The Super Committee Fails to Reach Consensus
November 29, 2011 - The co-chairs of the Super Committee of Congress admitted defeat last week by announcing that the panel was unable to reach agreement on a package of spending cuts, tax increases, and entitlement reforms to generate $1.2 trillion in deficit reduction, as mandated by the Budget Control Act passed last August.

"After months of hard work and intense deliberations, we have come to the conclusion today that it will not be possible to make any bipartisan agreement available to the public before the committee’s deadline," Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) wrote in a joint statement. "We remain hopeful that Congress can build on this committee’s work and can find a way to tackle this issue in a way that works for the American people and our economy," they further stated.

What does this mean for the elimination of the itemized Charitable Deduction, as it was targeted in some proposals?
The National Council of Nonprofits shares that while the immediate threat is lessened, "Congress remains very interested in comprehensive tax reform (lowering rates; abolishing loopholes, deductions, and credits; broadening the base)."

National Arts Organization Encourages Local Groups to Get Involved
October 31, 2011 - The Americans for the Arts organization in encouraging local arts groups to be engaged in the debate about the charitable giving incentive. They recently shared information on the October 18th Senate Finance Hearing.

Opposing Views on the Threat to the Charitable Deduction Incentive
October 31, 2011 - Two differing views of the ongoing saga around the charitable giving incentive have recently been featured in The Nonprofit Quarterly. In a complex economic environment, both writers provide valuable information to support their point of view and whatever your stance, both are interesting reading.

The Nonprofit Sector’s Embarrassing Defense of a Maximal Charitable Deduction

Nonprofits, Tell Congress: "Help, or at Least Do No Harm"

Charitable Giving Incentive Still a Target
October 18, 2011 - While one threat to the charitable deduction was eliminated when language was removed from the national jobs bill, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction is still considering recommending that Congress take away or alter the charitable giving incentive for individual donations.

The National Council of Nonprofits is urging nonprofits to become a part of their nation-wide grassroots campaign to protect this incentive and therefore many of the donations that nonprofits count on.
Learn more...

Report on Lobbying Rules and the Public Sector
September 8, 2011 - The Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest has released a report that details how the lobbying rules — the most stringent of any White House — are pushing public-sector industry groups away from erring on the side of disclosure. The Lobbying rules effectively restricting public service based solely on whether an individual is registered to be a lobbyist under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) and the report finds that the restrictions have inadvertently chilled nonprofit advocacy and  undermined good government.
Read the report...

Study Examines Tax Code Changes Implications for Charitable Giving
June 1, 2011 - The Congressional Budget Office released a study this week that projects the impacts that a variety of tax code changes would bring for the sector and for federal tax revenue. The Chronicle of Philanthropy examines the study’s release.

One concept that the study conducted is similar to the proposal put forth by President Obama earlier this year; namely converting the current charitable gift itemized deduction to 12% tax credit model. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), with the elimination of the current charitable gift deduction structure an additional $230 billion could be collected by the federal government between 2010 and 2014 at the current levels of charitable giving.
Read the full study...

An Article from the New York Times
May 11, 2011 - As recession-racked cities struggle to balance their budgets with everything short of feeling behind sofa cushions for loose change, a growing number are seeking more money — just don’t use the word taxes — from nonprofit institutions that occupy valuable land but by law do not pay property taxes.
Read more...

Senator Jeanne Shaheen Urges Maintenance Funding for Federal Community Development Block Grant Program
March 18, 2011 - Along with 28 other Senators, US Senator Jeanne Shaheen signed on to a letter to the Appropriations Committee Chair and Vice Chair, Senator Daniel Inouye and Senator Thad Cochran, urging preservation of funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. Calling the CDBG “one of the most effective federal programs for promoting economic development”, the letter highlights that existing funding is the centerpiece of the federal government’s efforts to help more than 1,200 cities, counties and states meet the needs of low and moderate income persons.

Would New 1099 Requirements Create a Burden for Your Nonprofit?
August 4th, 2010 - The health care reform law enacted earlier this year requires nonprofits to file Form 1099 when they pay vendors more than $600 per year for goods and other property. This requirement starts in 2012. The IRS is seeking public comment on how to minimize the burdens of this new reporting on nonprofits and businesses. The deadline for comments is Sept. 29, 2010. Congress also could consider legislation eliminating this filing requirement.  Please let the IRS know how this would impact your nonprofit. 
Comments should be submitted to:
Internal Revenue Service
CC:PA:LPD:PR (Notice 2010-51)
Room 5203
P.O. Box 7604
Ben Franklin Station,
Washington, DC 20044. 
Or:
Notice.Comments@irscounsel.treas.gov.--the subject line must include “Notice 2010-51.”
All comments will be available for public inspection and copying.

Time to Show Support for Nonprofit Sector Legislation
August 2nd, 2010 - The NH Center for Nonprofits is a proud early supporter of the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act, a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June. This landmark legislation would strengthen America's communities by making the federal government a more productive partner with nonprofit organizations by establishing 1) better communication with the federal government, 2) better coordination within government, and 3) enhanced data collection and research. Please join us today in showing your support for the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act by adding your organization’s name to the list of nonprofit supporters.

Public Funding of Election Campaigns
July 19th, 2010 - Retired corporate executives are calling for public financing of election campaigns. This is a way to deal with the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case, which significantly loosened the rules for corporations to provide financial support to candidates running for office.
Read more...

Nonprofit Groups to Fight Proposed Postal-Rate Hike
July 19th, 2010 - The U.S. Postal Service has announced plans to raise postal rates to close a $7 billion budget gap. Charities and businesses that rely heavily on mailings are already working together to fight the increase, arguing for deeper cost cuts first. A new coalition has sprung up in the last week to carry out the fight: The Affordable Mail Alliance. It includes the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, as well as several major magazine publishers and catalog retailers.
Read more...

New Federal Health Reform Portal on Internet
July 1st, 2010 - Find insurance, learn about prevention, compare care quality, understand the new law, find information for you.
Learn more at www.healthcare.gov/

Landmark Nonprofit Legislation Introduced in Congress
June 17, 2010 - Washington, D.C. - At a press conference held June 16 at the United States Capitol, the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits joined nonprofit leaders from around the country and the National Council of Nonprofits as Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum spoke about her newly introduced “Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act” (HR 5533), a bill that will transform the way that the federal government thinks about and deals with the charitable nonprofit community in the United States.
Read more...

Congresswoman Leads National Effort to Advance Nonprofit Sector
May 19, 2010 - According to The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota is championing legislation designed to support nonprofits. In the bill she plans to introduce next month, Ms. McCollum intends to create two new national groups, a National Nonprofit Council and a national work group of high-level representatives from federal agencies to work with nonprofits to improve relations between federal agencies and the nonprofit sector.

"Washington needs to start caring as much about strengthening nonprofit organizations as it does regulating them," McCollum says, adding that "tens of millions of Americans rely on nonprofits for the jobs and services they provide."

The NH Center for Nonprofits and all of its members are members of the National Council of Nonprofit which has worked with and supports Congresswoman McCollum’s efforts. The Center will be tracking progress with the legislation.

New IRS Guidance for Claiming Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit
May 17, 2010 - The Internal Revenue Service issued new guidance on May 17 to help small employers (nonprofits and for-profit businesses) determine their eligibility for and the amount of the health care tax credit. Small employers receiving state health care tax credits may still qualify for the full federal tax credit. Small employers can receive the credit for health insurance and also for dental and vision coverage. Notice 2010-44

The credit was designed to encourage small employers to offer health insurance coverage for the first time or to maintain coverage they already have. Small employers that provide health care coverage to their employees and that meet certain requirements are eligible for a Federal income tax credit for health insurance premiums they pay. To qualify for the tax credit, small employers have to provide health insurance and have to pay at least 50% of their employees’ premiums. Eligibility is also limited by company size and wages. A firm has to have fewer than 25 full-time workers averaging less than $50,000 a year in pay.

Read more on the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=223577,00.html

Small Employer Health Insurance Tax Credit Calculator
May 12, 2010 - Small nonprofits can claim a tax credit immediately when they pay for at least half of the health insurance premiums for their employees. The full credit is available to employers with 10 or fewer workers with average annual wages of $25,000, while firms with up to 25 or fewer employees and average annual wages of up to $50,000 will be eligible for part of the credit.
Visit the “calculator” to find out the amount of your tax credit.
Read more about how the tax credit works and what you need to know

Health Reform Web Portal
May 10, 2010 - A health reform web portal will be launched July 1 to provide state-level information about affordable health coverage options. Its goal is to help individuals and small businesses, including nonprofits, learn about coverage options in their state.

The July 1 launch will contain basic information about who sells individual and small group products in NH and links to information about those products. Information for small businesses and about coverage through the high-risk pools will also be available. There will also be information on eligibility and services for Medicaid and CHIP. In October, more detailed information will be available at the web portal.

Timeline for Health Reform Implementation
April 5, 2010 - The Commonwealth Fund has developed a timeline that outlines when health insurance reform provisions will go into effect.

Small Nonprofits Can Claim Tax Credit Now
March 29, 2010 - Small nonprofits can claim a tax credit immediately when they pay for at least half of the health insurance premiums for their employees. This is a result of the health care reform bill being signed into law by the President on March 23. The full credit is available to employers with 10 or fewer workers with average annual wages of $25,000, while firms with up to 25 or fewer employees and average annual wages of up to $50,000 will be eligible for part of the credit.
Read more...

House Passes Senate’s Health Care Reform Bill
March 22, 2010 - Late Sunday night the House passed the Senate’s December health reform bill by a vote of 219-212.  The House also approved a package of revisions to the Senate bill that will go to the Senate this week.  The bill is widely seen as the biggest expansion of health insurance coverage since Medicaid and Medicare were established in 1965. Of particular interest to tax-exempt organizations is the section in the bill that provides  employers with 25 employees or less and average annual wages of less than $50,000 that purchase health insurance for employees with a tax credit.

The Census is Less than 2 Months Away! Why does this matter to you?
February 10, 2010 - Because a decade of federal funding is on the line—that’s $300 billion! The best way you can advocate for your community is to help make sure that everyone gets counted. Lower income and more mobile populations - precisely those served by many nonprofits - are at greatest risk of an undercount, leading to under-funding of critical services and infrastructure and under-representation in government. The National Census count affects the locations of new hospitals, roads, transit, schools and more. It determines political representation. With two months to go and billions of dollars in community funding on the line, it’s time to get involved in making the National Census an accurate success.

What you can do: distribute fact sheets, display a poster communicating your organization’s support for the Census, display a sample census form, encourage people to cooperate with the Census takers, make it clear that the Census is really important. Visit www.nonprofitscount.org today for help, free posters, a Census Toolkit (in Spanish and English) and more!

White House Proposes Tax Credit for Nonprofit Employers
January 29, 2010 - In a conference call with the White House today, The Center got a heads up on an exciting new jobs proposal that would provide a tax credit to nonprofits. The proposal seeks a wage and tax credit of $5,000 per new employee hired. To qualify for this tax credit the total wages paid by the organization will have to increase. There is a $500,000 cap on any entity (including for-profit businesses) who will be eligible for the tax credit. The White House estimates that one million employers will benefit from this proposal, and many will be in the nonprofit sector. There was a strong appreciation of the work nonprofits do, their importance to the economy, their importance to the quality of life of the people that nonprofits serve. We will follow this legislation as it is introduced and moves through Congress. It is never too early to contact your representatives to let them know how you feel about this proposed legislation that will be making its way through the Congress soon. Contact information for your representative is located at: http://www.nh.gov/government/nhcong.html.

Nonprofits, Elections, and the Supreme Court's Decision
January 28, 2010 - The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (decided January 21, 2010), that has confused some writers who are not as familiar with the important legal distinctions between different types of “nonprofits” that exist or with the differences between federal election laws that the Court changed and tax laws that the Court did not change. Therefore, to make sure nonprofits here in New Hampshire are aware of their full legal rights – and limitations – when it comes to participating in elections, the NH Center for Nonprofits is making available for your review a brief analysis that the National Council of Nonprofits prepared to help 501(c)(3) nonprofits avoid taking actions that could jeopardize their tax-exempt status.
Read more...

National Council for Nonprofits urges inclusion of nonprofits in health reform legislation
January 19, 2010 - Strongly urging Congress to provide America’s nonprofits with health reform benefits like those provided to small for-profit businesses, a letter from the National Council of Nonprofits was sent to Congressional leaders on Friday January 15, 2010.
Read the letter...

Health reform: Hodes and Shea-Porter Urge Inclusion of Nonprofits
January 15, 2010 - On January 14 Representatives Hodes and Shea-Porter signed on to a letter, with 43 other Representatives, to Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer urging them to ensure that nonprofits be included in the final health care reform bill. The final health care reform legislation must address the health care needs of the 15 million Americans employed in the nonprofit sector. For health care reform to be truly comprehensive it must provide comparable treatment for all small employers, including nonprofit employers and their employees. The nonprofit sector is the fourth largest sector in the American workforce. It generates approximately 12 percent of Gross National Product (GNP). Nonprofit employers face the same escalating health insurance costs as small for-profit employers. Yet, the version of the bill the House passed did extend all the reform benefits to nonprofits. The Senate did include nonprofits in its bill.