Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters,
Well, it’s September and coronavirus has now been part of our lives for half a year. Like most of you, we at NAO continue to be hopeful this will be contained soon, but also planning for what could be many months of continued restrictions and programmatic impacts. Given the uncertainty of in-person gatherings and following input and feedback from 10 community focus group sessions that we convened across the state, NAO has made the decision, to hold off on convening our 20120-2021 in-person networks that we usually launch in the fall of each year. Instead, we will extend the strategy deployed in mid-March when COVID-19 restrictions were first put in place – to hold free online sessions – until such time that the State of Oregon and the Oregon Health Authority lift restrictions on in-person gatherings.
Since mid-March, with generous support from foundations and sponsors and through the membership dues paid by our network, NAO has held – free of charge to participants – nearly 40 online sessions bringing immediate, timely, much-needed resources and experts to Oregon’s nonprofits in a virtual setting. Topics covering adapting strategy, finance, donor engagement, PPP, legal and compliance, human resources, contingency planning, diversity, equity and inclusion efforts during a crisis, how to conduct an internal equity audit, virtual fundraising have already been covered and we have 20 more sessions planned through the end of December. More than 6,500 of you, our nonprofit leaders, have attended these sessions with hundreds more listening to the recordings. Thank you for the work you are doing and for using the resources.
As we work to bring you these resources to help you adapt and maximize your organizations’ strengths during these tough times, we love hearing stories of your successes. Last night KGW News did a great story on the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and the ways in which they are adapting to still bring music and joy into people’s lives.
Adaptation and change remain the mantras of our sector right now. Be sure to take advantage of the great sessions we have coming up in September with Laurel McCombs and Andy Robinson.
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The Oregon Department of Justice is requesting all nonprofit organizations that use Blackbaud products to please email them at NPdatabreach@doj.state.or.us with the answers to the following questions. Please also include your organization name, contact person, and contact information on all correspondence.
Please identify the number that correlates to your answer or n/a if a question is not applicable.
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NAO highly recommends that any nonprofit impacted by the data breach respond to this request from the Oregon Department of Justice. With our help, they can get better information to understand the nature of the breach and how Oregonians that support our organizations are impacted. |
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At the Federal Level
Secretary Mnuchin testified before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis on Tuesday. Regarding negotiating a COVID relief bill, the Treasury Secretary said at the outset: “We will continue to try to work with the Senate and the House on a bipartisan Phase IV relief package. I believe a bipartisan agreement still should be reached and would provide substantial funds for schools, testing, vaccines, PPP for small businesses, continued enhanced unemployment benefits, child care, nutrition, agriculture, and the U.S. Postal Service, along with liability protection for universities, schools, and businesses.” Here’s a Washington Post recap of the hearing. You can learn more at the Select Subcommittee website, including its charter and list of members.
On Monday, the same Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis released an analysis of the positive commentary from Administration officials about the pandemic and contemporaneous dour reports sent to the states. The Subcommittee news release states, “These reports — which the White House sent privately to states but did not disclose to the public – directly contradict the Administration’s rosy public statements downplaying the threat of the virus.”
Guidance on Payroll Taxes
On August 28, the Department of Treasury and IRS released guidance for the August 8, 2020 Presidential Memorandum regarding payroll taxes. Specifically, employers are allowed, but are not required, to defer the employee portion of Social Security taxes from September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Employers may only defer such taxes for employees who have taxable wages that are less than $4,000 per bi-weekly pay period, which is equivalent to approximately $104,000 per year. This tax reprieve must be repaid by the affected taxpayer between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021 or interest, penalties, and additions to tax will begin to accrue on May 1, 2021. Unfortunately, this IRS guidance fails to clarify what an employer’s obligation would be if the employer is not able to collect the deferred Social Security taxes if the employee is no longer receiving a paycheck from that employer.
Eviction Moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an “Agency Order” last night implementing the President’s executive order on assistance of renters and homeowners. The order provides a blanket eviction ban through the end of the year covering nearly all residential renters. It expressly states, “This Order is a temporary eviction moratorium to prevent the further spread of COVID-19,” thus explaining why the CDC is the governmental entity issuing the order. A White House news release explains that “renters who meet certain conditions cannot be evicted if they have affirmatively exhausted their best efforts to pay rent, seek Government rental assistance, and are likely to become homeless due to eviction.” Renters will still owe the accumulating rent and landlords can still evict individuals engaging in illegal activities.
DOL Issues New Guidance for Childcare Under the FFCRA
Late last week, the Department of Labor released new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding childcare leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). As a reminder, Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Emergency Family Medical Leave (EFML) are available to most employees in nonprofits under 500 employees, with some exceptions, when their children’s school is closed or when childcare is unavailable due to COVID-19 and that employee is unable to telework.
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Upcoming Online Sessions
First Dollar Coverage is Crucial, Tuesday, September 8, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: Why should every organization rethink their health benefits? Innovation is critical during unprecedented times. Organizations that care about the wellbeing of their workforce and that are facing unsustainably rising health insurance rates must reconsider business-as-usual when it comes to designing and purchasing their health benefits. Join Derreck Smith, Senior Marketing Manager and Angerene Aldridge, Benefits Advisor at Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services, Inc. to learn about what is a first-dollar coverage approach; how to design your health plan with first-dollar coverage and save money; what health plan options and solutions are the best fit for the size of your organization; and hear about the Nonstop Wellness solution that enables organizations to save on health plan costs and provide first-dollar coverage. Register for the session here.
Resource Development Planning & Prioritizing During Uncertainty, Tuesday, September 17, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: Nonprofit leaders are facing a high degree of uncertainty as COVID-19 has disrupted every facet of our work and lives. For those with the responsibility to lead your organization's resource development strategy and implementation, that means finding new sources of funding, adopting new methods for virtual donor engagement, and maximizing your donor database. Planning may seem counterintuitive given all of the unknowns. Now, more than ever, your organization needs a resource development plan in place that provides a roadmap that you can adapt and manage during this uncertainty. Laurel McCombs, Senior Philanthropy Consultant of The Osborne Group will lead a practical, fast-paced session to discuss what you need to do now to get your plan in place and take control of your fundraising priorities for your mission success. Register for the session here.
Collaborative Fundraising: Moving From Scarcity to Abundance, Wednesday, September 30, 9 – 10 a.m. PT: Fundraising doesn't have to be a competitive sport. There are times when multiple organizations, working together, can raise a lot more money collectively. Join Andy Robinson, Principal at Andy Robinson Consulting, who will dive into the specifics of shared fundraising, including: options for collaborative fundraising, why donors and funders appreciate this approach, sorting out the work, dividing up the money, and fundraising with unexpected partners. Register for the session here.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Oregon Charitable Nonprofits, Thursday, October 1, Noon – 1 p.m. PT: Grace L. Chikoto-Schultz, PhD, Assistant Professor at Portland State University and Jim White, Executive Director at NAO will share the findings of the COVID-19 Impacts on Oregon charitable nonprofits survey conducted in June. The survey was aimed at quantifying the challenges nonprofits are facing. The findings underscore not only the importance of the nonprofit sector at this time, but also the pain these organizations are feeling and the hope and concerns they have for the future. Join Grace and Jim for a discussion about what these findings mean for the sector as we chart a path forward through this uncertainty and COVID-19 crisis. Register for the session here.
Upswell 2020, October 14-16, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. PT: Independent Sector’s Upswell 2020 is about two most important things facing every changemaker in the U.S.: ending racism and recovering from the pandemic. How we deal with these monumental challenges – in this utterly urgent moment in our shared history – will determine nothing less than the future of our nation. It sure won’t be easy and it certainly won’t be perfect. But our efforts will be existentially necessary. So, we’re inviting you to show up! Claim your agency. Elevate your ideas. Amplify your voice. Get creative, innovative, passionate, and relentlessly determined. Because it’s going to take the very best you’ve got – and the very best the rest of us have got – to heal our nation and create a society where every person can thrive. To find out more about Upswell, click here. Register for Upswell here.
QuickBooks Made Easy Webinar: Desktop, November 10, 11, and 12, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT: Gregg S. Bossen, CPA of QuickBooks Made Easy, is partnering with NAO to offer an updated three-part QuickBooks® training webinar for nonprofits. This webinar is for the Desktop edition of QuickBooks. Gregg will cover the basics of setting up and entering transactions specifically for nonprofits, an overview of the software updates included in the QuickBooks® 2020 Desktop Edition, as well as advanced topics covering a host of specific processes that will help you do more helpful and amazing things! Register for the three-part webinar here.
QuickBooks Made Easy Webinar: Online, November 17, 18, and 19, 11 a.m. – 1 pm. PT: Gregg S. Bossen, CPA of QuickBooks Made Easy, is partnering with NAO to offer an updated three-part QuickBooks® training webinar for nonprofits. This webinar is for the Online edition of QuickBooks. Gregg will cover the basics of setting up and entering transactions specifically for nonprofits, an overview of the software updates included in the QuickBooks® 2020 Online Edition, as well as advanced topics covering a host of specific processes that will help you do more helpful and amazing things! Register for the three-part webinar here.
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I hope that you all stay safe and healthy!
Sincerely,
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Jim White
Executive Director
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Thank you to the following SUPPORTERS and SPONSORS who are supporting NAO’s online COVID-19 events and communications during these challenging times. Their support is vital in helping NAO to bring much-needed resources and information to Oregon’s nonprofits – thank you. |
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FRIEND PLUS PARTNER SPONSORS |
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FOLLOW NAO ON SOCIAL MEDIA |
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