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POLICY UPDATE: Protect Nonprofits from Partisan Politics

July 19, 2017

The rider approved by the U.S. House Appropriations Committee on the appropriations bill, and several other legislative challenges, seeks to weaken or repeal the Johnson Amendment that protects all 501(c)(3) organizations from being polarized and diverted from their proper missions by the manipulative pressures of partisan politics. Those who want to change the long-standing law seek to politicize charitable organizations and capitalize on the public trust that charitable organizations have earned over years of solving problems in communities in large part because they are free from partisan influences.

The broad

nonprofit
community opposes changes to the Johnson Amendment, as expressed by nearly one hundred religious denominations and organizations, more than 3,000 religious leaders, 89 percent of evangelical pastors, more than 4,800 charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations, and 72 percent of American voters.

Nonprofits are safe spaces in our communities, designed to be above the political fray. Preventing the application of party labels allows us to focus on solving problems, helping our neighbors, and enriching our communities. Nonpartisan credibility is critical to the ability of 501(c)(3) organizations to work with elected officials of all parties at the local, state, and federal levels to address community needs. Keeping this protection in place is essential to

nonprofit
missions.

Maryland Nonprofits and our counterparts in 46 other states have proudly signed onto the Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship. This letter was delivered to Members of Congress before the President issued an Executive Order on the Johnson Amendment and before the House Appropriations Committee approved the damaging rider that blocks enforcement for some

nonprofits
. The letter is once again open for signatures in order to show Representatives and Senators that charitable nonprofits, foundations, and our many supporters are united in opposition to efforts to politicize our community. Here’s what you can do:

  • Sign your organization onto the Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship …AND
  • Share the letter broadly with your board members, your colleagues at other organizations, and others in your networks so they can join in this vital effort to preserve the protections in current law.

Together, we can protect

nonprofit
missions from the rancor of partisan politics.