This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.
A Philadelphia city councilman is trying to convince nonprofit organizations to give payments in lieu of taxes, known as PILOTS.
Councilman Wilson Goode says he wants to revive an idea started in the Rendell administration — voluntary contributions or PILOTs from what he calls "mega nonprofits" to help with the city’s financially troubled schools.
"The thought is 10 percent of our real estate is tax-exempt, but some of that is owned by mega nonprofits that can contribute more," Goode said.