Advocacy


Programs and initiatives designed to strengthen the sector and the climate in which nonprofit organizations carry out their work. Projects in development include:

Public policy advocacy
  • Partnerships with existing advocates
  • Input to Governor’s staff
  • Database of advocacy efforts statewide
  • Survey of MassNonprofitNet membership to select priority public policy issues
  • Statewide public awareness campaign to improve the sector’s visibility and image
  • Nonprofit Awareness Day at the State House
  • Legislative Day at the State House
  • Online advocacy projects
  • Advocacy on proposed legislation that affects the entire sector

Defeat the income tax repeal initiative on the November ballot!

 MassNonprofitNet is joining with many other organizations throughout the state to defeat the income tax repeal initiative on the November ballot. We have joined Coalition for Our Communities, a group working to educate Massachusetts citizens about the disastrous effects of an income tax repeal. Should the income tax be repealed, the state budget would be cut 40%. Many nonprofits would lose the state support needed to carry out their critical missions, which would have a drastic effect on the quality of life in all our communities.

H274: Legislation to Ease Financial Regulatory Burden for Small Nonprofits

 Nonprofits or public charities all across the State of Massachusetts who received more than $100,000 in gross support and revenue during a fiscal year are mandated by State law to file an audited financial statement with its annual report with the Public Charities Division of the Attorney General's office with the exception of those that file their annual probate account with the division. This is in accordance with section 8F of Chapter 12 of the General Laws of Massachusetts.

However, most small nonprofits have struggled to keep up with this regulation as they bear the burden of contracting auditors for this purpose out of their already limited budgets.

H274 is a joint petition filed by Representative Charles A. Murphy and Senator Susan C. Fargo to amend line 13, section 8F of Chapter 12 of the General Laws, by replacing "one hundred thousand" with "two hundred thousand". Raising the financial threshold of compliance will not only help in making the distinction between small and large nonprofits; it will reduce the regulatory burden on small nonprofits with regards to auditing. H274 still supports the preparation of audited financial reports by large nonprofits in compliance to the generally accepted accounting principles and reporting practices, as well as the financial integrity of the nonprofit sector.

There was a public hearing on July 10, 2007, and the bill is currently referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure in the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary in the Senate.

Public Awareness campaign

 The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network has been charged with developing a one-year public awareness campaign designed to increase the public's awareness and understanding of the nonprofit sector. This campaign will go hand-in-hand with MNN's advocacy efforts in the area of public policy.

  • Goal: to demonstrate how nonprofits contribute to the quality of life in every Massachusetts community.
  • Possible campaign components:
    • Community television programming
    • Statewide Nonprofit Awareness Day
    • Series of op-eds in newspapers throughout the state
    • Special newspaper inserts telling the stories of clients and providers
    • Meetings with legislators and policy-makers
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