Highlights of This Edition
Key News + Announcements
Forum to Launch First-Ever State + Local Advocacy Alliance Dedicated to PSOs
Next Wednesday, May 29th, the Forum will officially launch its State + Local Advocacy Alliance. The member-driven State + Local Advocacy Alliance is a state-centered advocacy initiative designed as a mobilization, advocacy, and capacity-building program.
Tailor-made for the Forum’s network of nearly 100 PSOs, the Alliance seeks to prepare the network to catalyze change nationwide. Its mission is to equip and empower PSOs and their foundation members with the tools, resources, and networks to become driving forces in championing and advancing equitable state-level policies that strengthen the philanthropic sector and deliver meaningful community impact.
On May 29th, at 1:00 pm ET, join Forum public policy and advocacy staff for our special Launch Webinar and Orientation.
During the presentation, Forum members will learn more about the Alliance’s objectives, resources, programmatic focus, and how to get involved.
Register for the launch webinar today. We look forward to seeing you there!
Legislative Alert: House Ways and Means Advances Bills Aimed at Charitable Sector
While this has been a historically unproductive Congress with the fewest bills being signed into law in decades, there has been oversight activity and marker bills being introduced that could fundamentally impact the philanthropic and charitable sector if passed.
Last August, the House Ways and Means Majority released a request for information to “understand and examine the political activity of tax-exempt organizations.” In April, the House overwhelmingly passed a bill by a vote of 382-11 to give the Treasury Department the authority to dismantle any nonprofit organization they deem to have provided “material support” to terrorist groups. This raises a concern that future Administrations could investigate and harass nonprofits.
This month, the House Ways and Means Committee approved five bills to address the Majority’s “concerns” with election integrity and foreign interference. The bills that passed (H.R. 8290, H.R. 8291, H.R. 8292, H.R. 8293, and H.R. 8314) would target international activities and funding of nonprofits, donor disclosure, foreign influence on political campaign activity, funding to support election administration, and increase the penalty for disclosure of taxpayer protected information from $5,000 and five years in prison to $250,000 and 10 years for each violation.
Learn more about this issue by reading our full write-up on the new Forum website.
The Forum invites PSO members and their foundation networks to share examples or stories, even anonymously, on the potential negative impact of either of these bills.
If you have any questions on these bills and/or how the Forum is educating policymakers on the potential unintended consequences of these bills, please contact Matthew L. Evans.
May 31st Deadline for Philanthropy + Policy Institute Session Proposals
Don’t miss the last chance to share input for session design and proposals for the Philanthropy + Policy Institute 2024. Forum members are encouraged to submit session ideas that seek to inform attendees about public policy as a practice and build their advocacy capacity before the end of the day next Friday, May 31st.
We look forward to additional session submissions! If you have questions about submitting a session proposal, please contact Forum Senior Public Policy Associate Nate Borek.
PSO Resources + Updates
Forum Co-Sponsors Funder Briefing on LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Census
In honor of Pride Month, the Forum joined the Census Equity Initiative and several cosponsors to host a funder briefing on LGBTQ+ inclusion in census data. The webinar, Investing in Inclusion, will occur Thursday, June 13th, 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET.
The briefing will note the importance of modifying the American Community Survey (ACS) to ensure the needs of LGBTQ communities are better understood in government programs, policies, funding investments, and enforcement of civil rights laws.
The Forum encourages PSOs to register for the briefing and share it with foundation members. Check out the event webpage for more information.
Georgetown University Philanthropic Leadership Program Accepting Applicants
We're excited to share a professional development opportunity for PSO staff and members. Georgetown University's Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership is offering an in-person Executive Certificate in Philanthropic Leadership for the Fall of 2024, with esteemed faculty that includes some Forum Members.
The philanthropy certificate is designed as an experiential leadership lab to help strengthen the skills of philanthropic practitioners working in private and/or family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, government agencies, donor-advised funds, and philanthropy serving organizations. The diversity of participants provides a unique opportunity to work across sectors to reimagine the future of philanthropy.
Learn more about the program and share it with your networks today. The priority deadline is May 31, 2024.
Resource Spotlight: Poll Finds Sector Leaders Concerned with 2024 Election, Mis/Disinformation
Last week, the Communications Network released the results of a new poll focused on the upcoming election and mis/disinformation among other topics. Most respondents were senior communications executives with an average of 17 years of professional experience.
The findings include:
State + Local Public Policy News
SCOTUS Leaves Louisiana Congressional Map with Two Majority-Black Districts for 2024
On May 15th, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay in Robinson v. Callais, pausing enforcement of a district court’s decision to strike down Louisiana’s congressional map as a racial gerrymander. With the stay in place, Louisiana voters will be able to cast their ballots this November under the map with two majority-Black districts passed by the state Legislature in January of this year (SB 8).
SB 8 was drawn in direct response to a separate lawsuit, Robinson v. Landry, where a district court judge found that the state’s 2022 map, which included only one majority-Black district, likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Check out the announcement from the Legal Defense Fund.
Connecticut House Assigns Last ARPA Funds to Nonprofits, Among Other Programs
This month, the Connecticut legislature announced that they plan to allocate the state’s remaining ARPA funds to nonprofits, among other priorities.
The plan would provide $50 million for nonprofits that provide social services for the state, a 2.5% rate increase from the current fiscal year.
Learn more from the Harford Business Journal.
Advocacy from Across the Forum Network
Funders Together to End Homelessness Releases New Policy Framework
On May 9th, Funders Together to End Homelessness released a new policy framework to guide the organization’s advocacy and policy efforts.
The framework centers on racial justice and consists of three policy pillars – Housing Abundance, Thriving Communities, and People Power – where Funders Together plans to focus, strengthen, and expand its advocacy in the coming years.
Discover more details of Funders Together’s new framework.
Florida Philanthropic Network Convening Civic Engagement Member Network
The Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN) is convening a Civic Engagement member network comprised of members who share an interest in civic responsibility efforts locally, statewide, and nationally.
The network will seek to foster collaboration and partnerships, with a focus on the Census, voter education, redistricting, and building civic participation.
Learn more about the network’s next convening, occurring June 10th.
North. Cal. Grantmakers’ Conference Features Session on Democracy and Power Building
Northern California Grantmakers' annual conference on June 18th will include the session, “Strengthening Democracy by Building, Winning, & Wielding Power.”
Participants will discuss how investments in advocacy, organizing, shared governance models, and community-led solutions complement and build on successes at the ballot box and the grantmaking practices that could sustain this work.
Check out NCG’s conference agenda.
FCCP, Partners Hosting Census Collaborative Convening at Annie E. Casey Foundation
The Census Equity Initiative, Census Counts, and the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) are hosting the next Census Collaborative Convening in Baltimore, MD, on August 1st.
Participants will hear the latest policy and operational developments, learn about state-based census activities, strategize about the work leading up to 2030, and hear from Robert Santos, director of the U.S. Census Bureau.
In-person space is limited but virtual attendance is available.
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.
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