Policy Activity Ramping Up in the Weeks Ahead; Ask Your Senator to Cosponsor Universal Charitable Deduction Bill; League Calls for Improvements to Nonprofit Main Street Lending Program; The Latest Paycheck Protection Program Updates and League Webinar; Trump Administration Extends and Expands Certain Immigration Restrictions through 2020; Policy Updates for Nonprofits Self-Insuring for Unemployment Benefits
Some good news, as the League and orchestras join the broader nonprofit sector in seeking increased incentives for the charitable giving that supports communities nationwide: Senators James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tim Scott (R-SC), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced the bipartisan Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act (S. 4032) (PDF) to expand the current above-the-line deduction for charitable giving made available by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March.
Last week, the Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act was introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) to help relieve burdens on orchestras and other nonprofits that self-insure for unemployment benefits.
he League is presenting a webinar on Monday, June 29 at 1:00pm Eastern, providing the very latest information on the loan forgiveness process for the Paycheck Protection Program, which has been a key form of relief for orchestras and musicians amidst the COVID-19 crisis.
This week, the League submitted comments (PDF) to the Federal Reserve, in coordination with the broader nonprofit sector, to suggest several revisions to the Main Street Lending Nonprofit Organization Expanded Loan Facility and the Nonprofit Organization New Loan Facility, which was proposed on Monday, June 15.
This week the President announced an extension through December of his executive order from late April that had, at that time, suspended new immigration for 60 days. Effective immediately, individuals outside the United States who do not currently have an immigrant visa or official travel document other than a visa will be barred entry into the U.S. through December 31, 2020 “and may be continued as necessary” along with the possibility of “any modifications as may be necessary.”
From listening to many of you in recent weeks, I know that this time we are living through is one that makes extraordinary demands on your organizations and poses leadership challenges never before faced. Musicians and staff are experiencing painful layoffs and salary cuts, and there is simply no way to sugarcoat this. – Jesse Rosen
SBA Issues PPP Flexibility Rules! Reminder: Loan Application Deadline June 30; Arts Education Is Essential – Take Local Action; SBA Re-Opens Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program for New Applicants; Nonprofit Main Street Lending Program Proposed
Late last month, the League joined a group of more than 50 national organizations that collaborated to issue a statement of support for arts education particularly in the context of COVID-19.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has awarded 41 direct grants to orchestral projects through its FY20 Art Works Part 2 grant category, totaling $867,000 in funding, as well almost two dozen grants to related projects. In all, the Endowment awarded more than 1,000 grants totaling $25,334,900 through Art Works Part 2, as well as $3.643 million in Our Town awards and $780,000 in research grants.