Washington Snapshot

Washington Snapshot: DAF Hearing Summary

Government Affairs Team
Council Connection: Updates for Council Members

Public policy news and updates for the philanthropic sector

What We're Tracking in DC

Donor Advised Fund Hearing at IRS/Treasury

Earlier this month, Treasury and the IRS held a public hearing on their proposed donor advised fund regulations. Council Vice President of Government Affairs and Legal Resources Jenn Holcomb joined to share testimony highlighting concerns about the proposed regulations. Generally, participants echoed our concerns and shared real-world examples of how the proposed regulations could undermine the charitable work of DAF sponsors and their nonprofit partners. Read a summary of the hearing, including highlights from Council members.

Ways and Means Republicans Seek Input on Tax Priorities

Those of us in the tax world are looking toward 2025, when many provisions in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire. In April, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Tax Subcommittee Chair Mike Kelly (R-PA) announced the formation of tax teams to develop provisions for a potential 2025 tax package. Earlier this week, the Committee put out a request for public input on tax issues and potential legislative proposals. Comments are due October 15.

Elsewhere on the Hill:

  • The House passed the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act (H.R.5863) on a bipartisan basis. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL), excludes from an individual’s taxable income any payment received for damages from a federally declared wildfire disaster or from the East Palestine train derailment.
  • House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) announced that nonprofits will no longer be eligible for Community Project Funding through the Economic Development Initiative account — in other words, nonprofits will not be eligible for earmarks through the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill this cycle.

Federal Government Updates and Opportunities

  • Treasury and the IRS are still collecting Priority Guidance recommendations, and we are finalizing our comments now. What do you think Treasury and the IRS should be prioritizing for guidance this year? Let us know at govt@cof.org.
  • The Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory have created the Community Power Accelerator™ to connect lenders, investors, and philanthropists with community solar project developers in one online ecosystem to drive a more equitable clean energy transition. Learn more and sign up.
  • The Department of Health and Human Services finalized protections against disability discrimination in healthcare

Happening in the States

OMB Uniform Guidance: What the Updates Mean for Nonprofits
Webinar Thursday, May 30 at 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern

The networks of the National Council of Nonprofits are hosting a special nationwide webinar to make sure charitable nonprofits know about the improvements to federal grantmaking rules and what the changes mean for their missions. Officials with the Office of Management and Budget will provide an overview of the Uniform Guidance, the recent significant improvements, and the implementation timeline. Additional experts from will share real-life examples of improvements for charitable nonprofits. Register for the webinar.

State Regulatory Changes Affecting Nonprofit Operations

As legislatures begin to wind down for the year, lawmakers are completing action on numerous bills affecting nonprofit operations. In response to the devastating fires on Maui, legislators in Hawai`i passed a bill to authorize the Attorney General to regulate charitable fundraising platforms. The Vermont Legislature passed and sent to the Governor for his consideration a consumer data protections bill. The measure would establish data privacy requirements for data collectors of personal information, including nonprofits, and provide rights to consumers to opt out of processing personal information. Georgia enacted the Personal Privacy Protection Act prohibiting public agencies from requiring an individual, nonprofit, or contractor to provide to the government information identifying a person as a member, supporter, volunteer, or donor to a nonprofit.

Legal Threats to Nonprofits and Civil Society

An article, “10 Major Legal Threats to U.S. Civil Society,” exposes the increasing legal challenges in the form of restrictive new laws, aggressive enforcement, and political attacks that charitable nonprofits encounter simply for advancing their missions in communities. Challenges include government actions to criminalize the humane acts of providing food and shelter for migrants and homeless people, offering assistance to women seeking health care, and providing bail for incarcerated individuals. Also under attack are diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and trainings provided by charitable nonprofits, free speech rights, and efforts to destroy the law protecting nonprofit nonpartisanship (i.e., the longstanding Johnson Amendment).

Upcoming Events

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.

Shared purpose. Collective voice. Greater impact.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on all
Public Policy