Update On a Long-Term Proactive Tax and Budget Initiative

1
Update On a Long-Term Proactive Tax and Budget
Initiative
Prepared by OMB Watch 1742 Connecticut Ave.,
NW Washington, D.C. 20009 (202)
234-8494 http//www.ombwatch.org
2
PART IAbout the Process Were Using
3
What We Have Donesee www.ombwatch.org/article/art
icleview/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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
PART IIInternet Survey Results
7
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

8
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

9
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

10
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

11
Survey Respondents Scope
12
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
46
Communicated w/ Policy-maker to Support or Oppose
State Tax/Budget Issue
44
Communicated w/ Policy-maker to Support or Oppose
Federal Tax/Budget Issue
35
22
Communicated w/ News Media to Support or Oppose
State Tax/Budget Issue
18
Released Research Reports/ Analyses on Tax/Budget
15
Communicated w/ News Media to Support or Oppose
Federal Tax/Budget Issue
13
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.
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?
90
14
Support Strong by All Groups Organizational
Mission
96
95
94
94
90
15
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
16
Goals for a Campaign
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
94
Resources Policies for Economic Growth Jobs
93
Identify Elevate Domestic Needs Priorities
90
Insure Adequate Funding for Unfunded Federal
Mandates
90
Cut Regressive Taxes that Hurt Low- Middle
Income
87
Stop Attack on Role of Govt Demonstrate Value
of Strong Federal Govt
75
70
Raise Additional Revenue to Address Unmet Needs
41
Cut Govt Spending to Reduce Deficit
17
Participation May Be a Challenge
90 of respondents say it is time to launch a
campaign BUT 49 say they are unlikely to
participate.
POSITIVE
NEGATIVE
18
Even Though 49 say They Might Not Participate in
a Campaign61 Say They Will Help Redistribute
Information About the Campaign
19
Other Ways Groups Say They Would Participate
20
Needs
How important are the following items to get you
or your organization engaged?
Develop Common Messages/ Themes/Principles
82
More Info on Fed Tax/Budget Impact on State/Local
Funds
80
Distribute Current Tax/Budget Info
80
More Info on Fed Tax/Budget Impact on Issue Areas
79
71
Internet Resource Center on Tax/Budget
67
Being a Part of a Network of Groups
Workshops, Trainings, Meetings on Tax/Budget
64
54
More Funding for Tax/Budget Work
21
Top Challenges to Confront
Its an Organizing Issue
76
72
22
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.
23
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.
24
Challenges
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
76
Limited Leadership Lack of Organizational
Structure
72
Top-Down Nature of Fed Tax/Budget Makes
State/Local Groups Feel Irrelevant
69
Natl Groups Fail to Listen to State/Local Groups
Out of Touch
67
Difficult for Issue-Based Groups to Work on
Broader Campaign on Revenue
59
36
Impossible to Agree on Message/Principles to be
Echoed
25
The Role of Foundations
81
76
75
74
56
With respect to tax and budget issues, how
important is it for foundations to
26
Foundations vs. Other Respondents
Difference between Important and Not Important
27
PART IIIRegional Strategy Session Results
28
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 Washingtons Future, United for a
  Fair Economy
• Phoenix, Arizona (March 24)
• Arizona Community Foundation

29
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.

30
Five Objectives of an Initiative

• 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.

31
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.

32
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.

33
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.

34
Summary of theFive Objectives

• Develop a Vision.
• Develop Progressive Tax Policies Principles.
• Change the Language We Use.
• Address the Attacks on Role of Government.
• Strengthen Civic Responsibility.

35
April 28 Conference to Further Discuss Objectives

• Conference Hosted By
• Center for Responsible Funding
• Outreach Co-Sponsors
• African-American United Fund
• AIDS Fund
• WOMENS WAY

36
PART IVHow Do We Move Forward on a Proactive
Long-Term Initiative?
37
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?

38
The National Retreat

• Planning Committee
• Nancy 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 Washingtons Future
• Mark Schmitt, Open Society Institute
• Debbie Weinstein, Coalition on Human Needs

39
What Must Happen At the National Retreat for It
to Be a Success?