Image
Highlights of This Edition
- Save the Date for Foundations on the Hill 2025
- Submit Session Proposals for the Philanthropy + Policy Institute 2024
- Resource Spotlight: New Nonprofit VOTE Report on the Power of Voter
Key News + Announcements
Image
Save the Date for Foundations on the Hill 2025
United Philanthropy Forum’s Foundations on the Hill – the largest annual public policy and advocacy conference dedicated solely to the philanthropic sector – will be held March 16-19, 2025, at the JW Marriot in Washington, D.C.
Improving on the momentum and impact of this year’s conference, the 22nd Annual Foundations on the Hill will feature keynote speakers, breakout sessions, engaging workshops, several receptions, and multiple days of meetings with lawmakers, their staff, and federal officials.
Mark your calendars and share the #FOTH2025 dates with your foundation members.
Forum to Submit Member-Informed Comments on Treasury’s 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan
In March, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) invited the public to submit recommendations for items to be included in the 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, May 31, 2024.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy and the IRS use the Priority Guidance Plan each year to identify and prioritize the tax issues that should be addressed through regulations, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published administrative guidance.
The 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan will identify guidance projects that the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to actively work on as priorities from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The Forum will submit recommendations. Member PSOs are encouraged to share input on what should be included and add their organizations’ names to the Forum’s recommendations by emailing Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans before Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
White House Finalizes Guidance to Make Federal Grants More Accessible and Transparent
Last week, the White House announced updates to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance, which sets the foundational requirements for agencies in making grants and providing other forms of federal financial assistance.
These updates to the Uniform Grants Guidance aim to streamline and clarify requirements for federal funding, reduce compliance costs, and increase accessibility. OMB is also publishing an implementation memorandum that will direct agencies to implement the revisions by October 1, 2024.
Read the announcement from the White House for details.
Senate GOP Criticize Tax Bill as House W&M Looks to 2025 Tax Package
Lawmakers returned to Washington this week after a two-week recess, and Bloomberg Government reports that Senate GOP criticism of the House-passed bipartisan tax package has called into question whether the upper chamber will take action on the legislation.
The pending tax package could become part of House Ways and Means talks on tax policy ahead of next year’s expiration of some provisions from the GOP’s 2017 tax law. Whether the legislation is enacted will likely have ramifications for the 2025 talks, and the fight this year could have some lessons for what’s sure to come next year.
The Forum monitors the tax package and 2025 tax talks closely and will update the sector about the potential impacts of the legislation and chances to advocate for the inclusion of the Charitable Act.
PSO Resources + Updates
Image
Submit Session Proposals and Save the Date for this Year’s Philanthropy + Policy Institute
Building on last year’s success, the Forum invites member input for session design and proposals for the Philanthropy + Policy Institute 2024, taking place virtually on October 4th.
The Policy Institute is the premier opportunity for sector leaders and advocates to learn together and bolster their policy and advocacy capacity. Formulated to cultivate and reinforce the public policy skill set of PSO leaders, staff, and their foundation members, #PPI2024 aims to foster a strategic and collective approach to advocacy, public policy, and government relations.
Forum members are encouraged to submit session ideas that seek to inform attendees about public policy as a practice and build their advocacy capacity.
Staff from Forum member organizations are encouraged to submit session proposals via our online survey form by Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
We look forward to session submissions! If you have questions about submitting a session proposal, please contact Forum Senior Public Policy Associate Nate Borek.
Forum's Evans to Moderate Urban Institute Symposium Panel on the Future of Nonprofit Regulations
Next week, Urban Institute and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy are hosting a symposium, "The Future of Nonprofit Regulation in the United States." On Thursday, April 18th, at 3:00 pm ET, Forum Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans will moderate a panel featuring research on the sector's role in civic engagement.
At the symposium, scholars, practitioners, and regulators will bring together empirical information and cross-sector perspectives to address critical regulatory issues toward encouraging informed public policies and relevant research.
Learn more about registration and the agenda.
Forum Submits Testimony Outline to Treasury for Hearing on DAF Regulations
Last week, the Forum submitted a speaker outline for the upcoming Treasury hearing held in response to comments the agency received on proposed donor-advised fund (DAF) regulations. The Forum will participate in this hearing on May 6th at the IRS in Washington, D.C.
Forum members interested in informing this testimony are encouraged to email Matthew L. Evans, Senior Director of Public Policy.
Resource Spotlight: New Nonprofit VOTE Report on the Power of Voter Engagement
Ahead of this year’s elections, Nonprofit VOTE released the 2024 Nonprofit Power report, which highlights the role nonprofits play in building a more inclusive democracy through nonpartisan voter engagement in historically underrepresented communities.
The report found that voters engaged by nonprofits saw a ten percentage point boost in voter turnout compared to their counterparts in the same communities, an effect that is further amplified in historically marginalized groups.
Check out Nonprofit VOTE’s new report.
Image
State + Local Public Policy News
NYC Mayor Announces First-Ever Nonprofit Advisory Council, Including Philanthropy New York VP Marlon Williams
Last week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the city’s first-ever Nonprofit Advisory Council. The advisory council will work with the Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services to serve as a link between the Adams administration and the nonprofit organizations serving New Yorkers.
The inaugural members of the council include Philanthropy New York's Vice President of Public Policy & Collaboration, Marlon Williams.
View the Mayor’s announcement and PNY’s celebration.
Securing State and Local ARPA Funds Before Dec. 31, 2024 Deadline
The December 31, 2024, deadline is rapidly approaching for governments to obligate and nonprofits to access State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) under the American Rescue Plan Act. Last week, the National Council of Nonprofits shared recent nonprofit successes and newly announced SLFRF opportunities.
Learn more about nonprofit eligibility and watch the National Council's webinar recording for helpful tips on how nonprofits can access these funds on which governments must commit to specific spending plans by the end of this year.
Donor Intent Legislation Sent to Kentucky and Georgia Governors
Lawmakers in Kentucky and Georgia have passed so-called “donor intent legislation.” In Kentucky, SB70 was recently passed and sent to Governor Andy Beshear. The bill would require charities to abide by endowment agreements and allow civil recourse if an agreement is broken.
In Georgia, SB 433, which would require charities to abide by endowment agreements and provide legal remedies for violation, has been sent to Governor Brian Kemp.
The Forum follows this issue and will keep members apprised. If you have questions about these or similar bills, please contact Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans.
Image
The Philanthropy + Policy Update regularly features state updates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Priorities Partnership (SPP).
State Partners Advocate for Federal Funding for Women and Kids
As part of the appropriations process, Congress passed legislation that protects funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) – thanks to the work of advocates across the country, including State Priorities Partnership (SPP) organizations.
Throughout the appropriations process, numerous SPP organizations called on Congress to fully fund WIC, including the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and the Michigan League for Public Policy.
With funding secured, work on state-level implementation continues. For example, the Montana Budget and Policy Center developed an eligibility data dashboard.
Commonwealth Institute Advocates for Equitable Funding for K-12 Education
Virginia budget conferees rejected Governor Glen Youngkin's tax package that included tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. Instead, they have proposed significant investments in public education, healthcare, and other crucial areas.
The Commonwealth Institute played a key role in this decision by offering timely and accurate analysis that highlighted the negative impact of the proposed tax cuts on K-12 public education systems.
Advocacy from Across the Forum Network
Several Forum Members Co-Sponsor Census Equity Initiative Briefing on Data Equity for Native American Communities
Census Equity Initiative (CEI) and cosponsors are hosting Advancing Census Data Equity for Native American Communities on April 29th. The virtual briefing seeks to provide an understanding of the importance of decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS) data for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
Co-sponsors include Funders' Committee for Civic Participation, Florida Philanthropic Network, Minnesota Council on Foundations, and Native Americans in Philanthropy.
Read the CEI briefing page for details.
Funders Together to End Homeless and Partners File Amicus Brief Urging SCOTUS to Protect the Unhoused and Plan Day of Action Rally for Oral Arguments
Last week, Funders Together to End Homelessness (FTEH), National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Enterprise Community Partners filed an amicus brief for the Johnson v. Grants Pass case to urge the Supreme Court of the United States to “protect the lives and rights of our unhoused neighbors across the country.”
The case will decide whether cities can punish people for things like sleeping outside, even when no safe shelter is available.
Check out the amicus brief and day of action rally coinciding with oral arguments.
Women’s Funding Network Launches Inaugural Edition of Feminist Policy Watch
Women’s Funding Network (WFN) launched a new newsletter last week. Feminist Policy Watch is designed to support WFN members’ efforts to stay current on the latest U.S. federal and state policy developments.
The newsletter aims to support members working at the intersection of philanthropy, public policy, and advocacy, offering a deep dive into U.S. state and national policy from a global and intersectional feminist lens.
To learn more, reach out to WFN Director of Policy and Programs Mirenda Meghelli, Esq., at policy@womensfundingnetwork.org.
Council of Michigan Foundations Publishes Update on DAF Regulations
The IRS and Treasury shared proposed regulations in November that focus mostly on important definitions surrounding donor advised funds (DAFs). The Council of Michigan Foundations submitted comments to Treasury on the proposed regulations and provided a template for CMF members to utilize as they crafted their own.
Several CMF members submitted comments or signed on to comments submitted by one of their national partners, including United Philanthropy Forum.
This month, CMF published a DAF policy update about next steps.
Legislative Calendars
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is in session.
View the House of Representatives calendar.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is in session.
View the United States Senate calendar.
2024 State Legislative Session
For State Legislative Calendars:
View the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 State Legislative Session Calendar.
