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In this week's issue...
With spring beginning this week, the 2024 Election Tip of the Week feature comes out of hibernation with information about why your nonprofit should engage in nonpartisan voter registration and voter education work this year. Find out the latest on the federal appropriations bill moving through Congress today. Come join us for the Center’s series of Nonprofit Policy Conversations, including a newly scheduled one in the Triangle. And get information from the National Council of Nonprofits about nonprofits accessing American Rescue Plan Act funding from local governments.
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Congress Scheduled to Vote on Appropriations Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote today on a large appropriations bill that would fund many parts of the federal government, including the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Defense, and Homeland Security, for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September 30). Leaders in Congress released the text of the 1,012-page bill early yesterday morning.
The House is likely to pass the bipartisan spending plan today, and the U.S. Senate is hoping to vote on it by tonight. However, it is possible that procedural obstacles could prevent the Senate from passing the bill until this weekend. Temporary funding for the federal agencies covered in the bill ends today, meaning there is a good chance of a brief, partial federal government shutdown this weekend. While many of the agencies that are at risk of shutting down provide funding for a variety of nonprofits, a brief shutdown will likely have only minor consequences for these organizations.
Many provisions in the appropriations bill could affect nonprofits, including:
- A $1 billion increase in funding for child care and early childhood programs, including an additional $725 million (a 9% increase) for the Child Care and Development Block Grant;
- Full funding for the AmeriCorps program, despite calls to cut AmeriCorps funding by 50%;
- Clawing back $4.3 billion in unused COVID-19 funding; and
- Prohibiting the Internal Revenue Service from issuing regulations on the tax-exempt status of 501(c)(4) organizations.
President Joe Biden has said that he will sign the bill as soon as it passes the Senate.
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2024 Election Tip of the Week: New Report Shows Why Nonprofit Voter Engagement Matters
Throughout this year, the Center is offering a variety of tips for nonprofits about nonpartisan voter registration and voter education. Share these tips with your staff, board, and the people you serve.
This week’s tip: Nonprofits’ nonpartisan voter engagement activities make a significant, measurable impact on voter turnout in their communities.
Nonprofit VOTE, a national partner of the Center, released its new Nonprofit Power report that highlights the impact of nonpartisan voter registration and voter education work by nonprofits in North Carolina and eight other states. Among other things, the report notes that people engaged by nonprofits are much more likely to actually vote. Specifically, in the 2022 election, 56% of people engaged by nonprofits turned out to vote, while only 46% of comparable registered voters actually voted in the election. The report also highlights that the boost in turnout is greatest among voters who are typically underrepresented at the polls, including low-income voters, people of color, and younger voters.
The report makes a compelling case why your nonprofit should consider engaging in nonpartisan voter registration and voter education work this year. Nonprofit VOTE explains: “Put simply, this report is a call to action for nonprofits across the nation to engage the communities they serve in voting and elections because the data shows it works. It helps foster a more inclusive electorate. It makes for stronger and more effective nonprofits, and it builds a democracy that works for all of us.”
To learn more about the report, join Nonprofit VOTE for a free “Rally the Sector” webinar on Thursday, March 28 at 2 p.m.
If you missed the previous 2024 Election Tips of the Week or want a refresher, read them now: check your voter registration, request an absentee ballot, get free resources from You Can Vote, make a plan to vote early, take advantage of being an unaffiliated voter, and bring your photo ID to vote.
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Register for Nonprofit Policy Conversations (Including Newly Scheduled Triangle Event)
This spring, the Center is hosting a series of Nonprofit Policy Conversations around the state to bring together nonprofit leaders and local elected officials (mostly state legislators) to discuss public policy issues that are important to charitable nonprofits and the people and communities they serve. At each Conversation, the Center will provide a briefing on nonprofit sector trends and potential public policy solutions and challenges for nonprofits in 2024 and beyond.
The Center hosted the first of these conversations in Asheville last week, and the second one is taking place in High Point this morning. Additional Conversations are scheduled for:
- Monday, April 15 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at Cumberland Community Foundation in Fayetteville in partnership with Cumberland Community Foundation
- Friday, April 19 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at UNCW Truist Hall in Wilmington in partnership with QENO
- Friday, April 26 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at Triangle Community Foundation in Research Triangle Park. Note: Space is limited; register soon.
- Monday, May 20 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon at Foundation For The Carolinas in Charlotte
We are finalizing details of an additional event in eastern North Carolina. Register now for events in Fayetteville, Wilmington, Research Triangle Park, and Charlotte.
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Fiscal Recovery Funds Still Available (But Time Is Running Out)
State and local governments only have until the end of 2024 to obligate any remaining funds they received under the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) that was enacted three years ago as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Unless counties, cities, and towns use the dollars, they lose them (as in sending the money back to the federal government). The NonProfit Times article, Seizing the Moment: Nonprofits Urged to Tap into Remaining American Rescue Plan Act Funds, lays out the resource development and advocacy steps for nonprofits to take with government officials to secure funds to advance missions. In addition, the National Council of Nonprofits has posted information on how nonprofits can access these ARPA funds, including background information about ARPA funding for state and local governments, nonprofit-specific answers to FAQs, and a template message for reaching out to government officials. Note: The claw back of unused COVID funding mentioned in the first item in today’s Nonprofit Policy Update does not include reductions in SLFRF funds.
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2024 Short Session Starts Next Month
The NC General Assembly will return to Raleigh on Wednesday, April 24 to begin its 2024 short session. Legislators’ main priority for the short session will be to make adjustments to the state budget for FY2024-25. If the state has a revenue surplus, the budget could potentially include new or increased state funding for some nonprofits.
During the short session, legislators also can take action on a variety of other bills that passed either the House or Senate in 2023 or that affect state taxes or spending. Among the bills eligible for consideration during the short session are legislation to exempt nonprofits from paying sales tax on their purchases and to modernize the NC Nonprofit Corporation Act. In a recent NC Health News story, two influential legislators suggested that they are considering changes to laws related to hospitals’ property tax exemption and sales tax refunds. Legislation affecting nonprofit hospitals could ultimately have implications for all 501(c)(3) nonprofits. And legislators could revisit other legislation affecting nonprofits this spring, such as a 2022 bill (that was ultimately vetoed) that would have created a controversial donor privacy law in North Carolina.
The Center will continue to advocate on nonprofits’ behalf on these and other issues, and we will keep you posted with any developments and/or opportunities for your nonprofit to take action.
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Reminder: DHHS Offers Resources to Help Nonprofits Provide Outreach on Medicaid Expansion
According to the NC Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), nearly 349,000 North Carolinians enrolled in health care through Medicaid expansion in the first two months it became available in December, with about 1,000 more people enrolling every day. DHHS estimates that more than 250,000 additional North Carolinians may be eligible for coverage under Medicaid expansion. Almost all potential Medicaid expansion enrollees receive services from nonprofits, so it is important for nonprofit organizations to spread the word about Medicaid expansion eligibility and the application process.
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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