Nonprofits are invited to attend White House telephone conference briefings occuring this week to discuss the President's proposed FY2011 Budget.
The briefings cover specific topics of potential interest to different segments of the nonprofit sector.
In the past, these briefing calls typically have lasted about an hour, with the first half devoted to presentations by Administration officials and the second half reserved for questions. Please feel free to call in to learn more about the President's budget proposal that the Administration is sending to Congress.
The White House encourages people to dial in a few minutes early to ensure participation in the entire call. Please note the call times are Eastern Standard Time.
Tuesday 2/2/10
11:00AM Technology and IT Investment (800) 230-1951 Confirmation Number: 145414
2:00PM Health Care (888) 276-9996 Confirmation Number: 145415
2:30PM Environment and Natural Resources (800) 230-1059 Confirmation Number: 145416
3:00PM Rural (800) 553-0327 Confirmation Number: 145417
Wednesday 2/3/10
1:00PM Disability (800) 288-8968 Confirmation Number: 145418
1:30PM Seniors (800) 230-1093 Confirmation Number: 145419
2:00PM Small Business (800) 288 8974 Confirmation Number: 145468
Veterans (877) 209-9920 Confirmation Number: 145470
3:30 PM K-12 Education (800) 398-9367 Confirmation Number: 145420
4:00PM Youth (800) 553-0272 Confirmation Number: 145421
4:30PM Higher Education (866) 269-9612 Confirmation Number: 145422
Friday 2/5/10
3:30PM Military Families (800) 230-1766 Confirmation Number: 145424
4:00PM Urban (800) 230-1059 Confirmation Number: 145425
Monday, February 1, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Federal Job Growth Proposal Helps Nonprofits
President Obama has just announced a new job growth proposal that would help nonprofit organizations.
The overall goal of the plan is to help employers-including nonprofit organizations-hire workers and raise wages. The proposal would give any employer a $5,000 federal tax credit for every net new employee they add in 2010, and reimburse them for any taxes they owe to Social Security because they have a bigger payroll.
The proposal entitled, "Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut", is especially geared toward spurring job creation for small employers, which includes many nonprofit organizations.
While any employer can apply for the credits, the plan-which would be retroactive to January 1, 2010-would impose a $500,000 cap on the total credits earned, so it is most likely to appeal to smaller organizations.
Other highlights of the proposal:
The overall goal of the plan is to help employers-including nonprofit organizations-hire workers and raise wages. The proposal would give any employer a $5,000 federal tax credit for every net new employee they add in 2010, and reimburse them for any taxes they owe to Social Security because they have a bigger payroll.
The proposal entitled, "Small Business Jobs and Wages Tax Cut", is especially geared toward spurring job creation for small employers, which includes many nonprofit organizations.
While any employer can apply for the credits, the plan-which would be retroactive to January 1, 2010-would impose a $500,000 cap on the total credits earned, so it is most likely to appeal to smaller organizations.
Other highlights of the proposal:
- Businesses and nonprofits will receive a $5,000 tax credit for every net new employee that they employ in 2010. The total amount of the credit for any one firm will be capped at $500,000, to ensure that the majority of the benefit is targeted at small employers. Start –ups will be eligible for half of the tax credit.
- Small employers that increase wages or hours for their existing employees will be reimbursed for the Social Security payroll taxes they pay on real increases in their payrolls. This bonus would be based on Social Security payrolls, so it would not apply to wage increases above the current taxable maximum of $106,800.
- Firms will be able to claim the credit on a quarterly basis, which gets money out to businesses quickly and provides and early incentive to hire and increase payrolls.
For more information please visit the White House announcement.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
U.S. Supreme Court's Decision Does Not Impact 501c3 Nonprofit Organizations
The January 21, 2010 U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission concerning the application of certain election laws to corporations does NOT change how other laws limit the election-related activities of charitable nonprofit organizations with tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
On page 50 of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion it reads “Government may not suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker’s corporate identity. No sufficient governmental interest justifies limits on the political speech of nonprofit or for-profit corporations.” This language does not allow 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits to ignore other federal laws.
Federal law declares that charitable nonprofits and foundations may not "participate in, or intervene in (including publishing or distributing statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for political office at the federal, state, and local levels."
According to the IRS, "All 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes."
For more information, please review the National Council of Nonprofits analysis.
On page 50 of the Supreme Court’s majority opinion it reads “Government may not suppress political speech on the basis of the speaker’s corporate identity. No sufficient governmental interest justifies limits on the political speech of nonprofit or for-profit corporations.” This language does not allow 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits to ignore other federal laws.
Federal law declares that charitable nonprofits and foundations may not "participate in, or intervene in (including publishing or distributing statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for political office at the federal, state, and local levels."
According to the IRS, "All 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes."
For more information, please review the National Council of Nonprofits analysis.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Important Federal Funding for Nonprofits in the Labor HHS Bill
On December 13, 2009 the Senate passed the conference report of the 2010 appropriations measure that included Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education spending.
The following are programs of importance to nonprofits:
NATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING INITATIVE
This bill provides $1 million for the first year of the National Capacity Building Initiative. This new program, part of the Serve for America Act which passed last year, will address the capacity needs of nonprofits to handle this volunteer expansion. This initiative, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, will authorize federal grants to intermediary nonprofit organizations who raise an equal matching grant from private sources. The grants will cover the cost of organizational development assistance to small and midsize nonprofit organizations.
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS
Congress funded the President's budget request of $10 million to create Promise Neighborhoods, a program to support competitive planning grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to address the comprehensive needs of children in poverty, from birth through college.
CHILD WELFARE
Title IV-B, Subpart I (Child Welfare Services) and Subpart 2 (Promoting Safe and Stable Families)
The appropriations bill provides level funding for the Child Welfare Services program (Title IVB, Subpart l) at $282 million. Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Title IV-B, Subpart 2) is funded at $408 million. This amount is similar to the program's 2009 funding levels. PSSF will be due for reauthorization in the 112th Congress.
Adoption Incentive Payments
The budget allows for $39.5 million for the improved adoption incentive payments to states; the money is available for states to spend until September 30, 2011. The program focuses on adopting older and special-needs children.
Social Services Block Grant
The Social Services Block Grant continues to remain level-funded at $1.7 billion; SSBG funds can support a variety of human service programs.
New Teenage Pregnancy Initiative
President Obama requested the addition of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Discretionary grants, funded at $110 million for FY 2010, and this amount is in the bill. The new grants allow for $75 million of the funds to go to programs that have been proven through rigorous evaluation to delay sexual activity, increase contraceptive use (without increasing sexual activity), or reduce teenage pregnancy. The appropriations bill also sets aside $25 million for research.
Children and Family Services Discretionary Programs
CAPTA state grants and community-based prevention levels are comparable to those of FY 2009. For FY 2010, CAPTA state grants and community-based prevention funds received $26.5 million and $41.6 million, respectively.
Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living Programs
The appropriations measure provides $4.68 billion for the Title IV-E foster care program in FY2010. The amount is expected to support an average of 174,300 children in out-of-home placement per month. The bill includes $2.46 billion for the Title IV-E adoption assistance program. This amount is projected to support an average of 426,400 special-needs children per month. As a fairly new program, the Title IV-E guardianship assistance program increased from $14 million to $49 million for FY 2010. Additionally, there is $3 million in technical assistance for tribes interested in operating their own foster care, adoption, and guardianship assistance programs.
CHILD CARE, EARLY LEARNING, AND EDUCATION
Child Care and Development Fund
The appropriations bill maintains the $2.1 billion in discretionary funds for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and $2.9 billion for the Child Care Entitlement to States in mandatory funds, for a total of $5 billion. Of the discretionary funds, $18.9 million will fund the child care resource and referral and school-aged child care activities; $l million will fund the Child Care Aware toll-free hotline; and $271 million is reserved for quality activities, of which $99.5 million is to be used to improve the quality of infant and toddler care.
Head Start/Early Head Start
The bill increases funds to the Head Start program by $122 million, giving the program a total of $7.2 billion. The increased funding is designed to expand comprehensive early childhood development services for low-income children at risk of poor development and serve at-risk pregnant women.
Early Reading First
Congress eliminated the Early Reading First program that provided grants to school districts and nonprofit agencies to enhance the pre-reading skills of children ages 3-5 in low-income communities.
Even Start
Congress maintained Even Start at $รณ6 million, despite the President's proposal to completely eliminate the program in his FY 2010 budget. Even Start programs integrate early education, adult education, and parenting education into family literacy programs.
CHILD SUPPORT
The appropriations language includes $3.6 billion for child support programs under Titles I, IVD, X, XI, XIV, and XVI. There is an additional $1.1 billion for the same programs dedicated to the first quarter of FY 2011. The sum of the amounts available to the states is equivalent to the amount provided to states under Title IV-A in FY 1997.
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
Congress again level-funded the TANF block grant at $16.5 billion.
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Congress appropriated $546 million to CSBG. The proposed amount is in addition to the $1 billion appropriated to CSBG in ARRA. Entities that receive grants from state agencies can carry over unspent f'unds from one fiscal year to the next.
The following are programs of importance to nonprofits:
NATIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING INITATIVE
This bill provides $1 million for the first year of the National Capacity Building Initiative. This new program, part of the Serve for America Act which passed last year, will address the capacity needs of nonprofits to handle this volunteer expansion. This initiative, administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, will authorize federal grants to intermediary nonprofit organizations who raise an equal matching grant from private sources. The grants will cover the cost of organizational development assistance to small and midsize nonprofit organizations.
PROMISE NEIGHBORHOODS
Congress funded the President's budget request of $10 million to create Promise Neighborhoods, a program to support competitive planning grants to nonprofit, community-based organizations to address the comprehensive needs of children in poverty, from birth through college.
CHILD WELFARE
Title IV-B, Subpart I (Child Welfare Services) and Subpart 2 (Promoting Safe and Stable Families)
The appropriations bill provides level funding for the Child Welfare Services program (Title IVB, Subpart l) at $282 million. Promoting Safe and Stable Families (Title IV-B, Subpart 2) is funded at $408 million. This amount is similar to the program's 2009 funding levels. PSSF will be due for reauthorization in the 112th Congress.
Adoption Incentive Payments
The budget allows for $39.5 million for the improved adoption incentive payments to states; the money is available for states to spend until September 30, 2011. The program focuses on adopting older and special-needs children.
Social Services Block Grant
The Social Services Block Grant continues to remain level-funded at $1.7 billion; SSBG funds can support a variety of human service programs.
New Teenage Pregnancy Initiative
President Obama requested the addition of Teen Pregnancy Prevention Discretionary grants, funded at $110 million for FY 2010, and this amount is in the bill. The new grants allow for $75 million of the funds to go to programs that have been proven through rigorous evaluation to delay sexual activity, increase contraceptive use (without increasing sexual activity), or reduce teenage pregnancy. The appropriations bill also sets aside $25 million for research.
Children and Family Services Discretionary Programs
CAPTA state grants and community-based prevention levels are comparable to those of FY 2009. For FY 2010, CAPTA state grants and community-based prevention funds received $26.5 million and $41.6 million, respectively.
Foster Care, Adoption Assistance, and Independent Living Programs
The appropriations measure provides $4.68 billion for the Title IV-E foster care program in FY2010. The amount is expected to support an average of 174,300 children in out-of-home placement per month. The bill includes $2.46 billion for the Title IV-E adoption assistance program. This amount is projected to support an average of 426,400 special-needs children per month. As a fairly new program, the Title IV-E guardianship assistance program increased from $14 million to $49 million for FY 2010. Additionally, there is $3 million in technical assistance for tribes interested in operating their own foster care, adoption, and guardianship assistance programs.
CHILD CARE, EARLY LEARNING, AND EDUCATION
Child Care and Development Fund
The appropriations bill maintains the $2.1 billion in discretionary funds for the Child Care and Development Block Grant and $2.9 billion for the Child Care Entitlement to States in mandatory funds, for a total of $5 billion. Of the discretionary funds, $18.9 million will fund the child care resource and referral and school-aged child care activities; $l million will fund the Child Care Aware toll-free hotline; and $271 million is reserved for quality activities, of which $99.5 million is to be used to improve the quality of infant and toddler care.
Head Start/Early Head Start
The bill increases funds to the Head Start program by $122 million, giving the program a total of $7.2 billion. The increased funding is designed to expand comprehensive early childhood development services for low-income children at risk of poor development and serve at-risk pregnant women.
Early Reading First
Congress eliminated the Early Reading First program that provided grants to school districts and nonprofit agencies to enhance the pre-reading skills of children ages 3-5 in low-income communities.
Even Start
Congress maintained Even Start at $รณ6 million, despite the President's proposal to completely eliminate the program in his FY 2010 budget. Even Start programs integrate early education, adult education, and parenting education into family literacy programs.
CHILD SUPPORT
The appropriations language includes $3.6 billion for child support programs under Titles I, IVD, X, XI, XIV, and XVI. There is an additional $1.1 billion for the same programs dedicated to the first quarter of FY 2011. The sum of the amounts available to the states is equivalent to the amount provided to states under Title IV-A in FY 1997.
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES
Congress again level-funded the TANF block grant at $16.5 billion.
COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Congress appropriated $546 million to CSBG. The proposed amount is in addition to the $1 billion appropriated to CSBG in ARRA. Entities that receive grants from state agencies can carry over unspent f'unds from one fiscal year to the next.
Grant Will Help Fathers and Children
Reentry Benefiting Families (RBF), an initiative of LANO member Refined By Fire Ministries, Inc., recently received a $25,000 capacity-building grant from the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI), a Maryland-based advocacy group. 
Building on a strong, ongoing collaboration between RBF and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DOC) in fatherhood and parenting programs, the new grant will allow both agencies to increase their fatherhood programming and become better able to receive federal or private philanthropic support.
According to DOC Secretary James M. LeBlanc, children of incarcerated individuals are seven times more likely to enter prison themselves. "Providing parenting skills to the offender population is a crucial part of our reentry efforts,” he explained.
“At a time when 1 in 3 children are growing up apart from their fathers, Reentry Benefiting Families and the Louisiana Department of Corrections should be applauded for their joint efforts to engage incarcerated fathers in the lives of their children," said NFI president, Roland C. Warren.
Refined by Fire Ministries, Inc., is a nonprofit that partners with community organizations and corrections facilities to provide educational services and support programs for the incarcerated, ex-offenders and their families.
For more information, contact Elain Ellerbe, President & CEO, Reentry Benefiting Families, at 225-963-2074 or elainellerbe@bellsouth.net.
Building on a strong, ongoing collaboration between RBF and the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DOC) in fatherhood and parenting programs, the new grant will allow both agencies to increase their fatherhood programming and become better able to receive federal or private philanthropic support.
According to DOC Secretary James M. LeBlanc, children of incarcerated individuals are seven times more likely to enter prison themselves. "Providing parenting skills to the offender population is a crucial part of our reentry efforts,” he explained.
“At a time when 1 in 3 children are growing up apart from their fathers, Reentry Benefiting Families and the Louisiana Department of Corrections should be applauded for their joint efforts to engage incarcerated fathers in the lives of their children," said NFI president, Roland C. Warren.
Refined by Fire Ministries, Inc., is a nonprofit that partners with community organizations and corrections facilities to provide educational services and support programs for the incarcerated, ex-offenders and their families.
For more information, contact Elain Ellerbe, President & CEO, Reentry Benefiting Families, at 225-963-2074 or elainellerbe@bellsouth.net.
All Employers Note: Revised Equal Opportunity Act Poster Released
In November 2009, the new Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 went into effect. The act prohibits the use of genetic information (including family medical history or any information related to genetic testing, genetic services, genetic counseling or genetic diseases) for the medical underwriting of health insurance. With this passage, all employers are now required to post information about this nondiscrimination.
Take a moment to visit the employee posters that are hung in your organization’s kitchen or break room. Be sure that the Equal Employment Opportunity Poster is the most up to date edition of this poster by checking to insure that discrimination for genetic information is addressed. If your Equal Employment Opportunity Poster does not cover genetics, you will want to download and post the newest version, which can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/osbp/sbrefa/poster/matrix.htm.
Take a moment to visit the employee posters that are hung in your organization’s kitchen or break room. Be sure that the Equal Employment Opportunity Poster is the most up to date edition of this poster by checking to insure that discrimination for genetic information is addressed. If your Equal Employment Opportunity Poster does not cover genetics, you will want to download and post the newest version, which can be found at: http://www.dol.gov/osbp/sbrefa/poster/matrix.htm.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Supporting Haiti in Their Time of Need
A major earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti on Tuesday, January 12, 2010.
The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, home to two million people, is devastated. Medical supplies and potable water are running dangerously low, and the country is in desperate need of our help.
Please consider the outpouring of support the Haitian community showed us after Hurricane Katrina. Despite being the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, the Haitian government and local businesses donated $36,000 toward Katrina relief efforts. Haitian-American volunteers from Florida traveled to Louisiana and Mississippi to aid in the rebuilding effort.
Given the Haitian community's strong support for us in our time of need, we hope you will return their generosity by making a contribution in any amount to one of the many relief organizations now aiding victims of the earthquake.
Organizations presently engaged in the relief effort and accepting donations include the following:
The Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, home to two million people, is devastated. Medical supplies and potable water are running dangerously low, and the country is in desperate need of our help.
Please consider the outpouring of support the Haitian community showed us after Hurricane Katrina. Despite being the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, the Haitian government and local businesses donated $36,000 toward Katrina relief efforts. Haitian-American volunteers from Florida traveled to Louisiana and Mississippi to aid in the rebuilding effort.
Given the Haitian community's strong support for us in our time of need, we hope you will return their generosity by making a contribution in any amount to one of the many relief organizations now aiding victims of the earthquake.
Organizations presently engaged in the relief effort and accepting donations include the following:
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