute government and private money to charities working on innovative projects that focus on issues that have been identified by cities as priorities - crime prevention or education, for example - and help expand successful ones to other regions.
Source: Obama campaign
Poverty: Would allocate $1-billion over five years for transitional jobs and career programs to help low-income Americans succeed in the work force.
Source: Obama campaign
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