Contributions to charities have dropped dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It’s been devastating,” said Kate Rublacava, CEO of the Utah Nonprofits Association.

More than half of the state’s nonprofits canceled events and fundraisers, resulting in $11 million in lost revenue, she said. Organizations spent another $4 million to restructure events and convert to working remotely because of the virus.

“We need to jump-start that back again. Passing this right now would be helpful,” Lee said. “We especially need to do this right now because of all the things with we’re struggling with.”

Rubalcava said the nonprofit sector has been talking to Congress about expanding the charitable giving tax deduction for years.

“It’s fortuitous in an awful way that a pandemic has really sparked the need to center charitable giving to nonprofits,” she said.