Do nonprofits have a right to claim economic losses when disaster hits?  In the wake of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and oil spill in 2010, nonprofits suffered losses just like any other businesses in the impacted parts of the Gulf Coast. The new BP oil spill settlement process for making claims of economic losses is important for the region’s nonprofits to access—and for the nation’s nonprofits to understand if and when the next man-made, BP-type calamity hits. 

Much of the most valuable programs and services of the federal government are delivered by nonprofits. That goes double for U.S. humanitarian and development assistance, where NGOs are critical players in delivering foreign aid to countries in need. Shouldn’t the USAID budget be a top priority advocacy item for the U.S. nonprofit sector?

In Part II of the Cohen Report’s review of President Obama’s proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget, Rick Cohen examines elements of the budget with specific meaning for nonprofit sector capacity and productivity. Together with Part I here, examine the picture that the budget paints for nonprofits—challenges that go to the fundamental role of nonprofits in society and to the willingness and ability of the federal government to protect and sustain nonprofit capacity. 

The President’s FY2014 budget proposal is out!  What does it say to the nonprofit sector?  Rick Cohen does a deep dive into the budget to find implications for nonprofits—much more than the charitable deduction.  Read Part I here, Part II next week.  

Philanthropy is reconsidering its approach to journalism as a critical element of civil society as more of it ends up seated in the nonprofit sector, but is that where the money is going? Peek in on a panel discussion on this emerging topic at the most recent Council on Foundations conference.

Three years after President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, some lawmakers are trying to thwart the health-care reforms it proscribes. This edition of the Cohen Report checks the vital signs of the ACA, with respect to the nonprofit sector.

In House and Senate budgets, we see two very different visions of America’s future, and by extension, diverging visions of how the nonprofit sector will function. What role will government play in helping and protecting vulnerable people?

The next really big battle for the nation’s policymakers is tax reform. NPQ will soon release a special issue of its print journal on this topic, but here are some preliminary thoughts.

The nonprofit sector reacted with parochial panic about proposed changes to the charitable deduction, but shouldn’t it have paid more mind to the devastating blow dealt by sequestration budget cuts? Were we tricked?

Compared to some others, the Rappaport Family Foundation doesn’t have deep pockets, but its civic engagement strategy, focusing on community colleges, may be on to something important.

As the U.S. moves from debating and legislating healthcare insurance reform to making it work for tens of millions of Americans, what role should nonprofits and their foundation backers play?

Most nonprofit leaders aren’t investment whizzes, but most realize that they should carefully consider their investment options. There are many ways to do so that are in harmony with one’s mission.

Mandated by the Affordable Care Act, community health needs assessments could be as little as a new piece of paperwork or as much as a potent tool to completely transform healthcare in America.

With over 100 million views, Invisible Children’s Kony 2012 was a viral video sensation last year but the related movement fizzled out. What motivates those who have stuck with it?

Disaster relief is a field in which nonprofits have much to teach legislators about what works and what isn’t all that helpful.

“The future ain’t what it used to be,” Yogi Berra once said. That seems to be true for the nonprofit sector, based on the predictions for 2013 we’ve received from smart people in and around the Nonprofit Quarterly orbit.

From 10,000 feet above, the nonprofit sector has largely come together with a unified message on the charitable deduction, but up close, one finds other—perhaps deeper—concerns at play.

The charitable tax deduction cap debate feels like a Punch and Judy show, but nonprofits must be aware of scenarios that could emerge and, ultimately, they must be prepared to take a stance on the budget.

In a case study of import to all concerned with the ability of nonprofits to influence government, the narrow defeat of Nate Shinagawa in New York’s 23rd House District offers several lessons.

The 113th Congress is a new ballgame. Nonprofit advocates need to know how to play the game on Capitol Hill, and that begins with an understanding of whom we are playing with.

A Bradley Foundation grant that was used for the anonymous purchase of some “Voter Fraud is a Felony” billboard ads may cost more in raised eyebrows than its $10,000 sum.

We have long documented the importance of a local nonprofit infrastructure, but should local government play an active role in helping to actually build that infrastructure?

Regardless of who occupies the White House and Congress come January, the big issues for the nonprofit sector will be looming, and the sector has its work cut out for itself to address them.

This week’s meeting of the National Association of State Charity Officials (NASCO) revealed several issues that should be debated thoroughly in the nonprofit sector. Here’s what we heard.

Self-proclaimed messiah Rev. Sun Myung Moon, leader to the Moonies, died last week, but his Unification Church remains a massive, multinational, tax-exempt conglomerate.

Nonprofits are at the heart of the Democratic National Convention since the Democratic Party put tough restrictions on raising funds to support the giant gala’s $37 million cost.

From the boosters to the party poopers, nonprofits playing the game at the Republican convention in Tampa (or at the upcoming Democratic convention in Charlotte) know they’re play-acting.

What makes these eight candidates flag-bearers for the nonprofit sector in the 2012 election? A new 501(c)(4) organization, CForward, would like you to vote for the “nonprofit eight.”

The Boy Scouts of America’s (BSA) attempt to self-police its ranks for sexual molesters has failed, and many chapters reportedly did not respond to allegations in an appropriate way.

Even if it might be uncomfortable for institutions used to operating at a relative distance from public scrutiny, several public benefits might be realized by increased foundation transparency.