Sector News +Trends

Not too long ago, I got a call from a board member of a small Maine nonprofit needing help as a crisis led to an unfortunate ending. The board had decided to close the organization following the withdrawal of a large, transformational grant from a national foundation. The reason? The executive director had resigned following […]

We are pleased to re-post this article from the National Council of Nonprofits with permission. In the last month, we’ve reviewed three reports that provide data and perspectives on the “state” of the charitable nonprofit community. Each report provides insights to help nonprofit leaders prepare for challenges ahead. The Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2018 State of […]

The Event – Protecting the Sector Maybe I’ve been watching too much of the Olympics but it feels like the nonprofit sector is in training for yet another contest. The Governor sent the Legislature a Valentine last week in the form of a memo attacking the nonprofit property tax exemption. While we haven’t seen a bill […]

State House Update Tomorrow evening, Governor LePage will be presenting his final State of the State speech. It’s our understanding that he will use the opportunity to again push for taxing nonprofits. Yes, he has tried repeatedly, without success, to accomplish this goal. We encourage the nonprofit community to not be lackadaisical but rather to […]

This article from the National Council of Nonprofits is reprinted with permission.  “Impossible to see, the future is.” — Yoda While it may be impossible to anticipate fully what 2018 has in store for charitable nonprofits, we think there are important takeaways from some of the hottest topics that surfaced in 2017. We’re sharing our […]

The following content from the National Council of Nonprofits has been reprinted with permission.  Last week, federal tax reform advanced through the full U.S. House of Representatives and the key Senate committee. This post provides charitable nonprofits and their stakeholders with information to plan and advocate on behalf of their missions. What Has Happened So Far? […]

The following content from the National Council of Nonprofits has been reprinted with permission.  Two Councils Say: Vote House Bill Down, Start Over The National Council of Nonprofit and the Council on Foundations issued a joint statement declaring the House tax reform bill fatally flawed and calling for its defeat when the House of Representatives […]

Before we get into the Tax Reform Bill, a reminder that tomorrow (November 7th) is Election Day! Your vote matters. Be sure to make a plan (when, where, what!). Polls close at 8:00 p.m. Here’s a guide to the statewide referendum questions. The Bangor Daily News also has a useful voting guide. Action Alert!  As outlined […]

The nonprofit sector, due to its nonpartisan status, is uniquely positioned to be a voice for the common good. At MANP’s Fall Executive Leadership Forum: Nonprofits Talking Taxes last week, speaker Kim Klein urged participants to be catalysts for conversations within, and beyond, their organizations. Why now, in particular? Because Congress is debating tax reform […]

The FY18 federal budget is a seminal issue that will have profound effects on the work of Maine’s nonprofit sector – both the work we do and the people we serve. Devastating Cuts On the Table Congress’ upcoming decision on how to handle “sequestration” budget caps will likely determine whether the federal programs which provide […]