Advocacy & Public Policy

…giving a voice to nonprofit concerns

Nonprofit involvement in public policy is at the heart of a healthy, robust and democratic society. Throughout American history, individuals have voiced their concerns and worked together in nonprofit associations to shape and reshape the country’s political, economic and cultural landscape.

The South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) advances nonprofit involvement in public policy by collaborating with representatives from a diverse cross-section of nonprofits from across the state. The collaboration increases broad understanding of issues facing nonprofits and helps the nonprofit sector speak with one powerful and unified voice.

The mission of SCANPO’s public policy work is to advocate on behalf of the nonprofit sector and to influence public policy for the benefit of nonprofit organizations and the communities they serve. SCANPO’s volunteer policy advisory council is comprised of SCANPO board members, advocacy groups and key nonprofit constituencies that monitor legislation and work towards:

• preserving and promoting a favorable legal and regulatory environment for NP's

• educating and encouraging NP's to engage in advocacy efforts for their own causes

• raising public awareness statewide of the nonprofit sector

SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations Builds National Bridges of Partnership During Meetings at White House and on Capitol Hill This last week marked a defining moment for South Carolina nonprofit organizations — and the communities they serve — as the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations (SCANPO) advocated for the state’s nonprofit sector at the White House and on Capitol Hill. In an historic first, Mason Hardy, President of the SCANPO, along with 80 fellow leaders representing more than 20,000 nonprofit members from across the country, met Tuesday with a senior White House official to explore ways government and nonprofits can best partner to serve local communities. Click here to read more. SCANPO Staff with Congressman James E. Clyburn Government Payments to Nonprofits During the last fifty years, governments have turned increasingly to nonprofits to provide services the government had been delivering directly. Indeed, nonprofits have become a favored delivery system for many government-funded services, including health care, social services, disaster assistance, scientific research, and workforce development. With the downturn in the economy, some questions have developed. We need your insights. SCANPO would like to encourage all nonprofits interested in finding our more information about the Economic Stimulus money (ARRA) to continuously check www.Recovery.gov which receives updates regularly.  If your organization is interested in specific federal agencies and what funds are available, a full list of each agency’s Web sites is available at http://www.recovery.gov/?q=content/agencies.  Each of these Web sites are also constantly being updated and should be rechecked regularly. NEW Special Reports from the National Council of Nonprofits Regarding Economic Stimulus Legislation Below, for your immediate review, you will find new Special Reports from the National Council of Nonprofits: Strategies Being Used by Nonprofit Leaders To Cope with the Nation’s Economic Crisis A Respectful Warning Call to Our Partners in Government: The Economic Crisis Is Unraveling the Social Safety Net Faster Than Most Realize American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009: White House Briefing for Nonprofits Forward Together: An Action Agenda for America's Economic Recovery Information about the Proposed Reductions to Tax Deductions, Including Deductions for Charitable Contributions Information about the Proposed Changes in Charitable Deductions Federal Economic Stimulus Legislation: Nonprofit Grant Opportunities American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Grant Application Information, Tips and Thoughts American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009: Whether and Where States Are Accepting & Distributing Federal Stimulus Funds

SCANPO Public Policy Initiatives Visit the Independent Sector's website for updates with the Senate Finance Committee's Nonprofit Sector Panel