CMF has a longstanding tradition of developing annual government relations goals, designed to guide the policy and advocacy efforts of the organization, in service to our community of philanthropy. This year, CMF’s Government Relations Public Policy Committee (GRPPC) engaged in a comprehensive and collective process to co-design the goals that will guide CMF’s efforts in 2022. 

CMF’s 2022 Government Relations Goals were approved by the Board of Trustees, and then by the members during our Annual Members Meeting in October. 

The goals reflect CMF’s perspectives, policy positions and intended engagement strategies on pressing policy issues.

“Under Kyle’s [Caldwell] leadership, CMF has sought to increase its transparency with members regarding its government relations goals and engage more methodically with members on what those goals should be,” Neel Hajra, CEO of the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and co-chair, GRPPC, told CMF. “That has included the development of a very strong public policy team led by Regina Bell, the merging of the Public Policy and Government Relations committees and a re-examination of every single goal CMF has been pursuing in recent years.”

CMF’s advocacy efforts focus on issues that may have long-term, systemic impact and where philanthropy’s voice can resonate. Our advocacy work is prioritized and guided by five policy domains: P-20 Education, Economic Prosperity, Health, Civic Engagement and Health of the Sector. 

“We are advocating for policies that seek to move our society from a culture of ‘I’ to a community of ‘we,’” Paul Hillegonds, senior advisor to the CEO at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and GRPPC co-chair said. 

CMF’s Government Relations Goals are mostly focused on issues that affect the health of the sector, enhance the resources, operational capacity and flexibility the sector needs to effectively engage in social policy issues, especially in education, public health, economic prosperity and civic engagement. 

CMF’s policy work continues to be active within the areas of public health, education and economic prosperity from the Building an Equitable Future Together policy framework, which was developed by CMF’s Michigan Philanthropy COVID-19 Working Group. The economic prosperity area has also informed the work of the Statewide Equity Fund Strategic Support Pilot.

CMF’s 2022 Federal Legislative Goals

1.    Action: Support legislation that would incentivize all Americans to be charitable givers. CMF will advocate for a universal charitable deduction and other inclusive tax incentives for charitable giving.

2.    Action: Protect the value of endowed philanthropy in part by maintaining the private foundation payout rate at the current 5% to protect foundations’ grantmaking capability. 

3.    Monitor: Support legislation and regulatory changes that would exempt certain philanthropic excess business holdings from being taxed.

4.    Monitor: Support legislation that broadens tax free distributions from IRAs to charitable organizations.

5.    Action: Promote talent retention in communities by supporting an amendment to the tax code that would make post-graduation scholarships non-taxable.

6.    Advocacy: To support regulatory reforms and legislation that will make it easier for foundations to make program related investments (PRIs) and mission related investments (MRIs).

7.    Action: CMF will support policies or regulations on donor advised funds (DAFs) that are data informed, do not impose unnecessary and overly burdensome requirements and consider community impact.

8.    Monitor: Oppose legislation to repeal or amend the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits 501(c)(3) charitable organizations from endorsing, opposing or contributing to political candidates and engaging in partisan campaign activities.

CMF’s 2022 State Legislative Goals

1.    Action: Restore Charitable Tax Credits

2.    Monitor: Regulations that would mandate public donor disclosure.

3.    Monitor: Support property tax exemption; oppose mandatory and coercive demands for payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTS).

Members of the GRPPC highlighted the goals that support federal legislation to incentivize Americans to be charitable givers.

“These goals provide access to charitable giving for individuals and families from all socioeconomic backgrounds,” Dave Mengebier, president and CEO of the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation, CMF trustee and GRPPC co-chair said. “Giving everyone a fair opportunity to make a difference in their communities through charitable giving embodies CMF’s strategic plan vision of keeping equity at the center of our work.”

“I am proud that the GRPPC has started explicitly integrating considerations of equity and community impact into our goal-setting process, which aligns with CMF’s new Equity at the Center strategic framework. I believe the resultant goals position CMF to be more effective than ever in strengthening the impact of our field,” Hajra said. 

Hillegonds shared that along with this goal, the state legislation goal to restore charitable tax credits will provide residents with important tools to help achieve larger equity centered community building goals.

This week, members of our Michigan community of philanthropy will be engaging with state legislators during Foundations In Lansing. CMF members will be connecting virtually with legislators to discuss the state specific goals as well as how philanthropy can serve as a partner to government.  

Want more?

Read the full 2022 Government Relations Goals.

Learn more about the Government Relations Public Policy Committee.

Learn more about how you can be involved in Foundations In Lansing.

Save the date for Foundations on the Hill, March 20-23, 2022.