Good Afternoon,
I am proud to say that the nonprofit community is fully engaged in the response to COVID-19. Likewise, we are all at the table in our respective communities as decision-making and coordination of efforts take place. Our hope is that by drawing attention to our good work and the support we need to keep carrying out our missions throughout this crisis, we will also be invited to be a part of any discussions in Nashville related to legislation or other state action that might affect us or those we serve.
Among the points we made in the letter are:
- All Tennessee government agencies continue to pay on contracts and grants with nonprofits, even if they are underperforming due to temporary closures and suspension or reduction of services associated with COVID-19.
- An expedited or automatic approval process for budget modifications that do not increase the overall contract total be instituted to allow nonprofits to move funds in budgeted line items associated with existing contracts to new COVID-19 related priorities.
- Many nonprofits are already suffering significant financial losses due to canceled fundraising events, performances, conferences, and other programs. Like small businesses, nonprofits will need direct financial help to recover economically.
- New and immediate emergency funds should be made available to address increased COVID-19 related costs to nonprofits to support the uninterrupted delivery of essential services.
- Any employer benefit created for for-profit corporations also should also be available to nonprofit employers, either through a grant mechanism or by adjusting tax requirements affecting nonprofits, such as unrelated business income and payroll taxes.
- Any plans to provide loans, financial assistance, insurance protections, or other relief for businesses should be structured so that nonprofits are also covered or eligible.
- State agencies should consider waiving certain certification procedures to let nonprofits provide COVID-19 related emergency and essential services as needed.
- Finally, we are seeing that some states are putting together task forces or commissions to help advise the state on their COVID-19 response and ultimately, recovery. If that is something being considered, please know that the nonprofit support organizations: Momentum Nonprofit Partners (Memphis), Center for Nonprofit Management (Nashville), Venture Forward (Chattanooga), and Alliance for Better Nonprofits (Knoxville) are ready and able to participate, bringing the important concerns and knowledge of the nonprofit sector into the conversation.
TAKE ACTION NOW
With so much at stake, I strongly urge you to contact immediately any legislator with whom you have a relationship and emphasize the points made above. You can also contact the Governor by sending an email HERE or tweet HERE. On Twitter, please use the hashtag #TNNonprofits.
Here are some helpful tips for writing your legislators, Governor Lee, and others you may know who could help us with our goal of getting nonprofits included in the legislation:
- Keep the message simple and urgent: “I want you to understand what this pandemic is doing to the ability of my nonprofit to serve your constituents.
- Tell your story - use real examples of lives impacted by this crisis.
- Close with something like, “I urge you to include the policy solutions proposed by the national nonprofit community in any COVID-19 relief and stimulus legislation.”
- Show respect in your tone and choice of words, regardless of whether or not you agree with the official politically. Remember what our ultimate goal is - inclusion. Come from a place of support for their work, not from a place of criticism.
- A paragraph or two is sufficient. It is likely that our government officials are inundated with messages right now. Be short, concise, and to the point.
- Don’t discuss any other issues - focus on this urgent issue.
- Express thanks to the legislator or other leader for serving our state and for assisting us in this challenging time.
After you have spoken with an official, I would appreciate hearing from you via email if you learn anything that might be helpful to our effort.
Be well and thank you for your work in our community during these trying and difficult times.
Jerry
Jerry W. Askew, Ph.D.
President
Alliance for Better Nonprofits
318 N. Gay Street, Suite 203
Knoxville, TN 37919
865-313-2077