The National Council of Nonprofits today sent a letter to Congressional leadership calling on them to maintain the state and local funding that was part of the American Rescue Plan Act and reject any proposal to claw back or reclaim those funds.
“Nonprofits in communities across the country are still struggling to get back on their feet,” said Marnie Taylor, Board Chair of the National Council of Nonprofits and President & CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. “Nationwide, donations to many nonprofits decreased last year and their expenses increased, significantly. The PPP loans that helped so many businesses and nonprofits have now run out. These state and local funds are needed so we don’t slide backward when there are millions more people still turning to nonprofits for basic needs.”
“The country’s economic recovery remains tenuous and incomplete,” added Tim Delaney, President & CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits. “The nonprofit sector, the nation’s third-largest employer, is still down 733,000 jobs from before the pandemic. State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments know how important nonprofits are to this recovery. Many have set up nonprofit relief funds, restored funding to critical programs, and stabilized unemployment trust funds utilizing the American Rescue Plan Act dollars. They need those resources to remain available until we are all back on our feet.”
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The National Council of Nonprofits (Council of Nonprofits) is a trusted resource and the leading advocate for America’s charitable nonprofits. Connecting the policy dots across all levels and branches of governments, the Council of Nonprofits keeps nonprofits informed and empowered to create a positive public policy environment that best supports nonprofits in advancing their missions. Working with and through the nation’s largest network of nonprofits—with 25,000-plus organizational members—we identify emerging trends, share proven practices, and promote solutions that benefit charitable nonprofits and the communities they serve. Find out more at www.councilofnonprofits.org.