Independent Sector Statement on Additional COVID-19 Relief Funding and
a Call for More Support for Nonprofits
(WASHINGTON, April 24, 2020) – The following is a statement by Daniel J. Cardinali, president and CEO, Independent Sector:
“Independent Sector, a national, nonpartisan organization representing a diverse set of nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs, applauds the Congress and the Administration for enacting this $484 COVID-19 relief bill, including $370 in additional funding for nonprofits and small businesses.
The additional relief funding includes $310 billion for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with $60 billion set aside for small banks, as well as $60 billion for Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
While we applaud this progress, we will continue to work with Congress and the Administration to ensure that nonprofits, whose volunteers and employees are on the frontlines of this pandemic providing essential services to the most vulnerable in our communities, are receiving the prioritized attention they deserve. We join a coalition of other nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in calling for $60 billion in additional funding specifically for nonprofits. We also want to see an expanded charitable deduction, a powerful incentive for charitable giving by individuals, and more funding to help voters safely participate in 2020 elections. We also call on policymakers to remove the PPP’s cap for nonprofits who have more than 500 employees, which shuts out some of the highest impact nonprofits in our nation.
Nonprofits in this country remain among the most trusted institutions in the United States and their ability to fulfill their missions, educate the public, and provide services to our communities will ensure this country gets on the road to recovery from COVID-19.
We look forward to working with Congress and Administration to prioritize nonprofits and the communities they serve.”
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Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers, nonprofits, foundations, and corporations working to ensure all people in the United States thrive. Learn more at independentsector.org.
