September 27, 2024

What's Happening This Week...

• Happening at the Council
• What We're Tracking in DC
• Federal Government Engagement Opportunities
• Happening in the States
• News, Resources, and Events

Happening at the Council

Looking to 2025: What's at Stake?

As you know, most policy issues impacting philanthropy are tax policy issues. In December 2025, key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire, kicking off a race to develop new tax legislation. Even before we know the results of the 2024 election, Congressional committees and individual offices have begun to outline their policy priorities for this upcoming tax bill. On Tuesday, join a conversation with tax and government affairs experts as we talk through what this could mean for foundations and what you can do now to get ready.

Webinar: Accessing Federal Dollars to Strengthen Communities

Don’t let your community leave federal funding on the table! Join the Council on Foundations and our partners for a timely discussion about two federal funding opportunities to support your community today and make the investments it needs to thrive for decades to come. Register for the October 2 webinar today.

What We're Tracking in DC

Tax Teams Public Comment Deadline Coming Up

We shared in an earlier Snapshot that the House Ways and Means Committee Majority had established Tax Teams. As part of this work, the Committee Majority is accepting comments and input from the public on ideas and solutions they should consider as Congress looks to take up a tax package next year. Committee Republicans have set up a portal with instructions for submitting public comments, which will be accepted until October 15, 2024. Is there anything you want us to highlight in our comments? Do you plan to submit comments of your own? Let us know at govt@cof.org.

Ways and Means Chair Sends Letters to IRS Commissioner

Earlier this week, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) sent a series of letters to IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel calling for the revocation of tax-exempt status of several nonprofit organizations. The Chairman’s letters claim that these organizations have violated their tax-exempt purposes. This comes after over a year of attention to the tax-exempt sector from the Ways and Means Committee, including additional letters and investigations. 

The Council monitors all congressional activity related to the tax-exempt sector, and we will continue to update you in Snapshot and our other communications. 

Elsewhere on the Hill:

• Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government funded at current levels until December 20, avoiding a government shutdown and postponing the spending battle until after the election.
• The Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on housing unaffordability. One of the witnesses was Jack Salmon, Director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable. While the bulk of the hearing revolved around the housing market, Mr. Salmon did discuss philanthropy’s role alleviating homelessness and affordable housing crises.

Federal Government Updates and Opportunities

• The Council’s partner, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, recently released the National Resilience Guidance (NRG). FEMA will host a series of 60-minute webinar sessions in September and October to discuss the NRG and additional resources available to help new and experienced resilience practitioners improve their communities’ resilience.
• The Department of Energy will hold a virtual public meeting of the Electric Vehicle Working Group (EVWG) on Monday, September 30, at 3:30pm ET. Register to learn more about the EVWG, the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation, medium/heavy-duty adoption, grid integration, and the charging network.
• The U.S. Agency for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced new partners for the Women in the Digital Economy Fund. The fund employs a localization approach to closing the gender digital divide. 

Happening in the States

New State Election Laws: How Will They Affect Election Outcomes?

Lawmakers in multiple states passed changes to voting requirements for this year’s elections. Some new laws open access for eligible voters while others impose restrictions on voting and alter procedures for obtaining and reviewing ballots. The various laws may slow processing and counting, which could delay the final results until well after Election Day.

State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: The Gwinnett County Experience

As the deadline approaches for governments to obligate their share of State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, many local governments are actively reaching out to nonprofits. The National Council of Nonprofits asked for positive examples and the Gwinnett Coalition northeast of Atlanta pointed to their local government as a paragon of virtuous grantmaking with a purpose.

News & Resources

• Everyday Actions, Extraordinary Potential: The Power of Giving and Volunteering, The Generosity Commission
• Does my vote really matter?, Brookings Institution
• A ‘Pull’ Approach to Scaling Proven Nonprofits, Stanford Social Innovation Review
• How Will the Great Wealth Transfer Change Philanthropy? Consider Virginia, Inside Philanthropy 

Keep in Touch!

Please feel free to reach out to any of us on the Government Relations Team with comments or concerns, or to share an issue, article, event, or op-ed you would like to see covered in a future Washington Snapshot.

View this email as a web page.