EOF is launching a 2024 Election Funder Strategy Room this Fall to provide a table around which funders can gather to share common questions, analyses of challenges and opportunities, and philanthropic strategies post-2024 election. The Strategy Room will include four virtual sessions with the possibility of an in-person gathering during our Budget and Tax Briefing in March 2025. Participation is limited to 25 grantmakers, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Funders who work for a qualifying philanthropy are eligible to participate.Registration closes on August 20.
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center 201 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD
The tax code is one of the most powerful tools federal, state, and municipal governments have to provide families with economic security and wealth-building opportunities. Recent efforts, including the expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit and modernization of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, are a hidden gem in the tax code and have encouraged more child and family-focused funders to invest in tax systems strategies. There are many more service-focused and policy-focused ways the tax code and systems can be used by philanthropy to help families and communities thrive. Further, the expiration of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2025 presents an urgent moment to ensure that states and localities have the revenues they need to invest in programs for children and families and, there is an opportunity to change course towards a more equitable tax code.
Join us on September 5 at the Prosperity Now Summit for a funder convening on improving the lives of children and families through the tax code.
EOF is hosting monthly virtual calls for funders to share ideas, workshop pressing challenges, and identify opportunities to connect and align efforts around economic opportunity. Funders who work for a qualifying philanthropy are eligible to participate. Register today for our final two sessions of the Series!
September 10 | 1:00-1:50 PM ET | REGISTER Strategic conversation on philanthropy's response to national and local retraction on progress made to improve race equity, diversity, and inclusion programs and policies. Guest Speaker: Ben McDearmon, Director, Legal Resources, Council on Foundations.
October 8 | 1:00-1:50 PM ET | REGISTER Exploration of the recently-announced Investing in America Child Care Partnership, a new philanthropic coordinated effort to leverage federal infrastructure investments (CHIPS) and child care funding to strengthen local child care systems and increase the supply of high-quality, affordable child care in communities. Guest Speakers: Eric Buchanan, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, and Katie Beckmann, Packard Foundation.
ICYMI - New EOF Funder Q&As!
In our Q&A series, funders in the EOF network share how they are addressing economic equity and opportunity, the work they are the most proud of, and questions they’d like to engage with funders colleagues on.
American Rescue Plan Act Funds Approaching Deadline for Nonprofits
Less than six months remain for State, local, and Tribal governments to designate in written agreements how they are going to spend an estimated $89 billion in remaining American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. Government officials are actively looking for places to invest their remaining SLFRF resources in their communities rather than sending the funds back to the federal government. Charitable nonprofits can help those officials by identifying eligible projects. See guidance from the National Council of Nonprofits on accessing State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Senate Fails to Advance Temporary Expansion of Child Tax Credit
The U.S. Senate failed to advance a major tax package that aimed to re-expand the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) for lower-income families and cut taxes for businesses. The legislation fell short, with 48 in favor and 44 opposed, missing the 60 votes needed to progress the bill. Learn more in this CBC News article.
2025 Tax Debates Provide Opportunity to Build a Fairer Tax Code
The U.S. tax code will be on the table in 2025 as some parts of the Trump tax cuts expire. Read this op-ed coauthored by Dēmos’ president, Taifa Smith Butler, and ITEP Executive Director, Amy Hanauer, on what is at stake when decisions about the tax code are made, and what is possible when those decisions are made with working people rather than the wealthy and the elite in mind.
States are Running Out of Time to Sign Up for the Direct File Program for the 2025 Tax season.
The Direct File program is a free online tool that has already helped 140,000 taxpayers claim over $90 million in refunds. After a 12-state pilot during the 2024 tax-filing season, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, and Pennsylvania have announced intentions to join. Learn more in this Washington Post article.
Delivering State Tax Benefits to Immigrant Families
Refundable tax credits like the child tax credit (CTC) and earned income tax credit (EITC) are proven policy tools for reducing poverty and improving health and educational outcomes for millions of families across the country. In recent years, 13 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that deliver these tax credits to taxpayers without Social Security numbers (i.e., ITIN filers). This report from the Tax Policy Center provides an overview of legislation that expanded state-level CTC and EITC eligibility to ITIN filers, and preliminary observations on uptake, implementation challenges, and outreach efforts from five states.
Democracy Futures Project
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE) has launched the Democracy Futures Project, an initiative to develop the capacity of philanthropies to think long-term about American democracy. It is an 18-month collaborative effort to equip democracy funders with tools, resources, and skills to be more “future-ready.”
Funders Pledge to Support the Safety & Security of Movement Organizations
BIPOC-led groups on the frontlines of social justice fights face sustained attacks from well-resourced, powerful opposition forces, putting their lives and organizations at risk and compromising their ability to secure victories. Funders for Social Justice urges philanthropy to come together to align giving and mobilize a robust philanthropic response that matches the scale, duration, and sophistication of the attacks BIPOC-led social justice groups face. Funders and philanthropic colleagues are invited to take the Funders Pledge to support the safety and security of movement organizations, and learn more about how Funders for Justice can help.
Investing in America Child Care Partnership
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, The Kresge Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Pivotal, Rockefeller Family Fund, and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies announced the launch of the Investing in America Child Care Partnership, a new coordinated effort to leverage federal infrastructure funding to strengthen local child care systems and increase access to high-quality, affordable child care in communities that house America’s growing infrastructure workforce.
