After a tumultuous congressional schedule and the excitement of our recent Upswell Summit in Dallas/Fort Worth, Independent Sector is bringing you this combined November-December DC Download. If the holiday season sparks some major dealmaking in the next few weeks, we’ll be back with a special holiday edition of this column. But if grinches prevail, we’ll see you in the new year!
Congress Buys Time. Is There a Finish Line?
On October 25, Mike Johnson (R-LA) assumed the office of Speaker of the House of Representatives on the heels of a party-line 220-209 vote. The rise of this lesser-known lawmaker followed numerous other candidacies and a more than three-week vacancy. With a government shutdown fast approaching, conservatives in the House of Representatives gave their new leader more leeway than his predecessor, ultimately leading to a “laddered” continuing resolution that again keeps the government operating temporarily. Under this somewhat novel structure, funding for four sets of federal agencies — including funds for transportation, housing, agriculture, energy, and veterans’ affairs — now continues through January 19 with other agencies funded until February 2.
Capitol Hill leaders are very busy in the meantime. Negotiations continue on a package pairing aid for Israel and Ukraine with border security measures sought by Republicans, as well as potential deals on tax provisions, national defense policy, and more.
Charitable Giving Advocacy at The White House and with Congress
On November 7, Independent Sector and the Charitable Giving Coalition joined key officials from various White House offices and federal agencies in hosting a roundtable discussion on charitable giving. This convening offered the opportunity to share alarming trends in charitable giving from 2022 and 2023, while highlighting a potential solution to this drop in donors and donations: the Charitable Act (S. 566, H.R. 3435).
On November 28, the Charitable Giving Coalition marked Giving Tuesday by sending a letter in support of the Charitable Act to leaders of the House Ways and Means and Senate Finance Committees. The letter was signed by more than 1,000 organizations spanning all 50 states.
Please, take two minutes today to ask your legislators to support the Charitable Act.
Nonprofit Coalition Speaks Up for Voting Rights
Last week, 29 member organizations of the Nonprofit Infrastructure Coalition wrote in support of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. This critical legislation would restore portions of the Voting Rights Act that were struck down in recent years, working to prevent changes to state or local laws from disenfranchising the communities that disproportionately rely on nonprofit services.
Voting is the cornerstone of a healthy civil society and nonprofits have worked to promote it for more than two centuries. Ask your legislators to restore the Voting Rights Act by passing this vital legislation.
IRS, Treasury Seek Donor Advised Funds Comments
The Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department have released long-awaited regulations on donor advised funds, as directed by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. These regulations provide guidance on definitions concerning excise taxes on taxable distributions made by a sponsoring organization from a donor advised fund, and on certain fund managers. See a helpful summary from a leading law firm on this issue, or view the notice of proposed rulemaking and comment by January 16, 2024.
Support Builds for Federal Grants Improvements
More than 800 nonprofits from all 50 states recently wrote to congressional leaders in support of the Streamlining Federal Grants Act, bipartisan bicameral legislation addressing many issues in managing federal grant programs. The legislation would take important steps toward standardization, transparency, reducing redundancies, equitable access, and workforce development.
This letter of support will be updated periodically. Add your organization today!
