Public Policy

Public Policy

Our work is structured in four broad policy categories:

I. Tax Policy

Sound tax policies that support nonprofits are one of the most important ways to help secure the resources necessary to effectively serve the public good and address community needs. MNA is committed to preserving the tax-exempt status of organizations contributing to the well-being of their communities and strengthening and expanding incentives for individuals to give their time and money to the organizations whose missions they support. In practice, this commitment means:

• Supporting tax and other incentives that encourage individuals to volunteer their time and contribute resources to the missions of charitable nonprofits.
• Promoting nonprofit relief and recovery efforts of nonprofits through targeted tax incentives for contributions to charitable nonprofits affected by natural disasters or states of emergencies, refundable payroll tax credits and other mechanisms that will help charitable nonprofits retain and pay their employees.
• Opposing the imposition of unreasonable taxes, fees or involuntary fees or payments in lieu of taxes (PILOTS) on tax-exempt organizations.
• Maintaining and – where appropriate – expanding nonprofit sector exemptions from paying state and local property, sales, and use taxes and from collecting sales and use taxes.

 II. Public-Private Collaborations

Charitable nonprofits are private organizations that share a commitment with government to improving lives and communities throughout the state. MNA is dedicated to improving government-nonprofit contracting systems, and to strengthening the public-private partnership at all levels through collaboration and direct engagement.

III. Budget & Spending

Budget and spending decisions by governments affect all residents and these decisions can have immediate and significant consequences for the people nonprofits serve and the communities in which they operate, especially those that have been historically underserved and underrepresented.

MNA supports budget and spending decisions at all levels of government that encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion to build stronger, fairer communities and close resource gaps for marginalized people.

MNA opposes the offloading of government services onto nonprofits without paying nonprofits the cost of providing these services.

IV. Promoting Civic and Community Participation

The nonprofit sector plays a key role in the success of democracy in Michigan. MNA works to promote greater engagement of the citizenry, civic dialogue, open elections, and open government.

MNA supports the longstanding federal policy allowing 501(c)(3) nonprofits to engage in nonpartisan voter registration, voter education, and get-out-the-vote activities so long as organizations are not coordinating their activities with political campaigns, political parties, or political action committees.

MNA aims to correct misperceptions and clarify lobbying laws and regulations to empower 501(c)(3) nonprofits to advocate fully and freely within the law.

Read full 2023.24 Public Policy & Government Relations Plan here.

Read MNA's Public Policy Issue Selection Policy and Process here.