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The Charitable Sector: COVID-19 Relief and Economic Stimulus Package

America’s Charities Request $60 Billion Infusion of Support to Help the Most Vulnerable

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leadership 18, comprised of the nation’s largest social services nonprofits, today joined with a national collaboration of charities to issue a letter to Congress requesting a $60 billion infusion of support to help the nonprofit charitable sector continue to serve vulnerable families and communities in the wake of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The 12 million workers in America’s charities are on the frontlines of the coronavirus response, and the financial impact of the crisis has put the very survival of many essential service providers at risk,” noted Steven C. Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. “Charities are our society’s shock absorber when crisis hits. Our workers provide essential immediate support such as food and shelter, and are being called on to care for people whose lives have been disrupted by closures, job loss and sickness, and we help people get back on their feet when it’s time to recover.”

Everywhere in America, charitable organizations are already in place serving the needs of residents. Every dollar granted, donated or earned goes back into the community immediately to address clear and present problems.

In the letter, which was signed by 21 members of Leadership 18, they noted: “America’s charities are frontline responders providing food, shelter, medical services and other critical services to those in need in their communities. At this crucial time when the American people and governments will depend even more on charitable nonprofits, contributions are likely to decrease as happened following the 2008 recession. Without dramatic and immediate financial and programmatic backstop from government, America’s charitable nonprofits and the people we serve face a precipitous decline in mission services at a time when our efforts are needed like never before by the most vulnerable in our communities.”

The request to Congress includes an immediate infusion of $60 billion in capital to help nonprofits maintain operations, expand scope to address increasing demands, and stabilize losses from closures throughout the country. Specific recommendations for assistance to help the nonprofit sector stay engaged serving the American people include:

Some of the specific policy fixes requested include:

The Leadership 18 members who signed the letter include: Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Catholic Charities USA, City Year, Girl Scouts USA, Girls Inc., Goodwill Industries International, Habitat for Humanity International, Jewish Federations of North America, Lutheran Services in America, Mental Health America, National Council on Aging, The Salvation Army, United Way Worldwide, Volunteers of America, YMCA of the USA, and YWCA USA.

About Leadership 18
Collectively, the members of Leadership 18 serve 87 million people with more than 5.6 million staff and volunteers. All of our member organizations share a specific mission to improve human development through deep community relationships.

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                                                                                                       

Contact:

Gregg Hibbeler, Director of Marketing and Communications

816.929.9864

GHibbeler@mokangoodwill.org 

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