Nonprofit Advocacy Matters | August 16, 2010

FMAP Passes, Food Stamps Impacted

House members interrupted their congressional recess to pass a bill (HR 1586) to provide $16.1 billion to the states under the Federal Medicaid Applicable Percentage (FMAP) program and $10 billion for education-related jobs. President Obama signed the bill the same day. While at least 27 states are relying on the additional FMAP money to balance their budgets, many nonprofits expressed grave concern regarding how the Senate and House found the money to pay for the bill: by cutting $10 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) for the years after 2014.

Nonprofit Capacity Building Grants Awarded

The National Council of Nonprofits congratulates the five recipients of the new Nonprofit Capacity Building Program grants: the Arizona Community Foundation (and its grant partner, the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits), the Black Ministerial Alliance of Greater Boston, the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, the United Way of the Bay Area, and the University of Central Florida. This grant program, enacted as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve American Act of 2009, is designed to help local grantmakers double their investments in helping nonprofit capacity builders in local communities improve the ability of nonprofits to meet their missions. Learn more about capacity building and why it is needed.

We also sound the alarm to nonprofits and local grantmakers that the Administration has requested zero funds to continue this critical program in the coming year. While the President’s proposed budget for 2011 seeks a 21% increase for the Small Business Administration – spending almost a billion dollars – to help small businesses, his budget would defund this program that helps local nonprofits better serve their local communities. Nonprofits and local grantmakers who recognize the serious need to invest money in nonprofit capacity building need to contact their federal Representatives and Senators to make sure this program is fully funded: at just $5 million (compared to the $994 million for the SBA). Read this fact sheet for more background, see these talking points, and speak up for local nonprofits across America.

Sign Up to Support Nonprofit Sector Legislation

Join more than 450 nonprofits showing their support for the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act by adding your organization's name to the list. This landmark legislation will strengthen America's communities by making the federal government a more productive partner with nonprofit organizations by establishing 1) better communication with the federal government, 2) better coordination within government, and 3) enhanced data collection and research.

NY: Legislature Limits Charitable Deductions

New York’s legislature approved a budget plan last week that includes a provision that limits the incentives for approximately 3,500 New York taxpayers who earn more than $10 million to make charitable contributions. This new limit of just 25% on state tax deductibility of charitable donations for these individuals is in effect for three years, including the current 2010 tax year.

GA: Tax Reform Council begins work

The 11-member Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, created by the General Assembly this year, has started reviewing the revenue effects of state and local income, property, and sales taxes with a goal of developing reform recommendations prior to the opening of the 2011 legislative session in January.  

Nonprofit Participation in Primaries

Nonprofits got out the vote in primary elections this month thanks to the extensive planning and outreach by the Michigan Participation Project and the Minnesota Participation Project. Prior to the Michigan (August 3) and Minnesota (August 8) primaries, the Projects distributed resources and helpful hints for election day, which supplemented existing training, materials and other resources they have developed to help nonprofits integrate voter registration, voter education, voter mobilization, and candidate education into their ongoing activities.

Appreciating the Past: Nonprofit Advocates

Give yourself a treat by reading this inspiring piece by New York Times columnist Gail Collins about the "70-year slog" that the suffragists endured to secure the right to vote for women. With keen insight, Gail observes, "We always need to remember that behind almost every great moment in history, there are heroic people doing really boring and frustrating things for a prolonged period of time." Her observation is especially important in this rapid-pace, instant-gratification, just-click-to-a-solution era. All of us who gather through America’s nonprofits to advance the causes we believe in should always remember this story’s insights about the importance of determination, the value of advocating constantly, and the proud legacy we have inherited from earlier nonprofits: the suffragists gathered and advocated through nonprofits, one of which became today’s League of Woman Voters.