Michigan Nonprofit Association
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PUBLIC POLICY

Policy Portal

Issue #287
April 30, 2009

HEADLINES

MNA Action Network
The place where you can speak directly to elected officials about the issues affecting the nonprofit sector

President Signs Serve America Act Signed into Law

In what was a great day for national service, President Obama signed the Serve America Act into law on April 21, 2009. The Act will dramatically expand national service opportunities to address America's most pressing challenges. The President signed the act at the SEED School, an academically intensive public boarding school for underserved urban youth in Washington, D.C. The House and Senate both passed this bill with an overwhelming bipartisan majority vote; the bill authorizes a massive expansion of national service programs for Americans of all ages, implementation is tied to the availability of funds. The President is expected to release a detailed budget for Fiscal Year 2010 next month, and Congress will consider the President's request as they make discretionary spending decisions and consider the twelve annual appropriations bills. MNA and our national partners will remain engaged in the appropriations process and will provide updates as they become available.

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School Board Elections on May 5 in Numerous Michigan Counties

May 5 is the date for many school board and special elections across Michigan. To find out whether your local school board is holding an election, visit the Secretary of State's website to see a breakdown of elections by county. To find your polling location, visit http://michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-1633-49313--,00.html. All polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

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Uniform Prudent Investment of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) passes Michigan Senate

Last week, the Senate passed SB 411 (Sen. Switalski), called the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA). A replacement of the current Uniform Investment of Institutional Funds Act (UMIFA), this bill would remove the current requirement that organizations not spend down or accumulate money in their  endowment funds (the value of which is calculated according to "historic dollar value"). Instead of requiring that organizations hold the historic dollar value of their fund(s) steady and spend appreciation and income, this bill recognizes that the current economic climate has changed the way institutional funds should be handled for the long-term benefit of the organization holding those funds and would allow organizations to spend or accumulate money in their endowment funds as long as such changes are handled "prudently" according to the mission of the organization.

UPMIFA has already been adopted in 28 states across the country. For a more detailed summary of the bill and the changes it makes to existing law, contact MNA or view the legislative analysis. SB 411 has been referred to the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services.

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May 18: Detroit Training on Developing and Delivering Effective Messages

Messages for internal audiences, opinion shapers and the media, and elected officials and their staff are all important components of nonprofit advocacy. On May 18 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Mark Gilman, President of Decus Communications, will be leading a training in Detroit titled "Developing and Delivering Effective Messages." Focusing on how nonprofits can effectively and efficiently deliver their messages to key stakeholders, this session will focus on framing and delivering key messages, identifying target audiences, and selecting communication modes that reach audiences in timely and persuasive ways. To learn more about the work of Decus Communications, visit them online at http://decusllc.com/.

The cost for this session is $25 for MNA members or $35 for non-members. To register, click here. The registration deadline for this session is May 13.

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May 4 training on Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying, presented by Alliance for Justice

It's not too late! You can still attend the upcoming Nonprofit Advocacy and Lobbying training, presented by Alliance for Justice on May 4 from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Dearborn."You Can Make A Difference," one of MNA's featured pre-conference trainings associated with the annual SuperConference, is a special training on nonprofit advocacy and lobbying, presented by Alliance for Justice. Through this interactive session, participants will learn how much lobbying their 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization can do and the role their organization can play regarding elections. The training will cover the federal tax laws governing lobbying and election-related activity. Abby Levine, Deputy Director of Advocacy Programs for Alliance for Justice in Washington, D.C., will be presenting.

In the lobbying portion, we will discuss how organizations can calculate their lobbying limits under the insubstantial part test or the 501(h) expenditure test; definitions of direct and grassroots lobbying; exceptions to lobbying; and suggested record keeping techniques. In the elections-related activity portion, we will explain what it means that 501(c)(3) organizations cannot support or oppose candidates for public office. More specifically, we will highlight the many ways in which organizations can participate in election-related activities, such as issue advocacy, voter education, voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities, and candidate education.

This session will take place from 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 4th at the Hyatt Regency, Stearns Knight Suite in Dearborn. The Hyatt Regency is located at 600 Towne Center Drive, Dearborn, 48126. We are currently offering a 25% off discounted rate of $30/person for individuals who pre-register by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 1. To reserve your space at the training, contact Tiffany Aurora at 517-492-2400 or taurora@mnaonline.org. Payment for the training can be made on-site via cash, check or credit card.

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Public Good IRA Rollover Act (S 864) Introduced in U.S. Senate

Senators Dorgan (ND-D) and Snowe (ME-R) introduced the companion bill to HR 1250 that extends and expands the availability of the IRA charitable giving incentive. It would extend the current IRA rollover permanently, remove the current dollar limit on donations per year, and expand the types of organizations that may receive rollovers.

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U.S. Senators Introduce Flat Rate Excise Tax for Private Foundations

Senators Schumer (NY-D), Levin (MI-D), and Stabenow (MI-D) introduced legislation (S 676) that would simplify the tax code for private foundations in order to increase charitable giving. The bill would remove the current two-tiered excise tax imposed on private foundations and replace it with one flat rate, which is to be set between 1 and 2 percent at a revenue-neutral level determined by the Joint Committee on Taxation. The Council on Michigan Foundations has estimated the revenue neutral rate would be 1.32 percent, according to a joint news release. "The need for charitable giving is greater than ever, and we should be encouraging foundations to increase giving," said Schumer. The bill also drew Republican support from Senator Richard Burr (NC) and Senators Chamblis and Isakson of Georgia.Visit the Council on Foundations website for more info.

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"No Reason Absentee Voting" Bills pass House Ethics & Elections Committee

HB 4097 (Rep. Griffin) and HB 4367 (Rep. Stanley) passed the Michigan House Ethics & Elections Committee last week. The bills would implement "no reason absentee voting," meaning voters would not be required to provide a reason or justification for requesting an absentee ballot. Additionally, registered voters could apply for and return absentee ballots to their clerks by mail, in person, by fax, or by email. The bills now go to the full House of Representatives for a vote.

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Michigan Nonprofit Caucus Launched in Michigan Legislature 

Last week, in celebration of Michigan Volunteer Week, co-chairs Senator Hansen Clarke (D-Detroit), Senator Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township), Representative John Proos (R-St. Joseph) and Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) announced the creation of the Michigan Nonprofit Caucus. The Michigan Nonprofit Caucus will be a bipartisan, bicameral forum through which lawmakers can lead and collaborate on legislative and regulatory issues impacting charities and foundations in Michigan. The caucus will focus on issues that globally impact the nonprofit sector, monitoring and taking a leadership role on legislative issues that impact Michigan's nonprofit sector and serving as a resource for information on the sector for their fellow legislative colleagues.

MNA thanks Senator Clarke, Senator Jansen, Representative Proos and Representative Tlaib for their leadership with this important caucus and looks forward to our continued work together in the future. The Michigan Nonprofit Caucus is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Nonprofit Association, Council of Michigan Foundations and Michigan Association of United Ways.

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Nonprofit Day now Michigan Nonprofit Lobby Day

Nonprofit Day, formerly a conference day mostly focused on training, will now be a more purposeful lobby day, providing updates on state policies impacting nonprofits as well as opportunities for nonprofit representatives to meet with legislators about issues of importance to their organizations and Michigan's nonprofit sector. Plan now to join your nonprofit colleagues from across the state on September 22, 2009 in Lansing for Michigan's annual nonprofit lobby day! Registration details to come.

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