This is a complete timeline of Forefront’s policy updates since March 2020, when COVID-19 became the primary focus of our advocacy efforts. For a birds-eye view of our COVID-19 policy work, as well as important resources from Forefront, please view our policy page.

• Wednesday, January 12: The State of Illinois updated its lobbying registration requirements effective January 1. Forefront is hard at work determining exactly which requirements pertain to which organizations. We encourage all nonprofits in Illinois engaged in lobbying to read, bookmark, and share this bill breakdown—which will be updated as we learn more—and to discuss the impact of SB539 with legal counsel if applicable.
• Monday, December 21: Leaders in both chambers of Congress have reached an agreement over a new stimulus bill to help support millions of Americans as they continue to struggle with the impact of COVID-19 on their health, livelihood, and community. Read a summary of the key issues addressed by the new bill.
• Tuesday, June 1: The State of Illinois has adopted new Ethics laws that will affect the nonprofit community regarding lobbying. Though not all of our collective concerns (as outlined in our letter to the Illinois House and Senate Ethics Committees) were addressed, we were able to make important changes to the laws to lessen the burden on our sector. This summer, the State has committed to working with nonprofit groups to amend these laws so they are more amenable for the 501(c)3 community. The new laws do not take place until January 1, 2022. Forefront will reach out to our Membership this summer to make sure your voices and concerns are heard before the state’s veto session in the Fall.
• Forefront is also continuing to work with the City of Chicago to help lessen the burden of nonprofit lobbying registration and reporting. We will continue to provide updates as they occur.
• Monday, April 26: The Illinois House of Representatives has passed the Post-Graduation Scholarship resolution. Led by Forefront and the Alliance of Community Foundations, this resolution recommends Community Foundations offer post-graduation scholarships to distressed communities across the state. This is a step towards combating the student loan crisis and creating equity among underserved areas across Illinois wrestling with low graduation rates, loss of essential workers, and devastating population loss. Thank you to Representative Ryan Spain for helping lead this effort.
• Tuesday, March 30: President Biden has signed legislation extending the Paycheck Protection Program until May 31. Forefront has championed this legislation and is thrilled that more nonprofits will now have a chance to secure funding.
• Monday, May 10: This week, the Treasury Department issued an Interim Final Rule and other materials providing details on the ways the American Rescue Plan’s $350 billion in Fiscal Recovery Funds “can be used to respond to acute pandemic-response needs, fill revenue shortfalls among state and local governments, and support the communities and populations hardest-hit by the COVID-19 crisis.” Some provisions allow the government to provide relief for nonprofit organizations. Forefront is contacting state government leaders to advocate that money from the American Rescue Act must be used to help our sector.
• Thursday, March 25: Today, the Senate voted to extend the Payroll Protection Program. President Biden is expected to sign legislation extending the program until May 31.
• Thursday, March 25: Today, a resolution introduced by Representative Ryan Spain and sponsored by Forefront and Illinois community foundations passed the Higher Education Committee with a vote of 10-0-0. This resolution will give Illinois community foundations the backing needed to form post-graduation scholarship programs.
• Tuesday, February 23: On Monday, President Biden announced a two-week period in which the Small Business Administration will only process Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for employers with fewer than 20 employees and those that are minority-owned. The priority period will run from February 24 through March 9. Read this fact sheet from the Biden administration.
• Thursday, February 11: Last night, the House Small Business Committee approved a $50 billion relief package that allows nonprofits with more than 500 employees and operating in more than one location to secure PPP forgivable loans. The package also removes the nonprofit affiliation rule included in the CARES Act. The bill now goes to the House Budget Committee to be included in a comprehensive aid package that is expected to go to a vote on February 22. View the news release, view the full bill, and access a section-by-section bill summary.
• Monday, January 25: A coalition of nonprofit organizations sent an initial letter to federal leaders urging Congress and the President to enact a package of solutions tailored to the needs and realities of nonprofits serving the public good. Learn more and sign on.
• Friday, January 8: The Small Business Administration’s newest news release offers new guidance for the Paycheck Protection Program, which will re-open the week of January 11.
• Thursday, January 7: The Small Business Administration released additional PPP guidance on Wednesday, January 6, interpreting provisions of the new COVID relief law:
  • Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program as Amended by Economic Aid Act (released 1/6/2021)
  • Interim Final Rule on Second Draw Loans (released 1/6/2021)
  • SBA Guidance on Accessing Capital for Minority, Underserved, Veteran and Women-Owned Business Concerns (released 1/6/2021)
• Monday, December 21: Leaders in both chambers of Congress have reached an agreement over a new stimulus bill to help support millions of Americans as they continue to struggle with the impact of COVID-19 on their health, livelihood, and community. Read a summary of the key issues addressed by the new bill.
• Friday, December 18: Thanks to the advocacy work of Forefront and our partners, the City of Chicago is delaying the implementation of its nonprofit lobbying laws until at least April 1, 2021. Forefront is committed to working diligently with The Chicago Board of Ethics and the Mayor’s Office to share our Members’ concerns about this law, and on working toward amendments that increase transparency in Chicago. See the announcement to learn more.
• Tuesday, December 1: The Trump administration’s Public Charge rule, which makes it harder for immigrants to achieve legal status, has been blocked by a federal judge. The new rule added several programs to the list of public benefits that could disqualify individuals from legal immigration, including the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Section 8 Housing, and non-emergency Medicaid.
• Wednesday, October 7: Yesterday, President Trump abruptly announced he would halt negotiation talks for a much-needed stimulus package. The effect of his decision is devastating to our state and sector. We urge the President and congressional leaders to restart talks on behalf of the American people and industries who are struggling during this pandemic.
• Wednesday, September 16: Congressional leaders face mounting pressure to agree on a COVID-19 relief package. Last night, the Problem Solvers Caucus—a group of 50 House Democrats and Republicans—proposed a $1.5 trillion package that includes much-needed funding for state and local governments; 8 weeks of unemployment benefits; $1,200 direct stimulus payments for individuals; and a second round of the Payroll Protection Program, including “simple forgiveness” (an aspect Forefront advocated for). The White House seems open to these negotiations, and we will share updates as the package progresses.
• Tuesday, September 15: Forefront’s policy committee met with Senator Heather Steans this week to discuss what the Illinois legislature has planned for its upcoming session. Forefront will continue our push to raise the Audit Threshold, create a community foundation endowment, and amend the pending lobbying laws impacting the City of Chicago and State of Illinois. With Illinois’ next steps contingent upon federal funding, Forefront will also continue to advocate for federal relief in the coming months.
• Tuesday, September 8: Republican Senate leaders released a COVID-19 relief package that is expected to come up for a floor vote. The package is not expected to pass with a filibuster-proof majority. Read a summary of the bill here.
• Wednesday, August 26: Since the start of the pandemic, self-insured nonprofits across the country have faced a shortfall in relief due to guidance from the United States Department of Labor. Forefront vigorously advocated on behalf of these nonprofits to the State of Illinois to ensure that they receive 100% relief for their unemployment insurance costs. We are delighted to announce our advocacy has been successful, and self-insured nonprofits in Illinois can now take steps to receive 100% relief. Read Illinois’ updated Unemployment Insurance Guidance to learn more.
• Monday, August 2: President Trump has signed the Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act (S.4209), which will override the Labor Department requirement that self-insured nonprofits must pay 100 percent of benefits costs upfront. Read about the bill here.
• Thursday, June 18: The implementation of the new nonprofit lobbying law for the City of Chicago has been delayed until January 2021. Forefront has been working tirelessly to halt this new ordinance to ensure much-needed changes occur before going into effect. Read the City’s press release here.
• Monday, August 2: President Trump has signed the Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act (S.4209), which will override the Labor Department requirement that self-insured nonprofits must pay 100 percent of benefits costs upfront. Read about the bill here.
• Thursday, June 18: The implementation of the new nonprofit lobbying law for the City of Chicago has been delayed until January 2021. Forefront has been working tirelessly to halt this new ordinance to ensure much-needed changes occur before going into effect. Read the City’s press release here.
• Tuesday, June 16: The Federal Reserve Board announced it will be seeking public feedback on the proposal to expand its Main Street Lending Program to provide access to credit for nonprofit organizations. Click here to learn more.
• Tuesday, May 26:Forefront, in partnership with Illinois Partners for Human Services and the Jewish Federation of Chicago, sent a letter to Governor JB Pritzker urging him to sign an executive order to protect nonprofits who are self-insured for unemployment benefits. Right now, these nonprofits are required to pay 50% of all insurance claims due to COVID-19-related unemployment. To learn more, read the letter here.
• Thursday, May 15: The House passes the historic HEROES Act. As the legislation is being negotiated in the Senate, Forefront will keep you updated as news becomes available.
• Thursday, May 14: Funding Nonprofit Work in Communities: Tomorrow, Senators Klobuchar (D-MN), Brown (D-OH), and Wyden (D-OR) plan to introduce the Work Opportunities and Resources to Keep Nonprofit Organizations Well Act (the WORK NOW Act). The bill seeks to inject $50 billion into frontline nonprofits over the next 6 months to generate employment for laid-off workers and to address the skyrocketing needs in communities for COVID-19 relief and recovery. Senator Tammy Duckworth has signed on and endorsed this bill, as has Forefront.
• Wednesday, May 13: Yesterday, the House introduced The HEROES Act. Read the House’s summary of the bill, and view a preliminary analysis of what is in the HEROES Act for nonprofits.
• Tuesday, May 12: The House has introduced The HEROES Act. This $3 trillion 4th stimulus package will involve funding for state and local governments, more direct payments to individuals, money to expand testing and contact tracing, provisions for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, student loan relief, and funding for elections. Forefront will analyze the act and release information important to the sector soon.
• Monday, May 11: Forefront is continuing our push to change the ruling from the Department of Labor mandating that nonprofits pay 100% of unemployment insurance benefits and be reimbursed 50% at some later date. We are engaging with our national partners to help alleviate this new regulation.
• Tuesday, April 28: Forefront has asked the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation to sign this letter requesting support for the nonprofit sector in the upcoming COVID-19 stimulus bill. Please encourage your Representatives to sign on as well.
• Tuesday, April 28: According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, the House will not resume session next week as originally planned. This will delay the fourth stimulus bill beyond the end of next week.
• Wednesday, April 22: The Senate has passed an “interim” spending bill created to support small-business loan programs. The bill provides a total of $484 in new spending, including $310 billion in new money for the Paycheck Protection Program (which is open to nonprofits), $50 billion to the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, $10 billion to the EIDL emergency grants program, and an additional $75 billion to hospitals and $25 billion for testing, split between the states and federal government.
• The House is expected to pass the bill this week. Representatives are being asked (not ordered) to return to DC to vote on the bill on Thursday. The President has said he will sign the bill and has tweeted that the next stimulus bill needs to include funding for state and local government and infrastructure.
• Thursday, April 16: The $349 billion appropriated to the Small Business Administration for COVID-19-related loans has been depleted. We at Forefront are doing what we can to advocate for a quick deal by Senate Republicans and Democrats to help Illinois nonprofits.
• Thursday, April 9: The IRS has extended more tax deadlines to cover individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and others. Read our summary here.
• Tuesday, April 7: Cook County has issued a comprehensive initiative to provide economic relief to small businesses, nonprofits, community service organizations, and independent contractors (1099 workers). Learn more on their website.
• Monday, April 6: The government issued additional guidance instructing financial institutions on how to review and process PPP loan applications.
• Monday, April 6:Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) is providing sustained funding so providers are able to keep their doors open and can continue to retain staff, even with no or limited service delivery. Learn more in their message to providers.
• Friday, April 3: The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Plan launches today. To learn all the relevant details for nonprofits, view our Paycheck Protection Plan fact sheet.
• Friday, March 27:The President has signed the CARES Act. Click here for a summary of how the CARES Bill applies to nonprofits.
• Friday, March 27: The House of Representatives has passed the Senate’s CARES Act. The bill is on its way to the President for his signature.
• Friday, March 27: The CARES Act, which aims to spend $2 trillion in support of nonprofits, business, families, and workers, has passed the United States Senate. The House will take up the measure Friday, March 27 for passage. The President is expected to sign the 3rd Coronavirus Relief Package once it passes the House.
• Friday, March 27: The House of Representatives has passed the Senate’s CARES Act. The bill is on its way to the President for his signature.
• Thursday, March 26: The CARES Act, which aims to spend $2 trillion in support of nonprofits, business, families, and workers, has passed the United States Senate. The House will take up the measure Friday, March 27 for passage. The President is expected to sign the 3rd Coronavirus Relief Package once it passes the House.
• Thursday, March 19: Forefront has created an SBA Loan Fact Sheet for nonprofits interested in applying for loans from the Small Business Administration.
• Thursday, March 19: There is a temporary non-enforcement of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and workplace posting requirements until April 17. Learn more on our partners Quarles and Brady’s website.
• Thursday, March 19: The temporary universal charitable deduction provision was the work of important lobbying by Forefront and our colleagues throughout the country. Please see an example of the letter Forefront sent to our federal representatives here.
• Wednesday, March 18: The National Council of Nonprofits sent a letter to all members of Congress calling for $60 billion in emergency stimulus funding for adversely affected charitable organizations. Forefront has resent the letter to the Illinois Congressional Delegation, including Senator Durbin and Senator Duckworth. Read the letter here.