Update On a Long-Term Proactive Tax and Budget

Initiative

Prepared byOMB Watch

1742 Connecticut Ave., NWWashington, D.C. 20009

(202) 234-8494http://www.ombwatch.org

PART IAbout the Process

We’re Using

What We Have Donesee www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/2095/1/2/

• Call to Action paper – in December, 2003 (see www.ombwatch.org/article/articleview/1952/1/18/).

• Internet Survey -- completed by over 700 respondents in Jan/Feb, 2004.

• Regional Strategy Sessions -- in Columbia, SC; Seattle, WA; Chicago, IL; and Phoenix, AZ.

What We Plan To Do• Flesh Out Results of Strategy Sessions – April

28 conference in Philadelphia to drill down on ideas generated in regional strategy sessions.

• National Retreat – Develop specific ideas and next steps. Likely to be in June.

• Online Resource Center – on tax and budget information.

• Face on the Numbers -- Online database (www.ombwatch.org/budget/face.html) of stories about unmet needs and how a service or program has made a positive difference.

What Happens Next?

• Develop Specific Recommendations and Next Steps based on action items under planning process.

• Determine Whether Resources Can Be Raised for local, state, and national groups to sustain a long-term initiative.

• Address Leadership and Organizational Issues, including coordination, roles, etc.

• Begin Implementing the Plan of Action.

PART IIInternet Survey

Results

Purpose of the Survey• Identify tax and budget activities in

which nonprofits are currently actively engaged

• Assess the importance of launching a long-term proactive initiative on federal tax and budget issues

• Identify the goals and activities that should be undertaken

• What are the challenges to success, and what it takes to get groups to participate

About the Internet Survey

• Not a Random Sample

• Over 700 Respondents with Diversity in Respondent Pool

• Respondents From Every State But Nebraska

• Survey Conducted Between January 13 – February 4, 2004

Not a Random Sample• Sources of Bias

– Technology / Internet access– OMB Watch Network / Email notification

• Distributed by CDF, CHN, NCNA, NCRP, United Way, FTFA, OMB Watch, and other state/national groups

• Not representative of overall nonprofit population, but may be more representative of progressive groups

– Self-Selection • Likely to be more interested in tax and budget work

• However, there was significant diversity in the respondent pool

Survey Respondents• 63% of Respondents Were 501(c)(3)

Groups; 10% government; 9% foundations; 7% 501(c)(4)s; 9% other

• 45% Said Their Primary Activity Was Service Provision

• 42% Said Their Primary Activity Was Advocacy Or Public Interest Work

• 42% Said Their Primary Mission Was Serving Children, Youth & Families

Survey Respondents: Scope

Primary Geographic Scope

37%

21%

12%

5%

25%

Local State National Regional Intl

9 6

11 7

13 9

21 14

25 19

23 23

0 10 20 30 40 50%

1

2

3

4

5

6

Somewhat Often Very Often

What Are Groups Doing Now?Over the past year, in what ways has your organization gotten involved in tax and budget issues?

Communicated w/ Members or Public to Support or Oppose Tax/Budget Issue

Communicated w/ Policy-maker to Support or Oppose State Tax/Budget Issue

Communicated w/ Policy-maker to Support or Oppose Federal Tax/Budget Issue

Communicated w/ News Media to Support or Oppose State Tax/Budget Issue

Communicated w/ News Media to Support or Oppose Federal Tax/Budget Issue

Released Research Reports/ Analyses on Tax/Budget

46%

44%

35%

22%

18%

15%

Strong Support for aTax & Budget Campaign

90% of respondents say it is time to launch a longer-term offensive campaign on federal tax and budget issues.

34 56

0 20 40 60 80 100

%

Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

90%

Given limited time and resources and the fact that there are many other important issues, do you agree or disagree that it is time to launch a long-term offensive campaign around federal tax and budget issues?

36 54

47 47

41 53

35 60

36 60

0 20 40 60 80 100

%

Service Providers

TA Provider

Public Education

Advocacy

Research

Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Support Strong by All Groups Organizational Mission

90%

94%

94%

95%

96%

37 51

40 49

34 56

38 52

35 56

36 56

34 59

0 20 40 60 80 100

%

Disability

NP Sector

Education

Health

Emplymt

Child, Youth, Families

Housing

Somewhat Agree Strongly Agree

Support Strong by All Groups Primary Organization Activity

Those Primary Activities Listed by 20% of More of Respondents

93%

92%

91%

90%

90%

89%

88%

Goals for a Campaign

25 16

31 39

30 45

24 63

29 61

29 61

33 60

17 77

0 20 40 60 80 100%

1

Somewhat Important Very Important

How important are the following goals to a long-term tax and budget campaign?

Tax System that Raises Adequate Revenue for Govt Services and Programs

Resources & Policies for Economic Growth & JobsIdentify & Elevate Domestic Needs & PrioritiesInsure Adequate Funding for Unfunded Federal MandatesCut Regressive Taxes that Hurt Low- & Middle IncomeStop Attack on Role of Govt & Demonstrate Value of Strong Federal Govt

Raise Additional Revenue to Address Unmet NeedsCut Govt Spending to Reduce Deficit

94%

93%

90%

90%

87%

75%

70%

41%

Participation May Be a Challenge

2821 31 16

53

34 56

-50 0 50 100

%

LaunchCampaign

Participate

Somewhat Disagree/Unlikely Disagree/NoSomewhat Agree/Likely Strongly Agree/Very Likely

POSITIVENEGATIVE

90% of respondents say it is time to launch a campaign BUT 49% say they are unlikely to participate.

Even Though 49% say They Might Not Participate in a

Campaign…

61% Say They Will Help Redistribute Information

About the Campaign

Other Ways Groups Say They Would Participate

40 38

25 24

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

%

Town HallMeetings

LobbyActivities

EditorialBoard

Meetings

Be Part ofLeadership

NeedsHow important are the following items to get you or your organization engaged…?

27 27

38 26

39 28

35 36

29 50

40 40

35 45

36 46

0 20 40 60 80 100%

1

Somewhat Important Very Important

Develop Common Messages/ Themes/PrinciplesMore Info on Fed Tax/Budget Impact on State/Local Funds

Distribute Current Tax/Budget Info

More Info on Fed Tax/Budget Impact on Issue Areas

Internet Resource Center on Tax/BudgetBeing a Part of a Network of GroupsWorkshops, Trainings, Meetings on Tax/Budget

More Funding for Tax/Budget Work

82%

80%

80%

79%

71%

67%

64%

54%

35

41

32

40

0

20

40

60

80

%

Lack ofCoordination

Limited Leadership& Org Structure

Somewhat Challenge Major Challenge

76% 72%

Top Challenges to ConfrontIt’s an Organizing Issue

Other Challenges to Confront

Relationships between National, State and Local Groups

67% say that national groups do not listen to state and local groups and are out of touch with their concerns

“National organizations often fail to form the partnership and show little respect for the amount of work being done on the local level. In addition,

national organizations are often very ‘abusive’ partners.”

Other Challenges to Confront

Top Down Nature of Federal Budget & Tax Policy

69% say the top down nature makes state and local groups feel irrelevant.

“Convincing local organizations to carve out time for working on ‘bigger picture’ issues when the day-to-day running of an organization are often

overwhelming.”

Challenges

24 12

35 24

33 34

38 31

32 40

35 41

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80%

1

Somewhat of a Challenge Major Challenge

What are the major challenges to developing and maintaining a network of national, state and local groups?

Lack of Coordination Btwn Tax/Budget Groups and Issue-Based Groups

Limited Leadership & Lack of Organizational Structure

Top-Down Nature of Fed Tax/Budget Makes State/Local Groups Feel Irrelevant

Natl Groups Fail to Listen to State/Local Groups & Out of Touch

Difficult for Issue-Based Groups to Work on Broader Campaign on Revenue

Impossible to Agree on Message/Principles to be Echoed

76%

72%

69%

67%

59%

36%

PART IIIRegional Strategy Session

Results

Hosts of Strategy Sessions

• Columbia, South Carolina (March 12)– South Carolina Association of Nonprofit

Organizations

• Chicago, Illinois (March 22)– Voices for Illinois Children

• Seattle, Washington (March 23)– Civic Engagement Project/Univ. of Washington,

Institute for Washington’s Future, & United for a Fair Economy

• Phoenix, Arizona (March 24)– Arizona Community Foundation

Five Objectives of an Initiative

1 Develop a Vision. We need the equivalent of a new social compact. Some talked about the “American dream;” others about “healthy communities.” All wanted a positive vision which serves as the basis for why we need a vibrant government with adequate funding.

2 Develop Progressive Tax Policies & Principles. The focus of a campaign should not be about taxes, but about pursuing the vision. To adequately support the vision we need a plan that insures a fair way of raising the resources to meet the vision.

Five Objectives of an Initiative

3 Change the Language We Use. More than an ad campaign, there is a need to reframe the debate and to use values-based language that the public understands and that will resonate with them. Developing these new frames and language should be a key objective of a long-term initiative.

Five Objectives of an Initiative

4 Address the Attacks on Role of Government. It is essential to not only stop the conservative attacks on government, but also to demonstrate the importance of government. The public no longer realizes how important a role government plays in everyday life. Simultaneously, we must address issues about government inefficiencies.

Five Objectives of an Initiative

5 Strengthen Civic Responsibility. Unless we engage the electorate in a more effective manner, we will fail. We will need to increase nonprofit advocacy on tax and budget issues, hold elected officials accountable, deal with mobilizing the electorate, and wrestle with the role of money in politics.

Five Objectives of an Initiative

1 Develop a Vision.

2 Develop Progressive Tax Policies &

Principles.

3 Change the Language We Use.

4 Address the Attacks on Role of

Government.

5 Strengthen Civic Responsibility.

Summary of theFive Objectives

Conference Hosted By:Center for Responsible Funding

Outreach Co-Sponsors:African-American United FundAIDS FundWOMENS WAY

April 28 Conference to Further Discuss Objectives

PART IVHow Do We Move Forward on a Proactive Long-Term

Initiative?

A Few Key Questions

1. Do You Think a Proactive Long-Term Initiative on Federal Tax & Budget Is Needed?

2. What Should Be Its Focus?

3. How Do We Get There?

The National RetreatPlanning CommitteeNancy Amidei, Civic Engagement Project/Univ of WA

Bruce Astrein, AZ Community Foundation

Chuck Collins, United for a Fair Economy

Lois Canright, United for a Fair Economy (WA)

Mike Ettlinger, Economic Policy Institute (EARN)

Erin Hardwick, SC Assn of Nonprofit Organizations

Ed Jayne, AFSCME

Iris Lav, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

Christina Macklin, MN Council of Nonprofits

Ellen Nissenbaum, CBPP

Kristin Pula, Institute for Washington’s Future

Mark Schmitt, Open Society Institute

Debbie Weinstein, Coalition on Human Needs

What Must Happen At the National Retreat for It to

Be a Success?