Dear NPW Community,

Significant developments are unfolding at the federal level, and their full impact has yet to be realized. We’re sharing the information below to help our community understand what’s at stake, take meaningful action, and prepare for the potential – and in some cases inevitable – negative effects on the people we serve, our workforce, and the infrastructure of our organizations.

These challenges go far beyond the nonprofit sector. They affect the social and economic well-being of our entire community. We urge both our nonprofit and business partners to engage with us in learning more and responding proactively.

With gratitude,
Jan

Jan Fisher
Executive Director, NPW

Congressional Budget Update

• Thanks to advocacy efforts, some negative propositions – such as increasing taxes for foundations, thus lowering funding available for nonprofits – have been removed.
• But cuts to Medicaid and SNAP remain, as well as proposed limits to tax deductions for charitable giving.
• Summary of the latest information from the National Council of Nonprofits

ACTION ITEM: Please complete this quick and easy form, to send a template message to your members of Congress.

Federal SNAP Impact Briefing with New York State OTDA: Tomorrow, June 26th

Please join Commissioner Barbara Guinn of the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) for a comprehensive briefing on the impact of proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This webinar will provide details on the proposed changes to SNAP in both the Senate and House bills and present data showing the projected fiscal and programmatic impact across New York State. This is an important opportunity to understand how these cuts could affect the individuals and communities we serve.

Commissioner Guinn will be joined by special guests, Richard Buery, CEO of Robin Hood and Kate Breslin, President and CEO of the Schuyler Center for Analysis and Advocacy

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Time: 9:00am – 10:00 am
Location: Webinar Link (will be provided upon registration)
Please RSVP by clicking this registration link: Register

NYCON: “Advocacy 101: Dos and Don’ts”: June 26th, 12:00 - 1:00 PM

You can still register to attend. See NPW’s Advocacy Toolkit HERE.

NY State Charities Bureau June 16th Webinar: “Helping Nonprofits Navigate Evolving Issues in the Sector Part II”:

• Overview of diversity, equity and inclusion issues
• Political activity, lobbying and grassroots action
• Financial resilience for nonprofits
• Questions and answers: Responses to questions submitted by charities
• Download the PowerPoint slides

Some Summary Points:

DEI

• Reminder that DEI is not illegal, and discrimination laws have not changed
• To protect your nonprofit, make sure your nonprofit complies with anti-discrimination laws; resources to help:
• “What you should know about DEI-related discrimination at work” – This FAQ from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Multi-State guidance helping organizations avoid discrimination with DEI programming – from the NYS and other state Attorney General’s offices
• FAQs for recipients of federal funding and required federal certifications – from NY Lawyers for the Public Interest and Lawyers Alliance for NY

Advocacy Laws

• Nonprofits can lobby, but need to be aware of the rules
• Review the webinar slides (14-29) for details from the Lawyers Alliance for NY or download their detailed guide for federal lobbying rules.

NYS Charities Bureau Chief James Sheehan gave an overview of federal threats and challenges to the sector

• He recommended nonprofits take five steps (slides 38-40) to assess the current health, opportunities and future of their organization.
  
  
• He predicted we will see the NYS nonprofit sector shrink in the next two years and mentioned mergers and legal closings (dissolutions) of nonprofits as options (Contact Legal Services Coordinator Marjorie Maniccia, mmaniccia@nycon.org if you need guidance).

Response to Nonprofits’ Questions:

1. Will NYS nonprofits lose their NYS tax exemption if IRS revokes their federal exemption?

• Let the NYS Charities Bureau know if you receive any challenges to your tax-exempt status (212-416-8401 or charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov).
  
  
• There are three types of tax exemptions under law, and federal recognition is just one of them. You would have to disclose to donors if their donations to your organization are no longer eligible for federal tax deductions.

2. What if state and federal requirements conflict?

• Reminder that executive orders don’t change state or federal law.
• Read language carefully: being asked to follow federal law vs. an executive order are different questions.
• Reach out to NYS Charities Bureau with questions; and review this resource from the NY Lawyers for the Public Interest.