March 22, 2024

What's Happening This Week...

• News from the Council
• What We're Tracking in DC
• Federal Government Engagement Opportunities
• Happening in the States
• News, Resources, and Events

News from the Council

Building Together Early Registration Ends TODAY

Still planning to attend Building Together but haven't registered yet? Today is the last day for early registration -- which means it's the last day for Council members to receive a $500 discount.

Is your organization going to send a group? There's still a group discount after early registration ends tonight -- but you'll save so much more if you book today. 

See the full Building Together schedule and register now.

What We're Tracking in DC

Biden Administration Releases the “Green Book”

The Biden Administration released the President’s budget request for fiscal year 2025 and its associated revenue proposals — also called the “Green Book.” As it has for the past two years, the Green Book includes two restrictions that would impact foundations:

• It prohibits private foundations from counting payments to disqualified individuals—including salaries to family members—toward their 5% payout requirement.
• It limits private foundation to donor advised fund transfers. Any funds transferred from a private foundation to a DAF would have to be paid out by the end of the following taxable year to be a qualifying distribution for the private foundation.

It is important to note that the President’s budget request is not U.S. law, and current law has not changed. Rather, the budget request and the Green Book serve as messaging documents that lay out the President’s priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

IRS Funding Stays Flat in Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations Bill

Congressional appropriators released text for a government funding bill for the current fiscal year. The legislation, which must be passed before midnight on Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown, keeps IRS funding at $12.3 billion — the same as for FY2023. The package also includes a $20.2 billion reduction in the IRS funding authorized as part of the Inflation Reduction Act.

Locally Led Development and Humanitarian Response Act (H.R.7710/S.3994) Introduced

This week, Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), along with Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at strengthening locally led development. This bill would clear some hurdles that currently make partnering with locally led organizations abroad difficult for USAID, including authorizing the agency to accept proposals in languages other than English. The bill has already been passed by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Read a summary.

Federal Government Updates and Opportunities

• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced a request for proposals for the 2024 America the Beautiful Challenge. Nonprofits are eligible to apply for grants aimed at conservation and restoration. Partnerships with state, local, and Tribal governments are encouraged.
• The Department of the Treasury released new analysis of the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on rural and other underserved communities. 

Happening in the States

Trend Spotting: Nonprofit Regulations

States are considering a range of regulatory measures that could impact charitable nonprofits. Recently introduced bills would permit raffles and bingo for charitable fundraising, require nonprofits to file an annual report with the Secretary of State, make fraudulent solicitation of charitable contributions punishable under the criminal code, and increase the threshold for a charitable organization to be required to register and report contributions.

Child Care Legislation in the States

Recent surveys on nonprofit workforce shortages found that challenges in accessing child care impact the ability of nonprofits to recruit and retain employees. States around the country are also recognizing this crisis and advancing policies to increase child care availability and affordability. Pending bills would establish an Office of Early Childhood Services, establish a Certified Child Care Community Designation Program to increase child care and early childhood education services, and require prospective employees and volunteers at child care centers to undergo criminal background checks.

News & Resources

• Building a stronger infrastructure workforce requires more than money, Brookings Institution
• When does it pay to become a nonprofit?, Aspen Institute
• Anti-DEI Lawsuits Threaten Nonprofits, Philanthropies, Nonprofit Quarterly
• Seize The Moment: Tap Into Remaining American Rescue Plan Act Funds, The NonProfit Times 

Keep in Touch!

Please feel free to reach out to any of us on the Government Relations Team with comments or concerns, or to share an issue, article, event, or op-ed you would like to see covered in a future Washington Snapshot.

View this email as a web page.