Forefront plays a very hands-on role with policy and advocacy at the state level, employing registered lobbyist(s), aiming to pass proactive legislation and defend the sector when needed. This is vital, because 1) foundations do not have other coordinated representation with state officials and 2) Forefront is uniquely positioned to convene all types of nonprofits on issues that affect everyone regardless of their service area. On specific policy proposals, Forefront may serve as a champion, supporter, or convener. Staff center racial equity and use the decision-making filter to determine our position and role. We employ multiple tactics, including direct lobbying, calls-to-action, leveraging partnerships with other statewide organizations, and elevating the expertise of others to help keep our sector informed. Forefront’s policy team works closely with our philanthropic and nonprofit members, our Policy Committee, and other key stakeholders around the state to develop and/or identify proposals moving through the General Assembly every spring that impact our sector. Policy Priorities listed below are ones for which Forefront is a champion. Items on the Watch List are those that are championed by other organizations that we actively support or oppose, depending on how they affect the sector.

For more information, contact our team at PublicPolicy@MyForefront.org.

Jump to: Policy Priorities • Watchlist • State Lobbying Rules • Related Resources

Policy Priorities

Endow Illinois – HB 1241

PURPOSE: Incentivize local charitable giving and permanent community endowments
SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations
IMPACT: Would authorize a state income tax credit equal to 25% of contributions made to a permanent endowment at a qualified community foundation. Would bolster resources available to nonprofits in Illinois statewide in perpetuity. See a similar program in Iowa (Endow Iowa).
EQUITY NOTE: The bill stipulates that taxpayers at all income levels are eligible. At least 10% of the total tax credits available in one tax year would be reserved for small individual gifts (up to $30,000 each) and no single taxpayer could receive more than $100,000 in tax credits. Further, no more than 15% of the credit may go to any one community foundation, making it more accessible statewide in rural and urban communities.
Download a Fact Sheet

Audit Threshold – HB 1197 / SB 72

PURPOSE: Reduced financial and administrative burden for the smallest nonprofits in Illinois
SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Arts Alliance Illinois, Illinois Collaboration on Youth, Illinois Partners for Human Service, Illinois CPA Society
IMPACT: Illinois has the most burdensome nonprofit audit threshold in the US, requiring a full audit once a nonprofit receives solicited contributions in excess of $300,000. In 2023, SB172 is expected to have a compromise amendment that will set the threshold for a full audit at $500,000 in annual contributions. The proposal includes a sunset date of January 1, 2029, at which time the audit threshold may be revised again to reflect cost of living changes or revert to the current level.
EQUITY NOTE: Full audits are costly and this is an undue burden on the smallest nonprofit businesses in Illinois. Many small nonprofits are led by Black, Indigenous, Latinx/o/a, and Persons of Color (BIPOC), serve persons of color, and/or conduct advocacy on behalf of BILPOC groups.
Download a Fact Sheet

State Budget

FY24 Budget Info Coming Soon
Governor’s Budget, February 2022
FY23 Enacted Budget
Forefront will support legislation to appropriate funding for the Human Service Professional Loan Repayment Program, which supports direct service professionals at community-based human service organizations that are funded by a state agency.
Forefront will continue to support ongoing funding for the Illinois Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which supports important security improvements for nonprofits and faith institutions that are targets of terrorism.

Lobbyist Registration Act and Rules

Forefront speaks regularly with State Officials and other advocates working on how lobbying rules affect the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors. The sweeping changes made to lobbying rules as of 1/1/22 leave many questions unanswered for our sector, and follow-up rules and/or legislation may ensue. Of particular concern is the impact of the $300 per entity/per lobbyist fee that applies to statewide and local lobbying. While Chicago provides an exemption to their registration fee for 501c3s, the Secretary of State does not. Additionally, Forefront is concerned about the lack of clarity around the rules for local lobbying and how those apply to nonprofits that work closely with various local government entities on a regular basis. We will update this space when lobbying and ethics proposals are being considered by the state legislature.

Watch List

Forefront works closely with other nonprofit and philanthropic sector stakeholders, and supports legislation that is championed by key partners when it aligns with Forefront’s policy platform, commitment to racial equity, and sector interests. Conversely, at times we monitor or oppose legislation that may negatively impact the social impact sector. Here are bills we are watching currently.

Support

Provide Flexible Funding for Employers and Improve Workforce Benefits – HB 1346

PURPOSE: Amend the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) to ensure grants do not restrict administrative costs to less than 20% and eliminate any caps on fringe benefits in state contracts, which include but are not limited to the costs of leave (vacation, family-related, sick or military) and employee insurance.
SUPPORTED BY: Illinois Partners for Human Service
IMPACT: Will provide flexibility for providers to offer better benefits to improve employee retention and offer employees in the sector better benefits.
EQUITY NOTE: The HHS workforce is more likely to be BILPOC, female, and lower wage.

Improving the Illinois Not-For-Profit Security Grant Program – HB 1187

PURPOSE: Makes key amendments to improve the underlying statute of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), including allowing self-assessment tools in the application and specifying the types of security upgrades eligible for the program.
SUPPORTED BY: Safeguard Illinois Communities Coalition (Forefront is a member of this Coalition)
IMPACT: Will strengthen the NSGP-IL program and further the objective of providing security funding assistance for the communities and nonprofits in need during this elevated threat environment.
EQUITY NOTE: The nonprofits eligible for the program are targets of hate and terrorism, and this bill makes changes to allow vulnerable nonprofits to access the program.
Download a Fact Sheet

Monitor

Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act – HB5029 (102nd General Assembly)

PURPOSE: Creates a state-run insurance program that allows workers to use up to 26 weeks of job-protected leave per year, funded through employer contributions at <1% of wages
SUPPORTED BY: Shriver Center, Women Employed
IMPACT: Covers employee’s jobs while on maternity/paternity leave, pregnancy-related leave, caring for a sick family member, dealing with domestic or sexual violence, public health emergencies, school, and child care closures.
EQUITY NOTE: Forefront supports the effort to secure medical and family leave for low and mid-wage workers, many of whom are more likely to be BILPOC. At the same time, Forefront is monitoring this proposal for impact on nonprofit and philanthropic employers and will update this space with additional information. We invite feedback from stakeholders; contact PublicPolicy@MyForefront.org.
Download a fact sheet.

State Lobbying Rules

The Secretary of State regulates state and local government lobbying (with the exception of Chicago). Please review our summary of Lobbying Rules for detailed information about maintaining compliance.

How to file a witness slip
How to participate in the Illinois General Assembly remote hearing process

Policy Accomplishments

2021-22

Charitable Trust Fund – HB4544 – Enacted (P.A. 102-699, effective 4/19/22)

PURPOSE: Makes improvements to grant program for small nonprofits in Illinois
SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Illinois Municipal League, Illinois State Treasurer
IMPACT: Ensures more grant funds are distributed to the smallest nonprofits in Illinois by raising the required allocation for grants from 50% to 80% of the fund balance. Read more and apply here.
EQUITY NOTE: Gives special attention to applications from areas in which there is pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress.
Download a Fact Sheet

Support Post-Graduation Scholarship Programs – HR26 – Adopted (4/23/21)

PURPOSE: Affirms support by the State for post-graduation scholarship programs hosted by Illinois community foundations. A post-graduation scholarship is a type of charitable grant that foundations may make to attract individuals with career skills needed in a particular region by paying off a portion of the individual’s student loans.
SUPPORTED BY: Forefront, Association of Illinois Community Foundations

Illinois Nonprofit Security Grant Program – HB4438 / SB3740 – Included in FY 23 Budget

PURPOSE: Appropriates $8 million in FY23 for grants and administration of this program for 501c3 nonprofit organizations at risk for hate crimes, which funds security projects such as training, equipment, cybersecurity and related staff.
SUPPORTED BY: Safeguard Illinois Communities Coalition (see fact sheet; includes Forefront)
IMPACT: This program was enacted in 2017 but has never been funded. Doing so will save lives in the face of rising hate-crime incidents. Nonprofits statewide have trouble getting funding to cover security costs, with existing federal programs oversubscribed and unable to meet demand. Provisions of this bill, including a $20 million appropriation, were included in the enacted FY 23 budget. IEMA is currently developing rules and a NOFO for the program, which Forefront will be monitoring in support of the coalition.
EQUITY NOTE: Hate crimes targeting Latinx, Black, LGBTQ, Asian, and Jewish residents of Illinois have increased in recent years.
Download a Fact Sheet