Public Policy + Advocacy

Reprinted with permission from The Maine Nonprofit Law E-Bulletin May 2021, by Robert H. Levin, Attorney-at-Law, Law Office of Robert H. Levin. Over the years, I’ve fielded countless questions about fiscal sponsorship, a type of arrangement has become a growing part of the nonprofit world. Recently, I collaborated with the Maine Association of Nonprofits to […]

On April 27, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors to pay a $15 minimum wage to workers who are working on federal contracts. The White House Fact Sheet states: “Starting January 30, 2022, all agencies will need to incorporate a $15 minimum wage in new contract […]

On March 12, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), a $1.9 trillion package intended to help recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.  ARPA adds $7.25 billion into the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and expands eligibility for forgivable loans under the PPP for nonprofit organizations. Expanded Nonprofit Eligibility Congress initially limited […]

April 24, 2021 Update: The SVOG Program Reopens Saturday, April 24th, 2021 The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced that it will re-open the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) portal Saturday, April 24 at 12:30pm. The SBA released new guidance detailing the application requirements, forms, and required supporting documentation. All information is posted on the Shuttered Venue Operators […]

President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act on March 11, 2021, enacting one of the largest economic relief programs in U.S. history. Below is an analysis of the nonprofit priorities included in the act. MANP thanks the National Council of Nonprofits for their quick analysis of the act. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans The law adds […]

Governor Mills has announced the Moving Maine Forward plan to protect public health and support Maine’s economy during the upcoming busy tourism season as vaccinations progress. The plan maintains critical public health measures, establishes timeframes, simplifies and standardizes protocols, and updates travel policies. Of significant note to Maine’s nonprofit community, as part of simplifying and […]

The Internal Revenue Service issued on March 1st guidance for employers claiming the employee retention tax credit for calendar quarters in 2020, as established under CARES Act and modified by the year-end COVID relief bill (Taxpayer Certainty and Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2020). According to the IRS, the guidance in Notice 2021-20 PDF is similar to […]

There’s been a lot in the local media lately about the state proposal to tax forgiven Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, even though the federal government agreed not to. MANP reached out to legal professionals and state officials for a definitive answer as to whether nonprofits would also be taxed on this “income.” According to […]

President Biden recently released a framework for his comprehensive plan to address the COVID-19 crisis. His $1.9 trillion plan, which would require congressional approval, includes: Developing a national vaccination program in partnership with state and local governments; Providing for significant increases in testing to control the spread of COVID-19; Addressing racial disparities in COVID-19 resources […]

The National Council of Nonprofits held a webinar on the Consolidated Appropriations Act on January 13, 20201. Watch the recording and view the slides for more details. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (the “Act”), signed into law on December 27, 2020, updates several provisions from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, […]