Posts Categorized: Policy

Nonprofits Already Hit Hard by COVID-19

Even at this early stage in the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits are already reeling from its effects. And they promise to be devastating. It’s too soon to predict the ultimate impact, but it’s a fair projection that economic ruin will fell many organizations – unless they are saved by patrons funders and legislators. Performing Arts Hard …

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Refund of Parking Tax For Nonprofits

Nonprofits can now receive a refund of Parking Taxes paid in 2017 and 2018. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act imposed the so-called “Parking  Tax” on nonprofits. The Parking Tax required nonprofits to pay a new form of unrelated business income tax (“UBIT”) on amounts they incurred for providing transportation and parking benefits to …

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The Non-Repeal of the Johnson Amendment

Much brouhaha has been made over President Trump’s May 4 Executive Order claiming to “totally destroy” the Johnson Amendment. The Johnson Amendment is a 1954 law that bars 501(c)(3) organizations from supporting or opposing candidates for public office. As with much in politics, this is truly much ado about nothing. The Executive Order may serve …

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Are Nonprofits "Follow the Money" Obsessed?

Have the leaders of nonprofits been overly incentivized to “follow the money,” resulting in a troubling shift in the composition of boards? The answer is yes according to a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review. The trend may be “distort[ing] organization priorities” and may “dilute charitable values.” According to the author, Garry W. …

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The NY Salary Cap Saga Continues

August 14, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Employment Matters, News, Nonprofits, Policy

In April we told you that that the Nassau County State Supreme Court in New York ruled that Governor Andrew Cuomo had overstepped his authority when he issued an executive order putting a cap on executive salaries at state-supported nonprofits to $199,000 unless the charity secures a waiver from the state to pay more. Last …

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House Trying to Force Nonprofits to be "Effective"

March 11, 2014 Posted by Jessica Shofler in Lobbying, News, Policy

Can a new tax plan make nonprofits more “effective”? That’s what the House is hoping. A draft bill recently announced by the House Ways and Means Committee would penalize nonprofits for activities that the Committee has determined are not effective uses of charitable funds. Specifically, the bill would: •    Impose a 25% surtax on nonprofits …

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