All articles tagged with #nonprofits
Shirley Raines, founder of Beauty 2 the Streetz and a longtime advocate for people experiencing homelessness on Los Angeles’s Skid Row, died at age 58. Her death was reported by the Clark County, Nevada coroner with the cause pending; she had expanded her advocacy beyond L.A. to Nevada in recent years and had served as grand marshal of the 2022 Long Beach Pride parade.
Green City Market has purchased the former Montrose garden center at 2457 W. Montrose Ave. for $899,000 to serve as a new year-round home, enabling a winter market and pop-up events. The 5,000-square-foot space will support the market’s vendors and programs, with renovations funded by Abby Mandel’s estate trust. Lincoln Park and West Loop markets will continue operating as usual, while the Avondale indoor winter market runs through March during planning for the new space.
This resource provides practical Know Your Rights guidance for individuals approached by ICE at home, work, or in public—covering when a judicial warrant is required, the right to remain silent, how to request supervisory review on ID issues (e.g., Tribal IDs), and the importance of recording interactions safely and seeking legal help—along with post-encounter steps. It also includes a field-friendly fact sheet for Native-serving nonprofits on designating public vs. private spaces, enforcing access policies to protect Fourth Amendment rights, staff roles, and preparing for potential police or ICE encounters, plus contacts for legal aid and detainee resources.
US non-profit organizations are reducing jobs due to a decline in government and donor funding, highlighting financial challenges in the sector.
Over 100 progressive nonprofits, including the Open Society Foundations and Ford Foundation, have condemned the Trump administration's threats to investigate and dismantle left-leaning organizations, asserting that such actions undermine democracy and threaten free speech amid unfounded claims linking these groups to political violence and the recent murder of Charlie Kirk.
The IRS announced that churches and houses of worship can now endorse political candidates to their congregations, creating an exemption from the longstanding ban on political campaigning by tax-exempt nonprofits, following a court case involving Texas churches and Christian broadcasters.
Donald Trump's nominee for the IRS, former Missouri Rep. Billy Long, reportedly pressured the agency to investigate the Humane Society after it backed a dog protection initiative. If confirmed, Long could potentially strip tax-exempt status from nonprofits he opposes, especially if a pending bill granting the Trump administration more power to rescind tax statuses is enacted.
The U.S. House has passed a bill allowing the Treasury Department to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits deemed to support terrorism, sparking concerns over potential misuse against political opponents and activists. Critics argue the bill lacks clear definitions and could infringe on constitutional rights, with fears it may suppress dissent and activism. The bill, which passed with Republican support, must still pass the Senate and be signed by the President to become law.
Republicans, with some Democratic support, are moving to empower President-elect Trump to potentially shut down nonprofits by labeling them as threats under anti-terrorism measures. This includes a GOP strategy to defund climate and clean energy groups they oppose.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which critics argue could give President-elect Donald Trump the power to target political opponents by designating nonprofits as "terrorist supporting organizations" and revoking their tax-exempt status. The bill, which passed largely along party lines, has faced opposition from Democrats and civil society groups who fear it could be used to suppress dissent. Despite some Democratic support, concerns about potential abuse by the incoming administration have led to significant opposition.
The US House of Representatives has passed HR 9495, a controversial bill allowing the treasury secretary to revoke a nonprofit's status if deemed a "terrorism-supporting" organization. The bill, which passed mostly along partisan lines, has sparked concern among nonprofits and civil rights groups, fearing it could be used for political retribution. The bill now moves to the Senate, where its future is uncertain, but it may resurface in 2025 under a Republican-controlled Congress and President Trump.
The ACLU is raising concerns over the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which the House is set to vote on. The bill could allow the Trump administration to shut down tax-exempt organizations without due process, affecting nonprofits, universities, and news outlets. Despite previous opposition, the bill now requires only a simple majority to pass. The ACLU, along with over 180 organizations, argues that the bill could be abused to silence dissent and target vulnerable groups. The bill combines controversial measures with non-controversial tax relief for unjustly imprisoned Americans.
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has sold another 11% of her Amazon shares, worth over $8 billion, continuing her rapid pace of charitable giving. Since her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, Scott has disposed of two-thirds of her Amazon shares, donating at least $17.3 billion to over 2,300 nonprofits. Her unique approach involves unrestricted cash grants to small nonprofits, often exceeding their annual budgets, and she allows recipients to decide on publicizing the gifts. Scott's net worth is now estimated at $30 billion, down from a peak of $59 billion in 2021.
Millions of children in the U.S. are taking on caregiving roles for their ill or disabled family members, often without adequate support or recognition. This growing trend places significant emotional and financial strain on young caregivers and their families. While other countries offer legislative support and stipends for young carers, the U.S. lacks government benefits, leaving nonprofits to fill the gap. Experts emphasize the need for better planning and support systems to prevent long-term negative impacts on these children’s education and future prospects.
MacKenzie Scott's philanthropy, which has averaged $3.3 billion a year since 2019, has left nonprofits mystified as her generous gifts, while impactful, do not provide long-term sustainability. Her recent grants largely align with her usual themes, with a focus on equity, justice, education, health, and economic security. Despite her pledge to give away more than half of her wealth, questions remain about the long-term impact of her donations and the lack of transparency in her giving process. Nonprofits hope for continued support and more opportunities for unrestricted funding from Scott in the future.