Highlights of This Edition
- Watch the #FOTH2024 Recap Video
- Submit Comments on Treasury’s 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan
- Attend Upcoming Hearing on DAFs at Treasury
Key News + Announcements
Watch the #FOTH2024 Recap Video
The 21st Annual Foundations on the Hill brought together over 300 sector leaders and advocates from more than 25 states and the District of Columbia to connect, learn, and advocate for a strong sector and vibrant, healthy, and equitable communities.
Check out the official #FOTH2024 recap video, which captures key programming moments with special guest speakers, interviews with Forum members and participants, and the spirit of collaboration and collective action infused throughout the conference.
Stay tuned for updates about #FOTH2025 in the coming weeks.
Submit Comments on Treasury’s 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan
Last week, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) invited the public to submit recommendations for items to be included in the 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, May 31, 2024.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy and the IRS use the Priority Guidance Plan each year to identify and prioritize the tax issues that should be addressed through regulations, revenue rulings, revenue procedures, notices, and other published administrative guidance.
The 2024-2025 Priority Guidance Plan will identify guidance projects that the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to actively work on as priorities from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
The Forum will submit recommendations and encourage PSOs to do the same via the regulations.gov website.
Alternatively, if PSOs would like to add their organizations’ names to the Forum’s recommendations, please email Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans by Wednesday, May 29, 2024.
White House Issues FY 2025 Budget Proposal as Negotiations Continue for 2024 Spending
On Monday, the White House issued its fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget proposal, just days after President Biden and Congress averted a partial government shutdown by enacting six of the twelve appropriations bills for FY 2024.
Congress is now working to pass the remaining six FY 2024 appropriations bills before the deadline of March 22nd.
The Forum will keep our member network apprised of federal appropriations negotiations and their implications for the communities we work with and in.
PSO Resources + Updates
Policy Updates on Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs)
The Forum is tracking a few items about proposed regulations of Donor-Advised Funds and opportunities for our member network to inform federal officials about the potential impacts of regulations.
Distributions to DAFs and Minimum Payout Requirement
Treasury’s explanation of the Biden Administration’s FY 2025 revenue proposals includes a change restricting private foundation distributions to DAFs from applying toward the five percent minimum payout requirement.
This policy change was included in last year’s budget proposal, but the Treasury now estimates $270 million in revenue raised over ten years, an increase from the $83 million estimated last year.
While this proposal is unlikely to become law, it may signal how federal officials think about regulating DAFs.
Forum’s Comments on Proposed Regulations
On February 15th, the Forum submitted a formal comment letter in response to the Treasury’s proposed regulations interpreting the statute that codifies DAFs. The letter was signed by 15 other philanthropy-serving organizations within the Forum network.
Treasury officially accepted and posted the letter online on February 22, 2024.
Upcoming Hearing on DAFs at Treasury
In response to the comments Treasury received from organizations across the country, the department released a notice of hearing on “proposed regulations regarding excise taxes on taxable distributions made by a sponsoring organization from a donor-advised fund (DAF), and on the agreement of certain fund managers to the making of such distributions.”
The public hearing on these proposed regulations has been scheduled for May 6, 2024, at 10 a.m. ET. The IRS must receive speakers’ outlines of the topics to be discussed at the public hearing by April 5, 2024. The Forum will likely participate in this hearing, which takes place at the IRS in Washington, D.C.
Forum members interested in participating are encouraged to email Matthew L. Evans, Senior Director of Public Policy at the Forum.
Resource Spotlight: 2024 National Study on Donor-Advised Funds
At Foundations on the Hill, the authors of the 2024 National Study on Donor-Advised Funds and members of the DAF Research Collaborative presented an overview of the report, walked attendees through their findings, and highlighted important takeaways. The full report may now be accessed online, including an Executive Summary and Key Findings.
The report is a culmination of the collective efforts of 111 DAF programs that voluntarily provided anonymized data to the research team, the dataset covers nine years of activity from more than 50,000 accounts, with over 600,000 inbound contributions to DAFs and more than 2.25 million outbound grants from DAFs. The Forum and several Forum members are members of the Collaborative’s Advisory Council.
Dig into the full report on DAFs.
State + Local Public Policy News
HHS Announces Utah’s Postpartum Coverage Expansion as Part of Effort to Address Racial Inequities in Maternal Mortality
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Utah's extension of comprehensive coverage for postpartum individuals for a full 12 months through Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The announcement marks progress in implementing the Biden-Harris Administration's Maternal Health Blueprint, a comprehensive strategy to improve maternal health, particularly in underserved communities.
"For too long, our country has experienced a maternal health crisis in which women are dying before, during, and after childbirth at higher rates than in any other developed nation. We also know that Black, Native, and rural mothers are disproportionately losing their lives," said Vice President Harris.
Read the announcement from HHS.
Donor Intent Legislation Advances in Kentucky and Georgia Legislatures
So-called “donor intent” legislation has advanced in state legislatures, per Bloomberg Government. In February, Kentucky State Senators passed SB70, a bill that would require charities to abide by endowment agreements and allow civil recourse if an agreement is broken.
Georgia State Senators passed SB 433 last month, which would also require charities to abide by endowment agreements and provide legal remedies for violation. Both bills are being considered in their respective state House.
The Forum continues to follow this issue and will keep members updated. If you have questions about these or similar bills, please contact Senior Director of Public Policy Matthew L. Evans.
Donor Privacy Bills Considered in Alaska and Mississippi
In 2024, at least two donor privacy bills have been introduced or advanced in state legislatures. Last month, Alaska State Rep. Laddie Shaw (R-AK-9) introduced HB 318, which would restrict state officials from requiring the disclosure of “protected information,” including donor names.
Last week, the Mississippi State House passed the Charity Protection Act (HB 1290), a bill that would prohibit state agencies or officials from imposing new reporting requirements for charitable organizations.
The Philanthropy + Policy Update regularly features state updates from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities’ State Priorities Partnership (SPP).
State Partners Advocate for Equitable Taxing and Spending
State partners started 2024 with advocacy efforts to overturn tax cuts and support revenues for essential community services, such as income assistance and education.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute, the New York Fiscal Policy Institute, and Connecticut Voices for Children have been speaking out in support of revenue raising to support services such as early childhood education. The Maryland Center on Economic Policy helped launch a campaign to raise taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
On equitable spending, the Washington State Budget and Policy Center (WSBPC) and New Mexico Voices for Children published reports on guaranteed income. The WSBPC and the Michigan League for Public Policy also advocated in support of family and child tax credit policies.
DC Partner Releases Polling Showing Support for Public Investments Relieving Economic Hardship
In January, the DC Fiscal Policy Institute released new polling data demonstrating D.C. voters’ support for public investments relieving economic hardship. The poll found significant margins of support for investments in programs and services such as housing, childcare, food security, and a child tax credit.
Dig into the polling from the DC Fiscal Policy Institute.
Advocacy from Across the Forum Network
Census Equity Initiative, Census Counts, and FCCP Hosting Census Collaborative Convening
The Census Equity Initiative, Census Counts, and the Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation (FCCP) are hosting the next Census Collaborative Convening on Tuesday, April 2nd, from 1:30 – 3:15 pm ET. The convening will cover recent updates from the Census Collaborative and how state leaders are integrating census, redistricting, and voting efforts.
There will be a post-conveneing meeting for funders and PSOs only from 3:30 – 4:30 pm ET.
Visit the convening registration page for details.
Disability & Philanthropy Forum Hosting Webinar on Activism and Organizing
The Disability & Philanthropy Forum is hosting a webinar, Disability Rights Activism and Organizing, on Thursday, April 11th, from 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET. The webinar will present a discussion with disability advocates and policy workers. Satonya Fair, President and CEO of PEAK Grantmaking and Forum Public Policy Committee Member, is a featured panelist.
Learn more from Disability & Philanthropy Forum.
Minn. Council on Foundations Announcing Democracy Grant Recipients
In January, the Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) announced the grant recipients of their Minnesota Democracy Expansion Fund. The fund raised over $360,000 to invest in successful implementation of a sweeping set of historic democratic reforms including automatic voter registration, Restore the Vote, and more. The fund received over $2 million in requests.
Read MCF’s announcement for details.
Native Americans in Philanthropy Announces Partnerships to Leverage Federal Funding at White House Roundtable
During a February White House Roundtable on Tribal Access to Capital, Native Americans in Philanthropy announced the establishment of two public-private partnerships to leverage federal funding for Tribes and Indigenous communities.
- The Tribal Community Vision Fund seeks to raise and deploy $1.2 billion in private and philanthropic investments to expand capital access to promote self-determination and sustainable economic and community development.
- The Indigenous Futures Fund seeks to raise $2 million in grants and $25 million in investment capital to address the immediate needs and opportunities of Native businesses, and the long-term capacity of financial intermediaries working in Indian Country.
Check out the announcement from the White House.
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.
