Senate Passes Brown, Scott, Wyden, Grassley, Legislation to Help Nonprofits

Bipartisan Bill Would Ensure that Nonprofits Receive Federal Help for Unemployment Payments Up Front, Rather than Being Reimbursed Later

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Scott (R-SC), Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act, to help nonprofits, state and local governments and federally recognized Tribes remain financially viable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many nonprofits operate as ‘reimbursing employers,’ which means they pay their share of unemployment taxes by reimbursing states for 100 percent of the unemployment benefits collected by their former employees.  Recognizing that reimbursing employers would be unable to cover all of their unemployment costs, the CARES Act allows nonprofits to reimburse only 50 percent to the states while the federal government covered the other 50 percent. 

Guidance issued by the Department of Labor in April, however, requires states to collect 100 percent of unemployment costs from nonprofits up front and reimburse them later, putting a further strain on organizations hit hard by COVID-19. The Senators’ bill would clarify that nonprofits are only required to provide 50 percent in payments up front. The net cost to the employer and the federal government would remain the same, but would free up much needed money to help nonprofits stay afloat.

More information on the bill can be found here.