Hello Nonprofit Leaders and Supporters,
Last Friday, a national coalition of nonprofit organizations sent an initial letter to federal leaders urging Congress and President Biden to enact a package of solutions tailored to the needs and realities of nonprofits serving the public good. The letter, after highlighting the unique role of charitable nonprofits in providing pandemic relief and economic recovery, urges President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, and Leaders Schumer, McCarthy, and McConnell to include provisions in the next COVID relief package that accomplish the following:
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Provide Nonprofit-Specific Grants, Forgivable Loans, and Refundable Tax Credits for All Nonprofits via a carveout or nonprofit-specific PPP relief that lifts the 500-employee cap and removes the 25% decline in gross receipts in the PPP Second Draw, as well as passage of the updated WORK NOW Act and for emergency grants.
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Strengthen Charitable Giving Incentives by increasing and extending the above-the-line deduction while preserving the itemized charitable contribution deduction, all to ensure that nonprofits have the resources to serve their communities.
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Provide 100% Unemployment Benefit Reimbursement to nonprofits that self-insure these benefits, both retroactively to 2020 and extended through the first three quarters of 2021.
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Provide Substantial Financial Aid to State and Local Governments to avoid layoffs and cuts to essential programs and services, and to prevent the imposition by governments of new costs and burdens on their nonprofit partners.
The letter was sent last week to make sure negotiators and bill drafters knew the position of nonprofits. All of your Congressional delegation need to hear from you, but particularly Senator Wyden and Congressman Blumenauer who both have important committee positions that are involved directly in the drafting and negotiating of the bill.
Nonprofits from all subsectors and across the country are expressing their support by signing onto the letter to signal to Congress the groundswell of nonprofit support. NAO has signed on to the letter. We know from experience that policy proposals like these have a much greater chance of adoption when the constituents they’re meant to help show their support by contacting their lawmakers. With your help, we can show every member of Oregon’s congressional delegation that nonprofits in their districts want these measures.
Stay Healthy and Stay Safe!
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Jim White
NAO Executive Director
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At the State Level:
Twenty-five of Oregon’s 36 counties remain in the highest possible risk category for COVID-19 spread but will face slightly eased restrictions allowing very limited customers in places like theaters and gyms, according to the latest state health guidance.
Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday the latest county risk levels, which categorize counties based on their population and certain metrics like the case positivity rate. They go into effect Jan. 29 through Feb. 11.
Oregon remains near the bottom of the country in the roll-out of vaccines, partly due to the slow pipeline of federally procured stocks and partly to scheduling and planning within the state. The controversial decision by the Governor to vaccinate school teachers ahead of the elderly continues to draw criticism. Educators began receiving the first dose of the vaccine this week. Oregon’s most vulnerable population, those 80 years and older, will receive vaccinations beginning February 8. The Governor’s plan is to vaccinate seniors in four waves: 80 years and older, 75 and older, 70 and older and 65 and older. The waves will continue each week following Feb. 8 as doses permit.
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At the Federal Level:
COVID Relief Legislation
Yesterday, President Biden said he was prepared to give Republicans a "couple weeks" to reach a bipartisan deal on a coronavirus aid package before triggering the budget reconciliation process that would allow Democrats to pass a bill without Republican votes. He didn’t hint at where he may be willing to negotiate or identify areas where he’d yield, but information in Washington, D.C. indicates the deal may shrink the number of people eligible for the proposed $1,400 checks. Republicans generally are saying the $1.9 trillion price tag of the Biden proposal is a nonstarter. Several Democrats have also indicated that the package may be too much coming on the heels of the last package. A bipartisan group of 16 Senators say they want to keep talking with the Administration. Whether a deal will include nonprofit priorities depends on us and our nonprofit colleagues.
Where Leader Schumer Stands: Last Friday, Nonprofit New York, the New York Council of Nonprofits, and National Council of Nonprofits hosted a legislative briefing with Senate Majority Leader Schumer to discuss nonprofit sector priorities for the coming year. The event was attended by more than 900 participants. Leader Schumer reiterated his support for removing the 500-employee cap on Paycheck Protection Program loans and for raising to 100% the federal coverage of unemployment costs of reimbursing employers. Thanks to our Nonprofit New York, the New York Council of Nonprofits, and National Council of Nonprofits colleagues, you can view the recording here.
As mentioned above, both Senator Wyden and Congressman Blumenauer are seated on important committees (Senate Finance and House Ways and Means, respectively) that are deeply involved in the negotiation and the pieces of the bill that will stay and those that will be cut. Please let them know your priorities by writing or calling them today! You can find contacts for your representatives here.
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Upcoming Online Sessions
What Nonprofit Employers Need To Know About COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements, Wednesday, February 3, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: As vaccines for COVID-19 are being rolled out, everyone seems to be asking the same question: can employers require their employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment? Given a myriad of unknowns and competing considerations at play, the better question may be should they do so? Join Amy Robinson, Partner and Ivan Resendiz-Guiterrez, Appellate and Litigation Attorney at Miller Nash Graham & Dunn as they lead this a practical discussion on this issue. More details and registration information here.
Nonprofit Learning Cohort – Grantwriting Fundamentals, five Wednesday weekly interactive sessions – February 3 through March 31, Noon – 1:15 p.m. PT: Join a group of your peers for this interactive series and embark on a unique journey and learning experience into the world of grantwriting. This webinar series is facilitated by Allison Shirk, Owner/Instructor of Spark the Fire Grantwriting, and is targeted to both beginning grantwriters and those who seek to advance their success. This series is most appropriate for rural Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits. More details and registration information here.
Strengthening Nonprofit Teams and Maximizing Work From Home Using Brain-Science Basics, Wednesday, February 10, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: Anna Young, Principal at Anna Young Leadership Coaching will help us understand the basics of brain science, how we can use this to create support for our nonprofit teams, and look at techniques to support our brains while we are in the work-from-home mode. More details and registration information here.
Virtual Project Impact Cohort, February 16 through August 17, 2021: Join Steve Patty, Ph.D. from Dialogues in Action for a Project Impact Cohort consisting of seven virtual half-day graduate-level sessions over seven months, individualized coaching for each organization, resulting in qualitative and quantitative findings to demonstrate and improve impact. There are openings for up to 12 teams. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021. Learn more and apply at: https://www.projectimpactpdx.com/
Nonprofit Learning Cohort – Organizational Resilience, five Tuesday weekly interactive sessions – February 16 through March 16, 3 – 4:15 p.m. PT: Join a group of your peers for this series that will help you establish a more resilient organization through these challenging times. Corky McReynolds, Principal of LeadTeam Consulting will help you discover, assess, and apply tools to build or enhance resilience during change that results in a stronger and more sustainable organization. This series is most appropriate for Oregon-based 501(c)(3) staffed nonprofits statewide, but primarily in metro or metro-adjacent areas. More details and registration information here.
Transforming Your Development Program in 2021 – Fundraising in Times of Change, Thursday, February 18, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: In this session, Laurel McCombs, Senior Philanthropy Consultant at the Osborne Group, will look at practical and aspirational ways to approach your development planning and prioritization this year that will help you continue to adapt to uncertainty while addressing key challenges and opportunities that can lead to greater return on investment and, ultimately, greater impact. More details and registration information here.
Becoming a Great Board Member: Fundamentals of Nonprofit Board Governance, Wednesday, February 24, 10 – 11 a.m. PT: In this webinar, presented by Jenn Clemo, NAO’s Director of Nonprofit Leadership and Resources, you will learn about the nonprofit board of directors and gain an understanding of what it means to be an effective board member. Jenn will provide a thorough overview for new board members or those looking to refresh themselves on the fundamentals. More details and registration information here.
2021 Annual Nonprofit GAAP Update, Thursday, February 25, 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT: Gary McGee, CPA, Founder and Managing Partner of Gary McGee & Co. LLP will lead this annual nonprofit accounting and auditing update session. You’ll learn about new and proposed accounting and auditing standards, and how they will affect nonprofit organizations and their auditors. Topics will include Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance specific to nonprofit entities, AICPA accounting and auditing activities, and a Single Audit update. More details and registration information here.
Ambassador Training: Better Word-of-Mouth Marketing, Tuesday, March 2, 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT: Even in the era of social media, the most effective marketing strategy is word of mouth. Regardless of your role – board, staff or volunteer – you can represent your organization more effectively and encourage positive buzz. Join Andy Robinson, Principal of Andy Robinson Consulting, to learn how to engage potential supporters, develop compelling messages, and deliver them effectively. More details and registration information here.
Nonprofit Learning Cohort – Fundraising Through Uncertainty, five Monday weekly interactive sessions – March 1 through March 29, 12 – 1:15 p.m. PT: Join a group of your peers for this series with fundraising expert Laurel McCombs. Learn how to push forward through the ongoing uncertainty to not only achieve your fundraising goals for this year, but strengthen your development program for the future. This series is most appropriate for executive directors and development directors from small, rural-staffed organizations. More details and registration information here.
NAO’s 2021 Guiding More Good Virtual Conference, Saturday, March 13, 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. PT: Carrying on the Center for Nonprofit Stewardship’s tradition, the Guiding More Good Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. PT. We’ll be bringing you exciting expert speakers, practical resources, and virtual networking opportunities. This event will be especially applicable for smaller nonprofits, primarily those that are all-volunteer or with 1-2 staff members. More information here.
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Thank you to the following SUPPORTERS and SPONSORS who are supporting NAO’s online 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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