Congress Averts Federal Government Shutdown

This week, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed a two-step continuing resolution (H.R. 6363) that temporarily prevents a federal government shutdown by funding federal agencies and programs at current levels through early 2024. Both of North Carolina’s U.S. Senators and 12 of the 14 U.S. House members from North Carolina voted in favor of the continuing resolution. Only Congressmen Dan Bishop and Greg Murphy voted against it.

The House-initiated continuing resolution provides funding for the federal departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, as well as energy and water programs through January 19, 2024. It provides funding for all other federal agencies through February 2, 2024. The House decided to use a two-step continuing resolution to create more pressure on Congress to pass 12 appropriations bills in early 2024 rather than passing another continuing resolution or passing a large omnibus spending bill that would provide funding for the entirety of the federal government for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September 30, 2024). This process could give the House more leverage to push for funding cuts for a variety of federal programs in the appropriations process.

Deadline Today: Take 2 Minutes to Sign on to Nonprofit Letter Supporting Charitable Act

Earlier this year, the annual Giving USA report found that individual giving declined by 13.4% last year. The Charitable Act (S. 566/H.R. 3435) would create a universal charitable deduction that would help offset recent reductions in individual philanthropy by encouraging people to give more generously to nonprofits. Specifically, the Charitable Act would create an above-the-line tax deduction for non-itemizers who make charitable contributions. The deduction would be capped at one-third of the standard deduction (about $4,600 for individuals and $9,200 for couples).

In advance of Giving Tuesday, a coalition of nonprofits is sending a letter to leaders in Congress asking them to pass the Charitable Act. The Center has already signed on to this letter, and we encourage your nonprofit to take two minutes to add your organization’s name to the letter. The deadline to sign on to this letter is today, November 17.

Join a (Free) National Webinar on Government Grants Reform on November 20

As many nonprofits have learned from experience, the government grants system is broken. Fortunately, several solutions are available to fix the system, but these changes will only happen if nonprofits take action. To help your nonprofit learn more about potential solutions to government grants challenges – and steps your nonprofit can take to help make these solutions become a reality – the National Council of Nonprofits is hosting a nationwide webinar, The Urgency of Government Grants Reform for Your Nonprofit, on Monday, November 20 from 3:00-4:15 p.m. This webinar will: (1) highlight frequent challenges charitable nonprofits face when seeking and performing government grants; and (2) identify promising opportunities for reforming broken grants laws and practices at the federal and state levels.

Participants will hear from experts on the results of bad grantmaking policies and learn about legislative and regulatory solutions that you can help influence. Register today!

Note: The webinar will be recorded, so be sure to register to receive the presentation materials and recording even if you are not available to join live on November 20.

Center Offers 2023 Legal Compliance Checklist for North Carolina Nonprofits

The Center’s weekly Nonprofit Policy Update (i.e., the email you are reading right now!) provides updates on new and proposed legislation and regulations that might affect your nonprofit’s operations and mission. The Center also recognizes that it is helpful for nonprofits to review the many federal and state laws (some new, some longstanding) that are necessary for your nonprofit to remain compliant. With this in mind, the Center has published its annual Legal Compliance Checklist for North Carolina Nonprofits, a comprehensive summary of laws affecting NC nonprofits’ tax exemption, governance, finances, advocacy, human resources, and fundraising – and how to comply.

The Legal Compliance Checklist is included as part of membership in the Center. If your nonprofit is a Center member, all of your staff and board members have access (download it here). The checklist is also available for purchase for nonprofits and others that are not Center members (purchase it here). Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit can also become a Center member to get free access to the Legal Compliance Checklist and a wide range of other resources and services.

DHHS Publishes Materials to Help Nonprofits Provide Outreach on Medical Expansion

With Medicaid expansion beginning on December 1 in North Carolina, the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has begun contacting the 300,000 North Carolinians who will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid next month. This month, North Carolinians who are newly eligible for full Medicaid benefits will:

• Get a letter from their local Department of Social Services letting them know they will start getting full Medicaid coverage;
• Be assigned a health plan; and 
• Receive a packet from their health plan in the mail that includes a new Medicaid ID card.

Additionally, new Medicaid participants who currently have health coverage through HealthCare.gov will need to cancel their plan once they are enrolled in NC Medicaid. If your nonprofit provides direct services to people who may qualify for Medicaid expansion, we encourage you to share this information with them so they don’t miss these important pieces of mail.

DHHS has also launched a new website to help with community outreach on Medicaid expansion. In addition to the 300,000 North Carolinians who will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid next month, another 300,000 North Carolinians will be eligible to apply for Medicaid beginning on December 1. The DHHS website includes basic information on eligibility for Medicaid coverage, details of costs and coverage, and free materials to help nonprofits provide clear and accurate information about Medicaid and Medicaid expansion to their clients and communities. Please share this information widely, especially with clients who may now be eligible to apply!

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Nonprofit Policy Update is North Carolina Center for Nonprofits' weekly newsletter of state and federal policy issues that affect all 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Learn about the Center's public policy priorities and agenda, or contact David Heinen, Vice President for Public Policy and Advocacy, for more information.

©2023 North Carolina Center for Nonprofits