Network Update

July 2023

News, Reports & Research

• Article: The IRS recently proposed implementing a no-cost Direct File, which would allow taxpayers to directly file their returns online. The new filing option aims to reduce tax filing stress and ensure that filers eligible for the federal EITC and CTC, particularly non-English-proficient, rural, and newly eligible households, can receive their credits. Read the article from the Center for American Progress here

• Article: GOP House Bill Would Hobble IRS, Bar Funding For Free Direct-File Tax Return System. Read more at Forbes

• Blog Post: The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) spotlights 17 states that created or enhanced their state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or state CTC to date in 2023. Read more here

• Report: "The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced a Financial Services funding bill that passes a minimal test of protecting honest taxpayers by maintaining efforts to rebuild and modernize an IRS decimated by years of steep funding cuts." Read the CBPP report here

New Website Feature- Contact Us Page

Take a moment to check out the updated Contact Page on our new website! It features a new multi-purpose form that allows site visitors to send us a message, become a network member and/or share a resource with us. We hope this new feature will make it easy for site visitors to connect with us in a variety of ways.

Go ahead and try it!! And while you're at it, share the page with a colleague. We are always looking forward to welcoming new members to the network and collecting helpful resources and sharing them with all of you.

Network and Partner Events

Housing Insecurity is an Economics Problem: Connecting Economic and Housing Justice

September 7, 2023 | 3:00-4:00 PM 

After many consecutive years of decline, homelessness has been on the rise across the country, with particular increases of people living unsheltered. Countless more in the US are just one financial crisis away from losing their housing as the cost of rent skyrockets in most communities. These are our neighbors. This is us.

In this webinar cohosted by Economic Opportunity Funders, Tax Equity Funders Network, Funders for Housing and Opportunity, and Funders Together to End Homelessness, we will situate the homelessness and affordable housing crises in the context of economic justice. We will connect the dots between advocacy on financial security and housing stability, highlighting promising interventions like direct cash transfers and universal rental assistance, with an eye toward prevention of homelessness. Our goal is that economic opportunity and tax equity funders see how the housing crisis pertains to all of us, leaving the conversation with concrete ideas for deeper learning and action.

Share with your grantees...

Prosperity Now's Tax Payer Opportunity Network is hosting its biennial VITACon event. VITACon is the premier national, multi-day community tax preparation convening. Participants will have the opportunity to learn promising practices, engage with national stakeholders, and network with your peers. The agenda is still being finalized but you can expect sessions like: 

• Strategies to Secure State and Local Government Funding So You Can Scale Up! 
• Connections and Partnerships: Expanding VITA’s Impact 
• It’s VITACon so Ask Me Anything! SPEC Officials Live & Ready to Answer Any Question You Have

Coming Soon...

1. Innovation Briefs- In partnership with ProsperityNow, the Tax Equity Funders Network will be publishing a set of innovation briefs in early August. The briefs have been written by field experts and answer the question: What are innovations that would dramatically improve the ability of low- and moderate-income taxpayers to access all the tax benefits there are eligible for? Programming will be offered in September and throughout the Fall to share the recommendations and strategize about next steps. Keep an eye on your email for your copy of the briefs and an invitation to sessions in September.

Call to Action!

1. Network Project Cohort- At the Shaping the Future Forum, network members expressed interest in working together to pilot ideas raised during the session. More information to come on this. In the meantime, take a look at the Summary of Innovations and the Innovations Summary Slide to see if there is an idea you are interested in exploring further.
2. Member Spotlight- We are looking for organizations to feature in our new Member Spotlight. Please complete this form to share your information with us for our Member Spotlight feature. Someone from our team will be in touch with you to finalize your submission before it is posted to our website.
3. Sharing Across the Network- We would love to share announcements, updates, funding opportunities, job postings or other information you have that could benefit other network members or their grantees. Please use the email Ami (ami@taxequityfunders) or use the contact form on our website to share information with us.

The Tax Equity Funders Network

is generously supported by:

Blue Shield of California Foundation

The Annie E. Casey Foundation

W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Wellspring Philanthropic Fund