It's Tuesday and the political powers that are are busily working on a tax reform bill that also includes non-tax items and one in particular may be of special interest to nonprofits and churches. This item merits immediate discussion and action by nonprofit boards. The item I am referring to is the role of nonprofits and churches in politics and more importantly, the ability of these institutions to endorse and financially support political candidates. At stake is not just the "ok" to engage but also the "ok" to use donor's money to endorse - donor's money that would have otherwise been used to deliver services to meet the needs of constituents, consumers, congregants and the like. One must also be reminded that these institutions are accorded tax statuses that are different than those accorded political organizations. Finally, one must be reminded that nonprofits boards are only surrogate "owners" of their entities working on behalf of the public's interests and thus receiving their tax exemption statuses. Again, this is a conversation for every board of every church and nonprofit. All are affected as is the public.
To learn more about this particular proposal, simply go on-line or open-up a newspaper.