Your Advocacy Matters

By Laura Walling, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International

At the time of this writing, the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program has run out of money. This program was designed to support small businesses, including some Goodwill organizations of less than 500 employees, continue operations and ideally keep people employed as they deal with the impact of COVID-19. Leaders in Congress are still negotiating details over when and if they will continue to fund this program, an,d at the same, time the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve are working on details for a loan program that nonprofits may or may not be able to access.

In this time of uncertainty and waiting, one thing remains sure: your advocacy matters. Goodwill Industries International is proud to be working with many fellow charitable organizations seeking relief for nonprofits in future legislation. The letters, phone calls and social media promoting #Relief4Charities has played an enormous role in garnering media attention, in fielding additional inquiries from Capitol Hill staffers and even in securing bipartisan lawmakers to champion our issues.

While it may feel like you don’t know if your message is being heard or that the relief is not coming fast enough, trust that every bit of outreach makes a difference. We need your continued help to urge Congress to include nonprofit tracks in future relief packages. Charitable nonprofits have been taking care of Americans and our communities throughout this crisis. We need Congress and the Administration to take care of us.

Help support our efforts by sending a letter to your lawmakers today via GII’s Legislative Action Center. We encourage you to share this action alert with your friends and family, and post to social media with the hashtag, #Relief4Charities.