Spring Into Action: Latest Policy Updates

May 27, 2025

In This Issue

• Flex Your Policy Muscle
• News! Tax Reform and Charitable Giving
• Share Your Experience: NEA Grants
• Ticket Rules FAQ Issued by Federal Trade Commission

Flex Your Policy Muscle

The League keeps orchestra advocates informed with the latest news, resources, and tools to keep playing your part in policy advocacy. The best form of engagement is your direct interaction with elected officials when they are in your home district and state and can see your orchestra’s work in action. Our Congressional Recess Calendar provides dates well beyond this week so you can plan now. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the League’s D.C. advocacy team before or after, so we can compare notes and work together. And for anyone attending our League Conference next month in Salt Lake City, come join our interactive Playing Your Part advocacy session!

News! Tax Reform and Charitable Giving

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive tax reform package as part of a massive budget reconciliation bill, and the Senate is now crafting its own version. Orchestras are calling on Congress to:

• Support new and expanded incentives for charitable giving 
• Prevent policies that would diminish resources for the nonprofit sector 
• Oppose efforts to unfairly tax nonprofit organizations

The League’s Tax Policy and Charitable Giving Campaign has an overview of what was included in the House bill and resources to help your orchestra speak up. Significant changes to the tax package are expected as the Senate takes next steps. Tell your members of Congress to support policies that grow charitable giving and protect the nonprofit sector from harm. 

Share Your Experience: NEA Grants

In an unprecedented reversal of approved federal support for the arts, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has sent notifications terminating hundreds of awards in progress and withdrawing many offers of new FY25 grant awards that had been accepted by applicants, with a second wave of notices delivered just last week. The NEA’s capacity to support the arts sector will also be diminished as eligible personnel at the NEA were encouraged to take early retirement or deferred resignation to meet DOGE’s staffing reduction targets. As a result, all program directors and many staff will be leaving the NEA over the next weeks and months.

The League is providing direct assistance to orchestras, posting updated news about NEA grantmaking procedures, and partnering as orchestras speak up to Congress to protect future federal funding. If your orchestra received a termination letter or withdrawal of offer letter, please provide details by completing our League questionnaire, and include any questions you have. Information you provide to the League is critical to advancing advocacy for federal arts funding.

Ticket Rules FAQ Issued by Federal Trade Commission

New rules for disclosing ticket prices and fees were issued in 2024 under the Biden Administration and went into effect May 12, 2025. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently published The Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees: Frequently Asked Questions.

This compliance guide is intended to provide insights for implementing the new rules, although the FTC notes that answers to frequently asked questions represent FTC staff views of the requirements, but are not binding on the Commission. The League is compiling questions unaddressed by the FTC’s FAQ, so please feel welcome to send your thoughts to advocacy@americanorchestras.org. 

The League’s Ticketing Policy Overview also includes updates regarding House passage of the TICKET Act, which once again falls short of the full fraud protections and considerations needed for the nonprofit ticketing model. Thanks to the many orchestras that are continuing to engage with this policy effort at the state and federal levels.