Public Policy Issues

Our policy principles will help the Forum lead and advocate on behalf of the sector, address systemic inequities, and identify practical public policy solutions that catalyze a just and equitable society where all can participate and prosper.

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The Forum's Public Policy Portfolio includes a guide to help PSO staff, foundations leaders, and sector advocates understand, plan, and carry out advocacy and lobbying work.

Check Out The Advocacy Rules of Engagement

The Forum's Public Policy Portfolio includes a glossary of key terms for public policy and advocacy.

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The Forum's Public Policy Portfolio includes a decision filter for members to use when considering whether and what action to take regarding a public policy issue.

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Since 1917, the federal charitable tax deduction has provided a tax deduction for donations made to nonprofit organizations by taxpayers who itemize their tax returns. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act made several changes that hurt the effectiveness of the charitable deduction. By increasing the standard deduction, it greatly reduced the number of taxpayers who itemize and therefore have access to the charitable deduction. Under current law, more than 90% of taxpayers don’t itemize, meaning less than 10% of taxpayers have a tax incentive to increase their donations to important causes.

The Forum supports the Universal Charitable Deduction, which would extend the tax incentive to all non-itemizers and make the incentive equitable for all taxpayers.

Read more about the Universal Charitable Deduction 

According to the National Philanthropic Trust, a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) is a charitable account held by a public 501(c)3 entity which receives donations from an individual. Donors can receive an immediate tax deduction based on their donation and then advise on how the funds are granted going forward.

The Forum recognizes the important role that DAFs play in charitable giving, and also understands the significance of having a discussion about various ways to best enhance giving. The nearly 100 PSOs in the Forum’s network represent more than 7,000 foundations and other philanthropic organizations across the country, and their voices and involvement are vital in these discussions.

Read more about Donor-Advised Funds

There has been an increased focus on public policies to improve maternal health and equity, with recent data showing the severity of maternal mortality. There are significant racial inequities in maternal mortality rates in the United States, and the mortality rates in the U.S. are among the highest in the industrialized world.

Maternal mortality rates among Black and Native American and Alaska Natives are two to four times higher than the rate for white Americans, regardless of their income or education levels. Hispanic and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people also have elevated maternal mortality and morbidity rates. These negative outcomes are largely due to systemic inequities, which create significant disparities in how women experience the healthcare system. 

Read More About Maternal Health

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. The late Congressman John Lewis once stated, “The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.” 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.

A strong democracy thrives when all can participate in this sacred act, unencumbered. And 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. While America has made strides in the past to rectify racial discrimination, these intentionally restrictive voting laws represent a shift backward in our quest for equity and justice for all.

Read More About Voting Rights

The Farm Bill is now set to be reauthorized in 2024. Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Funders (SAFSF) explains that the Farm Bill is the most significant piece of legislation Congress enacts that has a direct impact on farming livelihoods, how food is produced, what kinds of foods are grown, and how economically distressed families eat.

Given the impact of food insecurity as a social determinant of health, the Farm Bill’s nutrition support has important equity implications. Nutrition spending makes up more than 80 percent of the total budget for the Farm Bill, and in FY 21, more than 41 million Americans participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Federal nutrition programs, including SNAP, serve 25 percent of Americans.

Read more about the Farm Bill