Highlights of This Edition
- What to Expect During Foundations on the Hill 2024 – Important Update
- Forum to Host Briefing on DAF Regulations Featuring Top Tax Policy Experts
- Forum Partners on Voter Engagement Toolkit for Philanthropy
Key News + Announcements
What To Expect During Foundations on the Hill 2024
In less than six weeks, Foundations on the Hill kicks off!
Don’t miss exciting programming, including a #FOTH2024 exclusive: the premier presentation of the National Study on DAFs results and report. Additionally, attendees will enjoy a plethora of networking opportunities, chances to meet with government officials, and more. Now is the time to register, book your hotel room, and start planning meetings on Capitol Hill.
Scheduling Meetings
During #FOTH2024, the Senate is scheduled to be in session, but the House is currently scheduled to be out of session. While the House schedule may change, we wanted to make sure attendees are aware of this development. It is important to note that even though the House may be out of session, influential Capitol Hill staffers will still be in office and will have more time to dedicate to meetings with constituents.
In addition to meetings in the House, the Senate will be open and available for delegations to meet with Senators and staff. Delegations may also schedule meetings with committee staff and government agencies. To help delegation captains plan Hill meetings, the FOTH webpage has templates, guides, and resources with key information about leading a delegation.
Upon request, to assist with scheduling meetings, Forum staff can send the latest staff contact information for House, Senate, and government agency offices. If you have trouble scheduling a meeting, please let Forum staff know as soon as possible.
#FOTH2024: The Sector’s Public Policy Conference
- Informative, engaging, and interactive programming and presentations over three days. Starting off with pre-conference programing on Sunday, a full day of programming on Monday, and the all-new Advocacy and Leadership Summitt Breakfast on Tuesday!
- Several networking opportunities, providing attendees multiple chances to connect and be in community with colleagues and fellow advocates from across the country. This includes the Signature Welcome Reception on Monday evening and the Capitol Hill Reception on Tuesday evening.
- Opportunities for PSOs, foundation leaders, and sector advocates to develop and strengthen relationships with their Members of Congress, staff, and federal officials. Meetings on Capitol Hill and throughout Washington start Tuesday after the Leadership Summitt Breakfast and continue through Wednesday!
Check out the Foundations on the Hill 2024 website to explore resources for planning Hill meetings and register today!
Forum to Host Briefing on DAF Regulations Featuring Top Tax Policy Experts
In November, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the first in what is expected to be a series of long-awaited regulations interpreting the statute that codifies DAFs. To help inform our member network about the proposal regulations, what they mean for the sector, and how we plan to respond, United Philanthropy Forum is hosting DAF Regulations: A Comprehensive Briefing for the Philanthropic Sector on January 31st.
During this informative presentation, tax policy experts from the renowned D.C.-based law firm Miller & Chevalier will provide a detailed review of the proposed regulations, field questions, make informed suggestions, and solicit feedback from PSOs and foundations that will inform the Forum's response comments to Treasury, due February 15th.
This important and timely briefing is open to Forum Network PSOs and their foundation members. Register for DAF Regulations: A Comprehensive Briefing for the Philanthropic Sector and encourage your members to do the same.
Also, feel free to visit the Forum’s DAF resource page to learn more.
Congressional Tax Committees Release Tax Package Which Excludes the Charitable Act
Tuesday, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced a bipartisan, bicameral tax framework. The plan does not include the Charitable Act – a bill that would reinstate a universal charitable deduction (UCD) – but does include an expanded child tax credit, an enhanced low-income housing tax credit, and more.
The original sponsors of the Charitable Act during this Congress, Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE), expressed disappointment yesterday that the bill has been left out of the tax package set to be considered by the Ways and Means Committee today. Lankford and Coons continue to push for the inclusion of the UCD and mentioned the Forum and other sector organizations in the list of supporters of the Charitable Act.
The Forum encourages the sector to ask lawmakers to co-sponsor and support the bill.
See the announcement of the tax package and the response from Lankford and Coons for details.
Congress Passes Stopgap Funding to Avoid Partial Government Shutdown
The Senate and House passed a stopgap funding bill yesterday to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend, according to Bloomberg Government. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Speaker and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) agreed on a continuing resolution (CR) to set new deadlines on March 1st and March 8th.
Despite progress on avoiding a shutdown, lawmakers still haven’t struck a deal on top-line funding allocations for each of the 12 annual appropriations bills.
The Forum will keep members apprised of appropriations negotiations ahead of the new deadlines.
PSO Resources + Updates
#FOTH2024 Prep Webinars Feature Essential Details
The recording is now available from the Welcome Webinar + Orientation, the first prep webinar for Foundations on the Hill. Attendees learned about the conference logistics, scheduling Hill meetings, session topics, networking opportunities, and potential priority policy issues for Hill meetings.
The Final Prep Webinar takes place on February 7th and will cover meeting protocols, final talking points, and updates about programming and logistics. This webinar will also provide a space to answer any last questions before the conference.
Forum Partners on New Voter Engagement Toolkit
With the 2024 election ramping up, United Philanthropy Forum partnered with Nonprofit VOTE on the newest edition of the Philanthropy for Voter Engagement Toolkit.
Launched in November, the toolkit is intended to help foundations explore ways to support nonprofit voter engagement. The initial release was featured during a briefing hosted by the Forum and Nonprofit VOTE that included presentations about the toolkit’s tips, best practices, and case studies.
View the toolkit and briefing recording.
Resource Spotlight: Voting Rights Public Policy Brief
The Forum recognizes that the well-being of all Americans, and all communities, is inextricably linked to their ability to exercise their right to vote. For its part, the charitable sector has played a key role in encouraging and helping communities participate in the voting process, uplifting the importance of active civic engagement.
While participation in voting has increased, we have also seen systemic inequities in electoral processes and in laws passed making it more difficult for some Americans, specifically voters of color, to vote.
Read more about the Forum's support for legislation aimed at bolstering Voting Rights.
State Public Policy News
Congressional Redistricting Ongoing in Several States Ahead of 2024 Election
Ahead of this year’s election, Louisiana lawmakers must redraw congressional district maps due to a court order finding that the previous maps violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of Black voters.
District maps are still undetermined in South Carolina and Utah due to unresolved litigation alleging racial and partisan gerrymandering, respectively.
Find the details from Politico.
NJ Enacts Doula Access Legislation Aimed at Reducing Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality
This week, New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy celebrated Governor Phil Murphy’s signing of S-4119/A-5739, which ensures every mother has the right to a doula in a hospital or birth center. The bill unanimously passed both houses on January 8th.
"In the state of New Jersey, Black mothers are 6.6 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. This initiative is ultimately a crucial lifeline,” Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.
View the announcement for more information.
The Philanthropy + Policy Update regularly features state updates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Priorities Partnership (SPP).
Mass. Budget and Policy Center Testimony in Support of Family and Child Tax Credits
In November, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center provided testimony in support of bills introduced in the House and Senate that would expand the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Tax Credit. The bills are aimed at supporting affordability for low- and middle-income households.
To learn more, see the full testimony.
Advocacy from Across the Forum Network
Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees Announce 2024 Public Policy Agenda
Last week, Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) released its 2024 Public Policy Agenda. GCIR seeks to leverage the agenda to mobilize philanthropic resources to promote the protection and safety, health and wellbeing, and inclusion of immigrant and refugee communities.
Check out GCIR’s 2024 Public Policy Agenda.
Native Americans in Philanthropy Works with Dept. of Interior to Strengthen Public-Private Partnerships
In December, Native Americans in Philanthropy joined the Department of Interior (DOI) and other sector partners to celebrate the first anniversary of the Office of Strategic Partnerships.
During the event, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland announced new initiatives to strengthen public-private partnerships to benefit Tribal communities and Indigenous youth.
Read the DOI’s announcement for details.
Philanthropy California Awarded $2M Grant to Expand Non-Profit Access to Public Funds for Climate and Disaster Resilience
Philanthropy California — a statewide alliance of Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, Northern California Grantmakers, and SoCal Grantmakers — announced in November that it has been awarded a two-million-dollar grant from the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to expand its role in advancing resilience as a central component of equitable climate and disaster philanthropy over the next nineteen months.
The funding will build on an ongoing partnership with the state aimed at bolstering the capacity of organizations led by or that serve Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color to respond to and address disasters.
View the announcement from Philanthropy California.
Legislative Calendars
House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is in session.
View the House of Representatives calendar.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is in session.
View the United States Senate calendar.
2024 State Legislative Session
For State Legislative Calendars:
View the National Conference of State Legislatures' 2024 State Legislative Session Calendar.
