Public Policy Articles & Analysis

The Center is developing plans to advocate for legislators to include a nonprofit relief fund in the next state COVID-19 response package. Your input is essential in coming up with a plan to provide meaningful relief for nonprofits. Specifically, it would be helpful to know what type of economic hardships your nonprofit has experienced due to COVID-19, so a grant program can have appropriate eligibility criteria. Examples of possible criteria could include:

A NC Senate bill (S.473)would prohibit local government officials from making or administering contracts with nonprofits if they serve as officers or directors of the organizations. This requirement could help prevent conflicts of interest when local officials serve on nonprofit boards and could help improve public trust in the work of nonprofits. The Center is concerned that this proposal could have unintended consequences that create barriers for nonprofits in obtaining contracts with county or municipal governments.

Two NC Senate bills would create limits on the disclosure of donors to nonprofits.

A NC Seante bill (S.717) would place a constitutional amendment on the November 2022 ballot to limit the growth of state spending. The proposed constitutional amendment, known as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights or TABOR, would make several changes:

Legislation moving through the NC Senate (S.410) and NC House of Representatives (H.B 320) would make it easier for nonprofits with members to conduct meetings remotely and for nonprofit board members to use email to take action by unanimous written consent.

The Center is appreciative of Representative Brandon Lofton (D-Mecklenburg) and Senator Mike Woodard (D-Durham) for introducing legislation to bring state nonprofit statutes into better alignment with best practices for nonprofit organizations.