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  PANO
  777 East Park Drive, Suite 300
  Harrisburg, PA 17111

  Telephone: 717-236-8584
  Fax: 717-236-8767

Pennsylvania Charitable Nonprofit Caucus

What is the Caucus? The Pennsylvania Nonprofit Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral forum through which lawmakers can collaborate on legislative and regulatory issues impacting charity and philanthropy in Pennsylvania. The Caucus was developed by Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) and United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) and established on June 17, 2008 by members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The Caucus is innovation at work and virtually guarantees a seat at the table for Pennsylvania’s 501(c)(3) charities & foundations. We are excited at the prospects of what this Caucus can achieve.

What is the Purpose of the Caucus? The Caucus strives to enhance the ability of Pennsylvania’s charitable nonprofit organizations to achieve their mission on behalf of the Commonwealth, their local communities, and those they serve. To accomplish this goal, the Caucus monitors legislative and regulatory issues that impact Pennsylvania’s nonprofit sector and serves as a resource for information, education, vision and advocacy on these issues. The Caucus works to spark a newfound and directed sense of corporate citizenship, promote charitable governance standards, encourage volunteerism, and enhance opportunities for charitable giving.

Who is the Caucus? The Caucus is chaired by, PA Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D-19), State Rep. Mario Scavello (R-176) and Senator Michael Brubaker (R-36). The Caucus focuses primarily on issues that globally impact the nonprofit sector, but subsector issues are open for discussion, and can even be addressed through a Caucus task force. As of October 22, 30 Pennsylvania State Legislators have expressed their support for the Caucus. We expect that this number will grow in 2009.

Who is the Caucus Advisory Committee? Approximately thirty statewide 501(c)(3) purely public charities and foundations representing arts and culture, education, religion, health care, human services and numerous subsectors serve the Caucus Legislators in an advisory capacity. This number will grow as the Committee takes shape. The Caucus was designed to open channels of communication between Pennsylvania nonprofits and the State Legislature, but also to open channels of communication among nonprofits --to bridge the sector. Through collaboration, the Caucus can enhance nonprofit networking, capacity and effectiveness.

How Can I get Involved? If you have an idea that could improve charitable giving, governance, or nonprofit resources, the Caucus would like to hear from you! Send your legislative proposal to the Caucus to be considered for inclusion in the 2009 Caucus agenda. Contact David A. Ross, PANO Public Policy Officer at david@pano.org  or at (717) 236-8584 for more information or to submit your proposal.

The Caucus is a new and exciting opportunity for the entire nonprofit sector. Your participation is essential to its success.

The Caucus Advisory assembled for its first general meeting on September 4, 2008 in Harrisburg. The purpose of this meeting was to address the group culture, expectations and discuss the Caucus Agenda for 2009.

 

 

Launch: The Caucus was launched on Tuesday, June 17, 2008,at a Legislative Breakfast & Press Conference hosted by PANO and the United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP), Pennsylvania Alliance of YMCAs, Pennsylvania Association of Goodwills, and the Pennsylvania Chapters of the American Red Cross.

 

 

 

 

 

From Left to Right: Rep. Siptroth (D-189), David Ross (PANO),

Tracy McCurdy (PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations) 

 

 

 

Handout about the Caucus

List of Caucus Members

Photos from the legislative breakfast.

Click here for our index of legislative issues.

PANO Legislative Action Center: This page includes links to legislation PANO is tracking, information on elected officials, government agencies, media contacts, voter registration and more.

For more information, contact David Ross.

 


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