Philanthropy + Policy Update: March 29, 2024

Key News + Announcements

Submit Session Proposals for this Year’s Philanthropy + Policy Institute

United Philanthropy Forum’s Philanthropy + Policy Institute will take place virtually in early October 2024.

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.

Building on last year’s success, the Forum invites member input for session design and proposals. Forum members are encouraged to submit session ideas that seek to inform attendees about public policy as a practice and build their advocacy capacity.

Session Proposal Guidelines

• Staff from Forum member organizations are encouraged to submit session proposals via our online survey form by Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
• Proposals should include ideas for workshops, training, panel discussions, and/or guest speakers.
• Session proposals should be constructed to foster dialogue, share expertise, and highlight valuable takeaways for attendees.

We look forward to session submissions! If you have questions about submitting a session proposal, please contact Forum Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans.

Image

Post-FOTH Action: Reminding Lawmakers and Staff About Co-Sponsoring the Charitable Act

Thanks, in part, to the efforts of #FOTH2024 participants, ten new co-sponsors have been recently added to the Charitable Act in the House, including two members of the Ways and Means Committee. This brings the House co-sponsor total to 52, with even more to be added soon.

The Forum urges FOTH attendees to continue to follow up with lawmakers and/or staff to thank them for their time and ask if they have committed to co-sponsoring the bill. Thanks to those of you who already circled back and helped garner the support of these new co-sponsors.

OMB Publishes Revised Standards for Race and Ethnicity Data

On March 28th, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published the results of their Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15) review and issued updated standards for maintaining, collecting, and presenting race and ethnicity data. These efforts aim to improve federal race and ethnicity statistics and ensure data more accurately reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population.

The Census Bureau will begin the process of reviewing the updated SPD 15. The agency will determine a regular cadence for communications as it develops plans to implement the changes in its censuses and surveys.

Learn more about the results and updated standards.

Organizations Invited to Sign Letter in Support of FY 2025 Census Funding

The Census Project has drafted a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations (CJS) Subcommittees urging them to provide the Census Bureau with $2 billion in FY 2025 and oppose any proposals that would use the agency as a funding offset.

Organizations are invited to support The Census Project’s efforts by signing the letter before COB (ET) Tuesday, April 9th.

Read the full letter to learn more.

Senators Consider How to Advance House-Passed Tax Bill

The $78 billion business-and-child tax break bill is on hold for another two weeks, per Bloomberg Government. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), before the break, predicted a grassroots campaign in that time to build support for the bill.

Even though the Senate majority leader took steps to bring the bill to the floor, it still faces opposition from high-level GOP senators.

The Forum monitors this bill closely and will update the sector about chances to advocate for the inclusion of the Charitable Act.

State + Local Public Policy News

Philanthropy New York and Partners Celebrate NYC Increasing Human Service Worker Wages

Philanthropy New York (PNY) is celebrating a milestone achieved by their partners at the Human Services Council of New York Services Council and other organizations. Thanks in part to their advocacy efforts, Mayor Eric Adams and City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams announced a historic investment of over $740 million into raises for tens of thousands of nonprofit human services workers in New York City.

Find more details in PNY’s announcement.

Georgia State Legislature Passes Donor Intent Legislation

On March 26th, the Georgia state Senate passed a House-modified version of SB 433, which would require charities to abide by endowment agreements and provide “legal remedies” for violation. The so-called “donor intent legislation” passed with 44 yeas, nine nays, one abstention, and two excused.

The Forum follows this issue and will keep members updated. If you have questions about this 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 Against Elimination of Income Tax

With proposals to reduce or eliminate state income taxes or other major revenue streams, State Partners are advocating for sustainable public revenues that could be used for affordable housing, child tax credits, and other community solutions.

Campaigns pushing back on inequitable cuts are being supported by Common Good Iowa, the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, and the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

The Florida Policy Institute Launches Campaign Against Rolling Back Child Labor Laws

Last month, the Florida Policy Institute launched a rapid response campaign against the rollback of child labor protections. Their priority this legislative session is to remove or amend provisions that would rollback child labor protections in S.B. 460 and H.B. 917, and they provided testimony to the House Committee of Education and Employment in opposition to these bills.