We have added this news section to provide resources to help nonprofits address COVID-19 related issues. We welcome notifications of webinars, subject expert information sources and other helpful tools as we navigate this difficult time. Send suggestions to Lynn Sygiel .

Providing this service with new sources is in line with our mission of encouraging and connecting the nonprofit community.

Revising deadlines: Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lilly Endowment is giving more time for organizations to prepare proposals for Enhancing Opportunity in Indianapolis, a $50 million initiative that seeks to help people in Marion County make progress toward economic self-sufficiency. The deadline has been moved from March 27 to April 17.  

Additionally, Lilly Endowment has extended the deadline of it s Charting the Future of Indiana Higher Education initiative .  Eligible colleges and universities across Indiana have until April 28 to submit proposals (the earlier deadline was April 15).

 

Lilly Endowment is working with Indiana educators who were awarded Teacher Creativity Fellowship grants earlier this year – many of whom are planning travel this summer as part of their renewal experiences. Educators may need to modify their plans or seek extensions for their grants.

Lilly Endowment is monitoring carefully challenges facing other grantees across all of its divisions in Indiana and around the country and considering appropriate ways for it to help grantees respond to these challenges.

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Preparing your nonprofit for a virus outbreak webinar on March 18 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT). With the numbers growing, you need to identify how this epidemic could affect your organization. It's actually a good deal more complex than it may seem. Cost: free. Register here.  

Local on-line platform: Yesterday, the Indy Chamber launched its rapid-response online platform for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While directed to small business employers, it has resources applicable to nonprofits. The Indy Chamber Rapid Response Hub provides answers to frequently asked questions from entrepreneurs, business owners, and employers covering a number of key topics including finance, business operations, employee support, and more. It also includes a question intake form to route small businesses to the information, resource, or service provider they need via a network of subject matter experts and community connectors. https://www.response.indychamber.com/

Nonprofit Times webinar on March 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. (EDT). Health professionals, fundraising experts and risk management authorities will provide guidance for nonprofit managers as they work to meet challenges in fundraising, health and risk areas. Register here .

COVID-19: Philanthropy in a changing landscape webinar on March 20 from noon – 1:00 p.m. to discuss how to best proceed with the important work of funding your mission during this time of uncertainty. The webinar will help you think through complex donor situations, how you can maintain donor communication without in-person visits, and the potential impact on overall philanthropy. Cost: free. Register 

Last week, 30 national nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels, Goodwill, American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Girls Inc, Lutheran Social Services, and Alliance for Children and Families, sent a letter to Congress. Titled, “Why nonprofits must be included in a COVID-19 Relief and Economic Stimulus package,” the group offered justifications and policy solutions that are valuable for all nonprofits to be aware of. It was reprinted by the Nonprofit Quarterly. 

Nonprofits are significant employers: Nonprofits employ 12.3 million people (the third largest workforce – tied with manufacturing), with payrolls exceeding those of most other U.S. industries, including construction, transportation, and finance. A substantial portion of the nearly $2 trillion nonprofits spend annually is the more than $826 billion they spend on salaries, benefits, and payroll taxes every year. Yet, in multiple disaster relief laws in the past, Congress has ignored this core economic fact and approved employment-related tax credits that left nonprofit employers and employees out of the provisions.

Policy solution: Any employment-focused relief or stimulus legislation must expressly apply to employment at tax-exempt organizations by making tax credits and deductions applicable not just to income taxes, but to the taxes nonprofit pay, such as unrelated business income taxes and payroll taxes.

Most nonprofits are small businesses: Most nonprof its are relatively small: 97 percent of nonprofits have budgets of less than $5 million annually, 92 percent operate with less than $1 million a year, and 88 percent spend less than $500,000 annually for their work. Thus, the “typical” nonprofit is community-based, serving local needs. Also, relatively few nonprofits have an endowment and most have limited reserves— about 50 percent have less than one month of cash reserves.

Policy solution: Nonprofits must be expressly included in tax and other relief targeted to small businesses.

Read more.

By Bryan Pautsch, principal, VonLehman CPA and Advisory Firm

 

While most Americans are focused on submitting their personal taxes, there are some changes for nonprofits that have occurred since the last filing. Here are some highlights for nonprofit organizations that will affect their organizations’ filings.

Form 990 changes for 2019 filings

In 2019, Form 990 incurred a few changes to be aware of when filing this season:

1. Electronic filings are required for tax-exempt organizations for Forms 990/990-EZ/990-T and 990-PF for the tax years beginning on or after July 2, 2019. This means calendar-year organizations need to electronically file their 990s for the 2020 tax year. However, if your fiscal year began on Aug. 1, 2019 or later, you will be required to file electronically in 2019. 

There are a few exceptions that allows an organization to paper file:

a. The year in which the organization has a name change;

b. The form 990 represents a short period because of the organization’s accounting period changes;

c. The year in which the organization’s application for tax-exempt status is pending;

d. The Form 990 filing is before the end of the year; or

e. The organization attempted to file Form 990 electronically but the return was rejected by the IRS.

The instructions of the Form 990 provide specific instructions on how to utilize these exceptions.

Read more.

Pathfinder Services received a $15,000 grant from Fifth Third Bank for its HomeOwnership Center. The funds will be used for counseling and education required for people who qualify for the Homebuyer Down Payment Assistance Program. 

The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership Foundation will receive $2.9 million grant over a two-year period from the Lilly Endowment. The funds will help continue the charitable, education and scientific activities of BioCrossroads. Learn more.

Early Learning Indiana and the Educate Me Foundation are partnering now accepting fellowship application to recruit more minority men for Indianapolis classrooms. The pilot program will train selected individuals before they shadow in classrooms. Learn more.

Foellinger Foundation has provided a four-year $1 million grant to the YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne to manage the Great KIDS Make Great COMMUNITIES program, which provides training and education to adults working with youth. The program will now be managed as an independent entity by the YMCA. Read more.

Indianapolis Bar Association’s Ask a Lawyer will take place on April 14. Visit with an attorney at the local public library branches from noon - 4:00 p.m. or at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center (1481 W. 10th St.) from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Call 317-269-2000 to speak with an attorney from noon - 8:00 p.m. More information.

The National MS Society, Indiana Chapter is looking for volunteers for the Walk MS Indianapolis event taking place April 25. Volunteers are needed for registration, loading-trucks, clean-up, cheering at the finish line and more. Sign-up here. 

SPONSORS' INSIGHTS

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