National Council of Nonprofits: Opportunities to make your voice heard
During the challenges of the last 18 months, the National Council of Nonprofits has been a steady leader in fighting, informing, and communicating policies impacting America’s nonprofit sector. The Council keeps nonprofits updated on issues at the federal level that may impact local organizations, as well as providing opportunities to share our collective voice. Most recently, the Council issued a call-to-action concerning changes to federal grants.
The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is currently considering sweeping changes to the Uniform Guidance rules that govern federal grants. If implemented, this proposal grants unprecedented power to withhold or terminate grants without notice or cause, shifting awards to partisan ideology rather than objective community needs. This creates financial risk and threatens essential services like housing, healthcare, and education. Almost 500,000 public comments were submitted during the comment period, with 86% opposing the proposal.
The OMB is expected to publish a Final Rule around September 1.
Nonprofits are on the frontlines of solving our communities’ toughest challenges. As an industry, we also have tremendous impact, and our collective voice is stronger than we may think. According to Nonprofit Quarterly, the U.S. nonprofit industry is massive, comprising roughly 1.9 million registered organizations, employing 12.5 million workers as the nation's third-largest employing sector, and generating about $3.7 trillion in annual revenue while contributing around 5.2% to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
By pulling together as a community, as an industry, our voice matters! Through advocacy, we can support nonprofits' ability to serve, survive, and thrive.
The National Council of Nonprofits helps nonprofit organizations gather as one voice to protect our nonprofit sector. Below is a list of opportunities to get involved with national nonprofit advocacy through the National Council of Nonprofits. AWC posts this blog understanding that it’s a very challenging time, and that so many of our local nonprofits are feeling overwhelmed. For those who are looking for how to help, here are three simple ways to support nonprofit advocacy efforts:
Get to know the National Council of Nonprofits. Visit their webpage and sign up for the alerts. This is a simple, brief task that can help you stay updated on national-level developments that may affect local nonprofits.
Sign the Council’s current petition by Sept. 30 to protect nonprofit nonpartisanship: For 70 years, federal law (the Johnson Amendment) has shielded charitable organizations from partisan political pressures. Recent efforts by the current Administration and Congress to weaken this law threaten the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector. Educate your board and staff on why nonpartisanship matters, urge elected officials to preserve the law, and sign the national petition to protect nonprofit nonpartisanship.
Keep your Board of Directors updated on opportunities to voice their support during comment periods, petitions, etc. By motivating them to act, we extend our reach.
Together, we can create a strong voice for our non-profit community.
