Charitable Act – H.R. 3435 / S. 566

• PURPOSE: Expansion and extension of the universal charitable deduction, which supports the social impact sector’s workforce
• SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Charitable Giving Coalition, National Council of Nonprofits, United Philanthropy Forum
• IMPACT: Restoration of the universal charitable or non-itemizer deduction is a key policy priority for nonprofit member organizations nationwide. This bill incentivizes all taxpayers to give to charity, regardless of their income or whether they itemize. The bipartisan CARES Act and its extension in 2020 included a universal $300/$600 deduction for charitable contributions for single/married filers, which data show led to an increase in both donations and donors in 2020. This bipartisan legislation would raise that $300/$600 cap, which expired 12/31/21, on the nonitemizer charitable deduction to to one-third of the standard deduction (roughly $4,600 for individuals and $9,200 for couples).
• Download a Fact Sheet about the bill
• Download a Fact Sheet about the impact of federal tax policy on giving
• Read recent letters from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Charitable Giving Coalition
• Read resources from the Charitable Giving Coalition here and here
• Ask Illinois officials to support this bill

Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships – H.R. 3582 / S. 1757

• PURPOSE: Defines post-graduation scholarship grants as a charitable activity and excludes post-graduation scholarship grants from an individual’s taxable income; ensures that this program is benefiting those communities most in need.
• SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Council on Foundations, Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations
• IMPACT: Would help bolster our sector’s workforce and build upon the work done at the state level through the adoption of HR26 in 2021
• Download a Fact Sheet
• Letter to Officials With Cosigners
• Ask Illinois officials to support this bill

Streamlining Federal Grants Act – S. 2286 / H.R. 5934

• PURPOSE: The bill seeks to improve the effectiveness and performance of federal grants and cooperative agreements, simplify the application and reporting requirements, and facilitate greater coordination among agencies responsible for delivering services to the public.
• SUPPORTED BY: National Council of Nonprofits, Social Current, National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Native American Finance Officers Association
• IMPACT: The bill would make numerous changes to help nonprofits work with government partners to overcome hurdles related to access and performance under federal grants. This includes working to overcome bureaucratic obstructions, mandating consultation with non-federal entities (including nonprofits) during the development of Agency Plans, clarification and simplification of NOFOs, and elevating the importance of training and assistance for prospective grantees to access federal programs.
• Download a Fact Sheet
• Ask Illinois officials to support this bill

Nonprofit SEAT Act – H.R. 3245

• PURPOSE: Ensure the nonprofit business community has a permanent seat at the table at the federal level
• SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Independent Sector (IS), National Council of Nonprofits, United Philanthropy Forum
• IMPACT: A multifaceted set of policy proposals to strengthen public-private collaboration, data sharing, and civic engagement, in addition to a related executive order. Will establish a White House office on nonprofits, create an interagency council, and establish an advisory board made up of diverse nonprofit sector leaders to ensure decision-makers understand the priorities of nonprofits. Includes policies that strengthen equal access to nonprofit workforce data, streamlined fundraising registration across state lines, improved federal contracting processes, and other related provisions. See a section-by-section Summary.
• EQUITY NOTE: Throughout, the bill requires special attention to underserved and marginalized communities; analysis of how recommendations would impact racial and ethnic disparities; racial, gender, ethnic, and geographic inclusion in processes; and the use of disaggregated data.
• Download a Fact Sheet
• See letter of support
• Sign onto the letter of support
• Ask Illinois officials to support this bill

Volunteer Mileage Rate – H.R. 3032 / S. 3020

• PURPOSE: To equalize the charitable mileage rate with the business travel rate.
• SUPPORTED BY: Independent Sector, National Association of Towns and Townships, National Council of Nonprofits, plus this initial list of organizations (this is expected to grow)
• IMPACT: Would raise the volunteer mileage rate (fixed in statute at 14 cents/mile) to the standard business rate (currently 65.5 cents/mile) for volunteers who drive their vehicles on behalf of charitable nonprofits to transport property or individuals. Currently, the IRS can adjust the business rate, but not the volunteer rate, which is fixed. See news release from sponsor.
• Download a Fact Sheet
• Ask Illinois officials to support this bill

Federal Budget

Forefront advocates for federal investment in the social impact sector through the Congressional budget process. This includes appropriations and tax policy. More information will appear here when important federal budget items arise.

• Use of ARPA funds databases: Results 4 America, the National Council of State Legislatures’ ARPA FRF Allocation Dashboard, Center on Budget Policy and Priorities’ Fiscal Recovery Fund (FRF) Spending by State, Chicago Community Trust’s Federal Recovery Funds Dashboard, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund.
• Inflation Reduction Act resources: The text of the Inflation Reduction Act can be found in S. Amendment 5194 to H.R. 5376 from the 117th Congress. The Inflation Reduction Act by the Numbers provides a snapshot into the impact of the legislation.

Voting Rights

Forefront joins its national partners in supporting legislation that expands and protects the right to vote and the protections for democratic elections in our country. We envision a society in which all people have representation, and we believe that a healthy social impact sector is fundamental to a healthy democracy. We support civic engagement, voting rights, open elections, accountable and ethical government, a full Census count, greater connectivity, and civil dialogue. To this end, we support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (HR 4 and HR 5746 in the 117th Congress), and will continue to support similar legislation in the 118th Congress.

Forefront is committed to supporting full participation in the decennial Census; even now, we are thinking about the 2030 Census and encouraging other stakeholders to do the same. We continue meeting regularly with US Census Bureau staff and key partners from our statewide effort in 2020.

• Illinois funders should review the Roadmap to 2030 provided by the Leadership Conference Education Fund.
• Forefront signed onto this letter penned by the Census Project to the House and Senate Appropriation Committees urging Congress to provide $2 billion in funding for the Census Bureau in FY23.
• Forefront joined other stakeholders across the US in recommending specific improvements to the standards for federal data on race and ethnicity.
• Forefront submitted comments to the Census Bureau’s Federal Register Notice on how to improve for 2030
• Forefront is monitoring the End Prison Gerrymandering Act (HR 6550), an important bill that would improve the Census

• National Council of Nonprofits’ Public Policy Agenda
• Illinois Nonprofit Workforce Shortage Report from National Council of Nonprofits
• United Philanthropy Forum’s Public Policy Resources
• Council on Foundations’ Public Policy and Advocacy efforts
• Independent Sector’s Public Policy Agenda
• United States Congress
• White House Equity EO and House Democrats Equity in Tax Policy Work
• Supreme Court Decisions’ Impact on the Nonprofit Sector