NPW Coronavirus Advocacy Statement and Resources
Contact Your Representatives
Sample Advocacy Letter, NPW Advocacy Statement: Corona Virus (word document)
Printable Brochure:
Click Here for a listing of all New York State and Westchester County Representatives
Website Links to find your representative in your district: Westchester County Board of Legislators, NY State Senate, NY State Assembly
United States Senate: Gillibrand, Kirsten E. - (D - NY) Email, Schumer, Charles E. - (D - NY) Email
United States House of Representatives: 16th: Engel, Eliot - Email, 17th: Lowey, Nita - Email, 18th: Maloney, Sean Patrick - Email
United Way Provides Coronavirus Relief in up to $50,000 in Grants to Westchester Nonprofits
Information Video, Online Grant Application
NPW Advocacy Statement: Coronavirus
Nonprofits Are on the Frontlines of the Coronavirus Response in Westchester and Are in Every Community Ready to Serve
Everywhere in Westchester, nonprofits are already in place serving vital local needs. Now, during the coronavirus pandemic, our employees are continuing to serve the most vulnerable and are being called on to feed, house, and care for people impacted directly by COVID-19. This makes nonprofit first-responders vulnerable to potentially harmful conditions.
Nonprofits are our economy’s shock absorber when crisis hits, and the services and stability provided benefit all residents, regardless of age, race, religion and income level. Our innovation and expertise is needed now more than ever as we remain responsive to every-changing conditions.
When crisis strikes, demand and need for nonprofit services increase, yet funding often decreases.
Advocacy Position
1. Enact a targeted, temporary tax/giving incentive that enables all residents, regardless of whether they claim itemize deductions, to receive a tax incentive for giving to the work of charitable nonprofits responding to, or suffering from, the coronavirus.2. Provide needed funds to pay for the increased costs and demand for services arising because our economy and safety net was not built for a pandemic of this degree.
3. Allow temporary changes to government funding and contractual protocols, including providing unrestricted funding and removing restrictions, suspending reporting requirements and maintaining funding levels, and advanced payments to address cash flow issues, nonprofit agencies can effectively deliver vital services during this crisis and in the future.
4. Expand paid leave to 14 days for all nonprofit workers, including hourly workers, to ensure their health and safety, and so they can to care for their families.
5. Provide further guidance and information on testing for COVID-19 and offer free testing for all Westchester residents who feel they have been exposed to the virus.
Nonprofits Are Significant Employers and Small Businesses
Nonprofit employers pay salaries, benefits and payroll taxes. This core economic fact has to be recognized. Many nonprofits are relatively small, are community based and serving local needs.
Advocacy Position
1. Expressly apply any employment-focused relief or stimulus legislation to employment at tax-exempt organizations by making tax credits and deductions applicable not just to income taxes, but to the taxes nonprofit pay, such as unrelated business income taxes and payroll taxes.2. Expressly include nonprofits in tax and other relief targeted to small businesses.
Nonprofits Are Experiencing Declining Economic Activities
The community engagement and related services of many nonprofits that promote and serve a vibrant economy and jobs are declining. We are experiencing cancelled arts, after school and educational programming, cancelled and postponed fundraising events where many nonprofits earn significant mission dollars through attendance and sponsorships, and diminished attendance at cultural, religious, and community events. All of these activities are essential to a healthy economy and deserving of stimulus.
Advocacy Position
1. Recognize the nonprofit sector in any economic stimulus proposals aimed at helping adversely affected industries and geographic areas.NPW used this article as a resource
Let Us Know The Impact Of The Coronavirus On Your Organization And The People You Serve
Please use the resource provided by the United Way of Westchester and Putnam to let us know the impact of the coronavirus on your organization and the people you serve. NPW will be reviewing the feedback with United Way. Our efforts are collaborative and strategic to avoid duplication, to be most efficient and to best serve the nonprofit sector.
Please click this link to tell us about your needs
Resources
United Way of Westchester and Putnam
- Get help now: dial 2-1-1 for United Way's helpline
- Latest information on health emergency - COVID -19 - Coronavirus
Center for Disease Control: Preventing COVID-19 Spread
Read specific guidance on how to prepare to take action in the following settings: home, businesses and the workplace, child care and K-12, colleges and universities, healthcare settings, large community events/mass gatherings, prevent the spreadAbout Coronavirus Disease, What You Need to Know, What to do If You Are Sick:
Coronavirus Is Affecting Your Volunteer Programs - Here's How Volunteer New York! Can Help
We know you and the populations you serve are being directly affected by the recent spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Those especially in need include seniors and individuals with compromised immune systems or unreliable healthcare, families who rely on food assistance and child care programs, and people experiencing homelessness at shelters.
Volunteers Can Help: List your Coronavirus support opportunities:
Volunteer New York! has activated its Virtual Volunteer Center to address the pandemic's effect on your community programs and services, which will list opportunities for volunteers to support you in response to the coronavirus.
What can volunteers do to help you as you serve your most vulnerable populations? Submit your opportunities today using the links below to be included in the Virtual Volunteer Center:
- New to Volunteer New York!? CLICK HERE so we can help you mobilize your volunteer efforts.
- Already have an account in our partner portal? LOG IN HERE to post your need faster.
Westchester County Updates: Westchester County Webpage
Sample Business Continuity Plan: Although targeted to New York City, this sample business continuity and disaster recovery plan will help an organization outline potential disasters an organization may confront and what to do in case of the disasters ranging from negligible impact to severely impaired. This resource is temporarily FREE to both Nonprofit New York members and non-members.