(Raleigh, N.C.) Close to 200 staff, board members, and volunteers from 115 nonprofits in 34 counties in North Carolina will gather in Raleigh on June 1 for the first-ever NC Nonprofits Day.  Organized by the N.C. Center for Nonprofits, nonprofits will meet with legislators to promote their causes, educate policymakers about the economic impact of North Carolina’s nonprofit sector, and attend committee hearings to learn more about potential policy developments that could affect their organizations.  Representatives from the N.C. Center and United Way of North Carolina will provide a briefing on nonprofit sector public policy issues and basic advocacy skills training.  These sessions are open to nonprofits and the media.

“Nonprofits are the backbones of communities across North Carolina,” said Jane Kendall, founder and president of the Center.  “Their daily work affects everyone in our state.  If they were to suddenly disappear, communities might wake up in a state of shock.  The purpose of NC Nonprofits Day is to have nonprofits’ voices heard so that legislators understand the importance of what they do and include them at the table when key policy decisions are made.”

A critical issue of importance to the Center and its 1,500 Members is the need for lawmakers to include nonprofit employers in the assistance they are considering for North Carolina small businesses that create new jobs and provide health coverage for their employees.  Nonprofits provide more than 400,000 jobs in North Carolina and put $31 billion back into the state’s economy each year, and most nonprofits have 25 or fewer employees, like other small businesses.  These employees pay income, sales, and property taxes.  Nonprofits also add to local economies by creating the quality of life that attracts and keeps jobs in North Carolina.  They are an essential part of a thriving community and a thriving state.

By establishing refundable tax credits for nonprofit employers that hire unemployed workers and provide their employees with health care, the General Assembly could provide an economic boost to communities in all 100 counties of North Carolina that are served by nonprofits.  During the recession, demand for nonprofits’ services has increased significantly, but private and government funding for nonprofits has declined.

Nonprofit leaders will also explain why legislators must protect the tax exemptions of charitable organizations.  This is essential in order to protect government.  Nonprofits relieve government of many of its “burdens” or traditional functions in exchange for tax exemption.  The modest cost of exemption is much less than the cost of government providing the services itself.  Taxes would also reduce what nonprofits can spend on essential program services.

The N.C. Center for Nonprofits (www.ncnonprofits.org) serves as a statewide network for nonprofit board and staff members, an information center on effective organizational practices, and an advocate for the nonprofit sector as a whole.  Its Member nonprofits serve all 100 counties of North Carolina.  As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Center is supported entirely by private funding, including foundation grants, business contributions, dues, and individual donors.