It was recently my honor to represent Northwest Illinois as one of 370 foundation and nonprofit delegates, including 25 from Illinois, recently at Foundations on the Hill 2025 (#FOTH2025). While there, I participated in meetings with Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin and Representatives Eric Sorensen and Darin LaHood, among others. The focus of this trip was to advocate for our regional nonprofits and underscore to our Representatives the vital role of these organizations in our state and nation’s economy.
Hosted by United Philanthropy Forum and the Council on Foundations, FOTH is the key public policy and advocacy conference, annually uniting a cross-section of foundations, nonprofit organizations, and philanthropic leadership from organizations big and small across the country.
To begin with, and as a reminder, the term “nonprofit” applies to the tax-status of a nonprofit organization and should never be mistaken for its business model. Do not be fooled by “charity” mythology around nonprofit organizations. They are businesses contributing to our local, state, national, and international economies, right alongside the for-profits, big and small.
In Illinois, 11.4% of the private sector is employed by a nonprofit business. Collectively, that means $133 BILLION in revenue pumped into Illinois’ economy, annually. To bring that picture a little closer to home, some of our region’s largest employers are nonprofit organizations, including FHN, SSM Health, Midwest Medical, Highland Community College, the Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois, all of our public-school districts, numerous long-term care facilities, health departments, economic development offices, community, township, and county governments, the arts and culture sector, park and conservation districts … just about anything that contributes to a community’s quality of life is a nonprofit.
That is what makes the potential positive impact of The Charitable Act (HB801 / SB317) so important to nonprofits and taxpayers, both here in Illinois and across the nation. This bill incentivizes all taxpayers to give to nonprofits/charity, regardless of income level or whether or not they itemize their annual taxes. This was the standard procedure for over 100 years, until 2017, when non-itemizer deductions were eliminated, and higher standard deductions became effective.
Co-sponsored by Illinois Representatives Danny Davis (D-7) and Darin LaHood (R-16), The Charitable Act could readily resurrect stagnated giving channels for nonprofit organizations of all sizes. In a poll conducted by Independent Sector, it was discovered that 87% of voters support restoring the charitable tax deduction, and 53% said they would increase their charitable giving would The Charitable Giving Act become law.
The most consistent request the FOTH delegations received from all elected officials met with was simply this: they want to hear from those at home. They want to know your thoughts on The Charitable Act (HB801 / SB317) as well as other topics impacting the average Northwest Illinoisan – good, bad or in between. Contact information for our respective NWIL leadership can be found on our website.
Remember, Northwest Illinois: we are #StrongTogether.
