Taylor Benavente is joined by Sarah-Grace Battles, Communications Manager, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Jaime Lewis, Finance and Database Manager, Michigan Nonprofit Association (MNA) for a pair of segments and then Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, Vice President, Public Policy, American Society of Association (ASAE) joins him for the second pair.

Their discussion covers UBIT, the Unrelated Business Income Tax, what it is, how it impacts non-profits, and how recent changes to tax law are impacting small and big associations. There was also an ASAE event in Washington DC March 28-29, 2019, "American Associations Day" where the UBIT topic will be among the issues tackled by ASAE.

To hear Sarah-Grace, Jamie, and Mary Kate's segments with Taylor, please click play on the SoundCloud PodCast shared below.

Segment 1: Taylor with Sarah-Grace, and Jamie

Not for profit, nonprofit, tax exempt – the sector that advances missions and exists to serve others.

Whether big or small, professional or faith-based, industry promoting or socially-focused, their missions and service are equally accountable to – but not equally assessed by – the United States tax code as are their counterparts in the corporate sector. 

The Michigan Nonprofit Association, a statewide membership organization dedicated to serving the diverse nonprofit sector through advocacy, training, and resources, joins Association Impact to identify and explain an ongoing advocacy priority of both the nonprofit and association sectors alike, the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).

Segment 2:

Revisions to the national tax code don’t happen very often. When they do, what can the (un)intended consequences look like when implemented in the real world? 

In this segment, we will examine more closely the tangible effects of changes to just one of the many provisional changes made in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 – the Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT). 

Learn more about the actual costs of UBIT, the lack of clear guidance from the Internal Revenue Service, a rising trend of forced equality between the non and for profit sectors – and what this all means for those organizations who just want to focus on their missions.

Segment 3:

The American Society of Association Executives, a national, membership-based association comprised of association and nonprofit industry professionals, joins Association Impact to offer the “big picture” look and how the impacts of the UBIT provision have begun to play out for nonprofit organizations across the country. 

Mary Kate Cunningham, CAE, Vice President of Public Policy, also provides a background and status update on UBIT repeal bills introduced by Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), H.R. 1545, and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK), S. 632.

Segment 4:

As American industries and economies continue to develop following a tumultuous 2018 midterms, a critical responsibility of both nonprofit and for-profit professionals is to remain current and informed of the evolutions to their sectors. 

The American Society of Association Executives concludes Association Impact’s exploration of the Unrelated Business Income Tax by discussing how even the least sexy of topics can carry significant implications when the national tax code is on the line. 

Mary Kate Cunningham offers an advance look at American Associations Day 2019, in which association professionals from across the country will advocate against this onerous tax.