Dear Community Partners, 

The federal government is moving rapidly forward on additional policy actions. The United Way Worldwide policy team worked with a small group of leading charities to craft an economic relief proposal for the nonprofit sector. More than 100 national charities have signed on and we are getting traction on Capitol Hill and with the Administration. The letter sent to congress is attached.

It would be helpful for each of us to contact our elected representatives in Washington, DC in support of this sector-wide ask. In this crisis, Congress must support charitable organizations so we can help our communities. It is urgent that we contact our Members of Congress and Senators to urge them to support $60 billion dollars in economic relief for the charitable sector. As you read this, Congress is working to finalize a $1 trillion package, and it is crucial that charities are included.

Key Talking Points:

• As you know, the pandemic facing the country is having a profound impact on the economy and has greatly expanded the need for charitable organizations to provide additional services in an unprecedented manner. At the same time, the economic downturn will undoubtedly result in a contraction in contributions and other sources of revenue which are the lifeblood of many charitable organizations.

• America’s charities are front-line responders providing food, shelter, medical services and other critical services to those in need in their communities. At this critical time when we will be asked to do more, charitable giving is likely to decrease as it did following the 2008 recession. Further, grants payments for contract services for health care and social services may be stalled, and alternative business streams and programs are being forced to temporarily close or have reduced hours.

• Without dramatic and immediate financial backstop from Congress, America’s charitable nonprofits and the people we serve face a precipitous decline in mission services at a time when our efforts are needed like never before by the most vulnerable in our communities. America’s charities are also employers and our overall contribution to the economy is significant: our workforce is the third largest (as large as the manufacturing sector) and we represent almost 10 percent of GDP.

Take Action

Call Congress now to support charitable organizations through the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here and enter your address to access phone numbers of your members of Congress and additional talking points.

In addition to the $60 billion economic relief package, we are working on inclusion of other key priorities for United Ways, including:

• $110 million in funding for 211
• $100 million in stimulus funding for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, along with a $70 million increase in EFSP's annual funding
• An extension of tax filing deadline (not tax payment deadline), so that VITA sites can provide needed tax prep into the summer
• Inclusion of Earned Income Tax Assistance Credit and Child Tax Credit expansion provisions
• Inclusion of cash assistance for individuals and families during the emergency that does not negatively impact an individuals’ eligibility for other assistance programs such as SNAP, TANF, WIC and is not taxed as income.

Thank you,

Jerome

Jerome Ferson

President

United Way of Olmsted County

507-287-2001

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