Advocacy

PUBLIC POLICY ACTION AREAS

The following are public policy areas where NAO will act at federal, state, and local levels, as well as with philanthropy and national organizations. The action areas provide guidance and a framework for NAO’s public policy advocacy. Likewise, any policies that run counter to these action areas, NAO will oppose.   

1. Seek or support policies that strengthen and protect nonprofits legally and financially to enhance the ability to meet their mission while minimizing risks and liabilities.    
2. Seek or support policies and administrative changes to improve the systems in which the government works with nonprofits to ensure better outcomes for all stakeholders. This includes procurements, contracts, grants, and federal or state-mandated audits as well as addressing conflicting statutes and regulations, specifically those that impact charitable nonprofits.    
3. Seek or support policies that protect the decision-making autonomy, self-governance, and independence of nonprofits including the legal right to engage in advocacy and lobbying.   
4. Seek or support policies and administrative changes that reduce barriers to entry for the nonprofit sector, especially for emerging organizations from culturally specific, underrepresented and/or underserved communities. This includes improving communication and coordination between government and nonprofit services and activities.   
5. Seek or support meaningful public and private investments in the nonprofit sector. This includes resources for capacity building and technical assistance and encourages philanthropic contributions including but not limited to charitable giving and volunteerism.  
6. Seek or support meaningful public investments that improve the lives of Oregonians served by both government and nonprofit sectors especially those from culturally specific and underrepresented and/or underserved communities.    
7. Seek or support policies that strengthen and support the nonprofit workforce including but not limited to compensation, benefits, recruitment, and retention.   
8. Seek or support policies that encourage collaboration and coordination among private, public and nonprofit sectors to improve the lives of all Oregonians including but not limited to responding to emergencies such as natural disasters, public health threats, civil unrest, and economic downturns.  
   

Public Policy Initiatives 

Grants and Contracts Reform. NAO will advocate for reform in government grants and contracts at local, state, and federal levels. At the state level NAO will work to enact the recommendations of the state Task Force on Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting. At the federal level, NAO will support legislation such as the Federal Streamlining Grants Act (S.2286/H.R. 5934). NAO will continue to support the efforts of nonprofit leaders working with local governments to find solutions that lead to best practices in government grantmaking and contracting.  

Nonprofit Wages. NAO will research and advocate for policies that lead to better wages for nonprofit workers and long-term solutions to workforce turnover. NAO will research and develop into possible legislative proposals the following concepts: cost-of-living-adjustments in government contracts, a nonprofit prevailing wage requirement for services funded by public funds, and a workforce standards board for the nonprofit sector to set wage levels and working conditions. NAO will also explore an opportunity to partner with Independent Sector and United for ALICE to study financial hardship in Oregon’s nonprofit workforce.  

Impacts of federal Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches Actions on Nonprofits. NAO will work with national partners to help lead the response to federal actions that impact the nonprofit sector. This includes tracking and evaluating Executive Orders and Actions, tracking legislative and court actions, sharing information and guidance to NAO members and developing strategies to minimize impacts to the sector.  

State Policy Priorities 

Nonprofit Safety and Security Grants. NAO will support efforts of the Oregon Coalition for Nonprofit Safety to create a state grant that provides funds for nonprofits to purchase safety and security equipment to protect property, employees, clients, other assets. The Coalition is seeking $5 million in state General Funds to be administered by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management with a maximum grant award of $150,000. 

Oregon Charitable Checkoff. NAO will continue to support efforts to modernize Oregon’s charitable checkoff program which allows taxpayers to donate their tax refund to charities as approved by the Oregon Charitable Checkoff Commission. Nonprofits must submit a paper petition of 10,000 signatures to qualify for eligibility for approval. Current legislative proposal would allow signatures to be collected electronically.  

Federal Policy Priorities 

Federal Tax Policies. NAO will support efforts of sector spanning organizations such as the National Council of Nonprofits and Independent sector that are leading efforts to revise the federal tax code to incentivize charitable giving and volunteering to support the work of nonprofits and provide tax benefits to people of different income levels. This includes reinstating and expanding a non-itemizer charitable deduction that all taxpayers can claim; retaining the 60 percent AGI Cap on charitable deductions; and extending employment tax incentives to nonprofits. NAO will also track other tax related legislation including but not limited to federal attempts to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits without appropriate due process.  

Workforce Data. NAO will continue to support efforts to compel the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics to provide workforce data on the nonprofit sector on a quarterly basis as it does with the private and public sectors. The Bureau provides workforce data on the nonprofit sector every five years. The last data for the nonprofit workforce was released in 2017. The nonprofit sector is the third largest private employer in the U.S. economy with nearly 14 million workers. Workforce data is critical to the public’s understanding of the nonprofit sector’s contributions to the economy. Data is important for making numerous decisions on providing essential services, organizational strategy, and workforce projections for both governmental and non-governmental decision-makers.  

NAO’s legislative agenda is based on two levels of organizational engagement. Below are descriptions for each level.