Legislation

Senate Approves GOP Tax Plan (and How This Affects Nonprofits)
December 20, 2017 at 12:16 pm

In an interview with NonProfit PRO, Katie Leonberger, CEO of Community Resource Exchange (CRE), says that the implications to nonprofits can be dependent on whether the organization's funding comes from government funding at federal, state or local level, or whether its funding comes from foundations and individual supporters, who may increase their giving in the short-term...

Religious Groups Reject Revised Trump ‘Muslim Ban’
March 10, 2017 at 1:44 pm

Multiple religious groups reacted with outrage at the Trump administration’s revised travel ban, calling the new directive discriminatory. President Donald Trump’s new executive order makes several changes from the original issued in January that brought court challenges and protests at airports. The new order issued continues to ban travel from several Muslim-majority countries, but it…

Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood Fails in Senate
August 5, 2015 at 12:31 pm

The Senate failed to clear a procedural hurdle Monday on a measure that would have stripped Planned Parenthood of federal funding after a series of controversial videos surfaced which suggest the organization is selling fetal tissue for research. The vote, which failed 53-46, would have redirected the more than $500 million in taxpayer funding Planned…

GOP Bill Would Shield Faith Nonprofits on Gay Marriage
July 21, 2015 at 5:00 am

Conservative Republicans on Capitol Hill are pursuing legislation to protect tax-exempt groups that object to same-sex marriage on religious or moral grounds, setting up a possible intra-party battle on the issue, The New York Times and The Washington Post report. More than 150 GOP senators and representatives are calling for quick action in the wake…

The 5 Building Blocks of Successful Advocacy
June 30, 2015 at 7:00 am

Advocacy can be an essential piece of a nonprofit organization's ability to meet its mission. It's about embracing and promoting a particular point of view. And while it may seem like some of the most successful nonprofits excel at championing a single issue or cause, in reality, the long-term work of building change is made up of a series of smaller gains (and losses) done behind the scenes over a long period of time. You’ve probably heard the saying—change doesn’t happen overnight. It involves a cycle of advocacy, policy efforts and building support from the inside out.

Some Nonprofits Will Be in the Eye of the Storm as Same-Sex Marriage Ruling is Tested
June 30, 2015 at 7:00 am

The Obergefell v. Hodges ruling announced on Friday by the Supreme Court granting same-sex couples the constitutional right to marry sparked spontaneous celebrations all over the country. Many view the decision as an inevitable outcome of a relatively rapid evolution of public opinion over the past decade. That said, this does not mean that all…

House Passes Bill Designed to Encourage Gifts to Charity
July 21, 2014

Under threat of a presidential veto, the House of Representatives on Thursday passed a tax bill designed to encourage gifts to charity on a bipartisan, 277-130 vote. The bill would make permanent three temporary tax items that have been regularly extended on an annual basis. The measures would allow older people to lower their taxable income by donating money from their Individual Retirement Accounts to charities and provide tax benefits for donations to food banks and setting aside land for conservation.

House Members Have 'Serious Concerns' About Charity Rules for Feds
April 23, 2014

A bipartisan group of House members has “substantial concerns” about new Obama administration regulations for the Combined Federal Campaign, the charitable giving vehicle for the federal workforce. While praising certain elements of the new rules for increasing transparency and accountability, the members said any changes should “not negatively impact the program’s ability to serve those in need in our communities.”