Media Cause’s Post

With election season comes a plethora of questions for nonprofits to address…   ❓ Can we endorse the candidate who best aligns with our mission?  ❓ Can we host a candidate form? ❓ Can we send out a voter guide to our donors?    Since the consequences of not understanding these rules could jeopardize your tax-exempt status, today I’m sharing practical guidance on IRS compliance during this important season…   💡 How and why campaign limitations entered the tax code  4️⃣ political activities that could cost you your tax-exempt status 4️⃣ ways you CAN actively advocate for your mission priorities in an election season #501c3nonprofits #fractionalCFO #NonprofitCFO https://lnkd.in/gARE6att

At Rally Starter, we empower changemakers to take action on the issues that matter most—no matter their perspective. Today, we’re proud to spotlight a rally started by our founder, Eric Facas: Stand for Fairness: Oppose Bill H.R. 9495 to Protect Nonprofits. Imagine a world where nonprofits could lose their tax-exempt status simply because the government doesn’t agree with their cause. Bill H.R. 9495 introduces the risk of nonprofits facing unchecked scrutiny and losing their tax-exempt status based on "perceived" support for terrorism—without transparent evidence or due process. Regardless of your political stance, this bill raises serious concerns about fairness, transparency, and the integrity of a sector dedicated to serving communities. As Eric notes in his rally, “Nonprofits play a vital role in solving society's greatest challenges, and their ability to operate freely is fundamental to democracy.” It takes less than five minutes to make your voice heard. Join this rally or start your own today: https://lnkd.in/eqm_xY6F. #RallySpotlight #NonprofitAdvocacy #TakeAction #StandWithNonprofits

Check out this recent article about the FTC's new - and highly controversial - new rule banning noncompete agreements. My manager partner, Denise Gunter, has a great quote about the FTC: “I think the FTC likes to keep people on their toes, and so it wouldn’t shock me if they were potentially looking at opportunities to test the new rule by declaring that a nonprofit hospital or health system engaged in unfair competition in violation of the rule…Part of what they do is advocacy and policymaking. And so, part of their mission, if you will, is to test things.” Not surprisingly this new rule is already being challenged in courts. Will be interesting to see how it shakes out in the courts. SCOTUS will likely eventually have to weigh in.

🚨Nonprofits need our protection! ‼️ Imagine a world where nonprofit organizations—the very groups working tirelessly to ensure access to healthcare, fight for human rights, protect reproductive freedoms, support working families, and advance antiracism—could have their tax-exempt status revoked simply because the government doesn’t like their cause. This isn't a dystopian fantasy; it's a real risk posed by Bill H.R. 9495, which grants the U.S. Treasury Department unchecked authority to revoke a nonprofit's status based on "perceived" support for terrorism—without requiring transparent evidence or due process. This bill could create a chilling effect on advocacy, threatening organizations like Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Human Rights Campaign, Reproductive Freedom for All, Moms First, and countless others working toward equity, justice, and inclusion. Current laws already address financial misuse, making this bill both unnecessary and dangerous. I’ve joined Eric Facas in taking action to oppose this harmful legislation, and I invite you to do the same. It takes less than five minutes to sign this Rally Starter and urge the Senate to vote down H.R. 9495: https://lnkd.in/eig3Mchf.

A new presidential administration and U.S. Congress likely will mean funding, tax and other significant changes that can affect nonprofits. We look at several issues that require planning. Check out the article below to learn more. https://lnkd.in/eXgh-Kw6

Nelson Mullins healthcare partner Denise Gunter offered her take on The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new rule that bans the use of worker noncompete agreements in healthcare in a Bloomberg Law article published on May 1. She was quoted, in part: “I think the FTC likes to keep people on their toes, and so it wouldn’t shock me if they were potentially looking at opportunities to test the new rule by declaring that a nonprofit hospital or health system engaged in unfair competition in violation of the rule…Part of what they do is advocacy and policymaking. And so, part of their mission, if you will, is to test things.” The new rule almost completely bans noncompete provisions, which will affect nearly half of the nation’s nonprofit, tax-exempt hospitals. The FTC rule states the agency will check the income of nonprofits, putting organizations' tax-exempt status under scrutiny. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3QyEUJ8

As the holiday season continues, we hope you take a moment to support a rally aimed at stopping a bill (https://lnkd.in/eqm_xY6F) that could jeopardize the critical work of nonprofits across the country—HR 9495. This frightening bill would allow the U.S. Treasury Department under the new administration to revoke tax-exempt status without a transparent evidentiary process, lacking fairness and accountability in its approach. If passed, HR 9495 could have detrimental effects on organizations working in areas that may challenge powerful interests or controversial topics. From environmental advocacy groups to health equity organizations, nonprofits would face increased uncertainty, potentially stifling their impact. Our most impactful and critical nonprofits would be under attack. Please take a few moments to contact Congress and ask them to vote down this dangerous bill: https://lnkd.in/eqm_xY6F

What a fascinating and important article about the challenges progressive nonprofits could face under a Trump administration, highlighting the need to build our base of individual donors: "The liberal left, for all of its frustrations with philanthropists, is today more reliant on foundation support than the right. Fifty years of foundation funding of right-wing think tanks has been invested in programs to enlist individual donors. Heritage now boasts some 200,000 small donors, and many hundreds of large ones. They are motivated by ideology and movement-building. There is nothing comparable among liberal think tanks. If a Trump IRS did serious damage to foundations and their progressive grantees, right-wing donors would go right on financing right-wing infrastructure." https://lnkd.in/gaHCKqVN

Here again, today, with this because... necessary. H.R. 9495 raises significant concerns, but we must approach this issue with clarity and care. While the nonprofit structure is far from perfect, often requiring constant navigation of systemic barriers, it remains a vital framework for many who serve oppressed populations. The flaws of this system are real, but H.R. 9495 does not address them; instead, it threatens to undermine the work of those who are already stretched thin, doing the hard and necessary labor of care and advocacy. This bill, with its broad language and vague definitions, creates opportunities for overreach, putting nonprofits at risk of losing their tax-exempt status with little recourse. Organizations working in controversial or marginalized spaces, particularly those advocating for justice or human rights, would be especially vulnerable. But the solution to these structural challenges cannot be fear or control; it must be rooted in transparency, fairness, and accountability that protects the work nonprofits do while addressing systemic inequities. Most nonprofit leaders are extraordinary people committed to transformative change, often filling the gaps left by failing systems. They deserve support, not policies that create new barriers or foster distrust. Let’s reject measures like H.R. 9495, not with fiery rhetoric but with a firm commitment to collaboration and better solutions. By advocating for policies that protect nonprofits while addressing systemic flaws, we can ensure this essential work continues to thrive. Please participate in shutting this down. For templates and instructions on contacting your rep. https://lnkd.in/gB5StqvS

🚨 Critical Alert: We Must Stop HR 9495 NOW! 🚨 Nonprofits are under direct attack—and we don’t have time to waste. HR 9495, the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act,” is heading for a full House vote TOMORROW, Thursday, November 21. If passed, this bill will put our very existence at risk. HR 9495 would give the Treasury Secretary unchecked power to revoke a nonprofit’s 501(c)3 status—without ANY evidence, ANY due process, or ANY accountability. This bill allows the government to target nonprofits for speaking out against policies or actions they disagree with. Nonprofits would be forced to prove their innocence in just 90 days. As Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) stated, this bill could be "misused by the incoming president to punish and silence organizations" that dare to challenge political power. This is nothing less than a direct attack on our fundamental rights to free speech and advocacy. We MUST act NOW before this bill becomes law. Here’s what YOU need to do TODAY: 1️⃣ Call your representatives IMMEDIATELY and demand they oppose HR 9495. We cannot afford to let this pass! 2️⃣ Share this post with EVERYONE you know. The time to act is right now—make sure others take action before the vote. 3️⃣ Do NOT wait—take action today! This is an all-out fight for the future of nonprofit work and free speech. 👉 Learn more and get the tools to fight back with Consultants for Good. The vote is tomorrow—don't let this slip by. The future of our nonprofits, our speech, and our rights are on the line. Stand up for what’s right—before it’s too late. A big thank you to my rep, Joyce Beatty for voting against HR9495 last week and for voting against it again today or tomorrow. #NonprofitAdvocacy #HR9495 #PoliticalFreedom #StandUpNow #ProtectNonprofits