October 2008 WNA Public Policy Update

Public Policy Update 
WNA tracks state and federal public policy that impacts Wisconsin nonprofit organizations. This FREE e-newsletter is sent out with the latest news to keep you informed regarding Wisconsin’s legislative sessions, congressional activity, and the public policy work of WNA.  We will also use it to keep you informed about public policy events and tools that you can use.
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October 2008

Why Nonprofit Advocacy?
There are at least three good reasons why nonprofits should get involved in public policy:

  1. To help people and causes
  2. To make and shape laws and policies that directly affect your mission
  3. It's our responsibility to democracy.

So You Want to Make a Difference?
Nonprofits can help America Vote http://www.npaction.org/article/archive/280
Know and Share who’s running in the elections -- congressional, state legislature click on this link and share this information.http://results.capwiz.com/election/guide/?state=WI&races=presidential&races=congressional&races=state_leg&races=statewide_office&races=statewide_ballot&browse_races=Go
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Congress Failed to pass the Give Act
With Congress now recessed at least until the November elections, here is the good and bad news relating to the charitable volunteer mileage deduction issue.
Background
Although business and government employees can get reimbursed 58.5 cents per mile for driving their cars to do their paid work, volunteers can deduct only 14 cents per mile for driving to do their volunteer work.  As gas prices have gone up, the number of volunteers has fallen down.  Federal tax law treats America’s volunteers unfairly.
Read more
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November 4 is right around the corner- but there's still time to get involved! Sign up today for Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network's next FREE nonprofit webinar, "Get Out the Vote the Nonrprofit Way."  Join us online Thursday, October 9th!    ________________________________________

Jump Into Voter Engagement
NonprofitVOTE.org offers a FREE Nonprofit Voter Engagement Starter Kit!  Help your constituents become educated about and involved in the voting process.

Visit NonprofitVOTE's Toolkits and Checklists page for a wide range of FREE toolkits and checklists on getting out the vote for your nonprofit. 
Nonprofit Voter Engagement Network (NVEN) is dedicated to expanding the role of America’s nonprofits in voting and elections. NVEN works with state nonprofit VOTE initiatives and its national website to provide resources and tools for 501(c)(3) nonprofits to help their communities participate and vote.
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The V3 Campaign will make the voice of the nonprofit sector heard, its value realized, and its votes counted in EVERY election in America by Inauguration Day, January 20th, 2017.
YOUR work — the issues YOU care about — will only be addressed when we stand together. We need you to help us ask EVERY candidate for higher office to outline their plans to strengthen the nonprofit sector.
The V3 Campaign is now ready to give you unprecedented access to every candidate who seeks your vote. A new feature on the website allows any nonprofit employee, volunteer, funder or friend to--with the push of a button--ask men and women who are running for office to detail how they would partner with and strengthen the sector to achieve their vision for their city, state or the country.
 
By simply entering your address, the V3 Campaign website will identify all candidates running for office in your community. You can then send the V3 Campaign questions to all of the candidates, to determine which has the vision and understanding required to take full advantage of the vast resources that the nonprofit sector has available.

The time is NOW.
Making History Together

The goal of the V3 Campaign is nothing short of historic-for the first time ever, candidates in every election in America will have the opportunity to reach out to the millions of nonprofit constituents and detail how they would work with them to tackle tough social issues, elevate the dialogue, and advance the common good.
 
The issues you care about-what you work for everyday-will only be addressed when we stand together. THIS is it. The time is right now. Pass the word. The V3 Campaign is the way we can help make real change happen.
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The New Form 990 System Is Complete
Form 990 had not been significantly revised since 1979 and required a major overhaul. It no longer adequately served the IRS’s tax compliance interests or met the transparency and accountability needs of the states, the public, and communities served by nonprofits. The IRS extensively revised the format and content of the form using these three guiding principles: enhancing transparency, promoting tax compliance, and minimizing burden on the filing organization. Learn more about the process, the changes, and more of what you need to know about the new form.
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IRS Fact Sheets—
Election Year Activities  http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154712,00.html
Exempt organizations; political campaigns.  http://www.irs.gov/irb/2007-25_IRB/ar09.html#d0e242
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