Senators Prepare Bill to Help Nonprofits
U.S Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar and Brian Schatz are preparing a bill for financial assistance for nonprofits. They are focusing on nonprofits that are struggling to provide food, shelter, and other aid to Americans coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, while also helping those groups expand their payrolls.
Both Senators are preparing a bill that will give the Treasury Department authority to distribute block grants to more than 1,000 state and local governments, which would in turn dispatch those grants to nonprofits.
Although the grants are intended to help nonprofits with more than 500 employees, the Democrats’ bill would also allow grants for nonprofits of any size.
The goal of the Klobuchar-Schatz bill
- Prevent nonprofits from having to lay off more of their own workers.
- Cover wages of up to $50,000 for each nonprofit employee.
- Help unemployed people match up with nonprofits in need of more workers.
Nonprofit vs Small Business
The coronavirus-response measures did not have adequate provisions for nonprofits with more than 500 employees. Instead, it focused on assisting small for-profit businesses. And since most nonprofits workers are considered ‘non-essential’, many are forced to close their doors.
Habitat for Humanity had to lay off 10% of its U.S. paid workforce of over 600. They employ more than 500 workers, so they were not eligible for benefits provided by the CARES Act. The yet-to-be-introduced bill prepared by the 2 Senators would serve them.
Options for Nonprofits
Grants and other charitable donations are the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations. But as we shelter in place, we are not donating like we once did. Fortunately, companies like GrantWatch continue to update their grant listing database with currently available grants for nonprofits and small businesses.
“Every day my staff carefully vets and adds new grants to GrantWatch, at a rate of 700 to 1000 new currently available grants per week.
Libby Hikind, founder and CEO GrantWatch