Advocacy

WNA tracks state and federal public policy that impacts Wisconsin nonprofit organizations. This FREE e-newsletter comes to you with news on legislative activity, public policy work of organizations around the nation, and WNA's advocacy work on behalf of Wisconsin nonprofits. 

Nation's Nonprofits Submit Recommendations to President-elect Obama 
Wisconsin Nonprofits Association was asked to provide through our national organization National Council of Nonprofits, (NCN)** to President Elect Obama's transition team with policy recommendations from the nonprofit perspective. We are delighted to share these "Recommendations to the Presidential Transition Team". So we write to share these recommendations, the following background and important analysis with you.

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Wisconsin Nonprofits Association was asked to provide through our national organization National Council of Nonprofits, (NCN) to President Elect Obama's transition team with policy recommendations from the nonprofit perspective. We are delighted to share the "Recommendations to the Presidential Transition Team" submitted by the National Council of Nonprofits. WNA members are automatically also members of the National Council of Nonprofits. So we write to share these recommendations, the following background and important analysis with you.

The package responds to the Transition Team's request for a one-page summary about specific items, plus it adds several one-page explanations to provide important background. 

Please share the package with your staff members, board members, and public policy committee members because it offers key policy analysis and detail about possible new programs. No proposed policy packet ever gets 100% support, especially within a diverse membership organization that spans a state or the nation, so you may disagree with a particular item among the 27 specific recommendations, but the package as a whole serves as a great resource for several issues and shows how we can tell our story.

Your membership in WNA means we all have a greater voice, both in Madison and in DC. As noted on page 11 of the package, when the American people come together through nonprofits, we can amplify our voices. Plus, when we as nonprofits come together through WNA and then through the National Council of Nonprofits, we amplify the voices of nonprofits and the people we serve. 

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:

With a major economic crisis pressing on America's families and communities, the nation's nonprofit organizations are looking to a new presidency for help in responding. And they have some definite ideas about what is needed, according to a new survey by the Johns Hopkins University Nonprofit Listening Post Project.
 
                Heading the list of priority measures identified by a cross section of nonprofit executives were these four items:

On September 9, 2008, the IRS issued temporary Income Tax Regulations that simplify the process for nonprofits to secure tax-exempt status, by eliminating the advance ruling process for a section 501(c)(3) organization’s status as a public charity and not a private foundation.