NonprofitMaine Blog

House Committee Votes to Politicize Nonprofits Nonpartisanship–the longstanding legal protection (known as the Johnson Amendment) which allows 501(c)(3) nonprofits to speak out on issues of the day and advocate on legislation, but keeps us away from the divisiveness of supporting or opposing candidates for office–is under imminent threat in Congress. Each of us needs to […]

MANP is pleased to announce an exclusive advertising opportunity for MANP members from our friends and long-time media partner Mainebiz. Since 2011, the Mainebiz Giving Guide: A Resource for Corporate Contributions has brought Maine’s compelling nonprofit stories to senior-level corporate decision makers across the state. As an advertiser in the Giving Guide, you can showcase […]

Recent news reports have highlighted what appears to be questionable decision-making by past employees at a Maine nonprofit. These stories are challenging for us at MANP because we know that this is a rare example, yet it provides fuel for pervasive misconceptions about the sector as a whole. News like this should remind everyone that […]

Updated:  July 17 Yes, it’s summertime but that doesn’t mean life’s a beach in Augusta or D.C. State House The Appropriations Committee met this week to take up what’s called “the table.” That’s the Special Appropriations Table where bills that cost money (have a fiscal note) go and often die. Fortunately, LD 648 had a […]

Members and prospective members logged in recently to attend our most recent Membership Orientation Webinar, a session designed to outline and explore the various benefits of MANP membership. We offer these 30 minute webinars each quarter to highlight new and improved benefits, also explaining our most popular benefits and giving a detailed tour of our […]

Typically, the Fourth of July weekend is busy with social plans–visiting with family and friends. For those of us who live in Bath, it’s Heritage Days with rides, music, food, parade, and fabulous fireworks. Many people, this year, were instead at the State House worrying about the budget. Others, like me, were constantly checking their […]

While we are closely watching today’s budget negotiations at the Maine State House, we are also continuing to monitor efforts in Washington D.C. to undermine the Johnson Amendment. In the past twenty-four hours, anti-Johnson Amendment language was attached as a rider to an appropriations bill by a House subcommittee. The National Council of Nonprofits has […]

Reprinted and updated with permission from The National Council of Nonprofits.  It originally appeared in their newsletter “Nonprofit Advocacy Matters” on June 26, 2017. Partisanship – putting political party above policy and practicality – has nearly destroyed the health care insurance and delivery system in this country. The Senate is scheduled to vote on its […]

Like most everyone else, we’re hopeful that the Maine Legislature will pass a budget and avoid a state government shut down. But, it never hurts to be prepared. How Would a Shutdown Happen? The state’s fiscal year starts July 1. The Legislature is constitutionally required to pass a balanced budget. The Legislature is currently at […]

How many times have you sat down to work on your organization’s newsletter or appeal letter and found yourself drawing blanks? It can be a daunting task to determine what kind of content will engage your audience and encourage people to donate, volunteer, attend events, etc. Should you focus on personal success stories or data […]