Bipartisan legislation to provide coronavirus relief to nonprofit groups has been approved by Congress and President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law. The measure also provides relief to state, local and tribal governments.

The U.S. House passed the Protecting Nonprofits from Catastrophic Cash Flow Strain Act by unanimous consent on July 9, following passage in the Senate on July 2.

The bill eases a cash flow problem by reducing the share of unemployment benefits that nonprofit employers, in particular, must pay up front for furloughed employees. It resolves a conflict between the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, under which nonprofit employers pay only 50 percent of benefits, and a Department of Labor (DOL) regulation requiring 100 percent payment of unemployment contributions for furloughed staff before aid can be received.

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Coronavirus and COVID-19

Regulation Undercut CARES Act


Many nonprofits operate as "reimbursing employers," which means they pay their share of unemployment insurance (UI) taxes by reimbursing states for 100 percent of the unemployment benefits collected by their former employees, according to a statement by the Senate Financial Committee. 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 covers the other 50.

Guidance issued by the DOL 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 new legislation clarifies 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 the change would free up much needed money to help nonprofits stay afloat.

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Bipartisan Agreement


"For many nonprofit employers, the requirement to pay 100 percent of the UI bill before securing relief exacerbates the financial impact of historically high claims triggered by the pandemic, increasing the risk of further layoffs, closures, or substantial reductions in services," according to the Finance Committee statement. "This legislation would enable states to provide the CARES Act's 50 percent emergency relief to reimbursing employers without requiring these nonprofits or other entities to pay their full bill first."

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said that "Without this fix, some nonprofits would have to make large payments to the state now–when they're least able to afford it–and then wait for a reimbursement later. This bill would make sure they don't have to wait for further relief."

Added Finance Committee member Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, "Nonprofits are on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and our constituents are increasingly looking to local nonprofits to help feed their families or make ends meet. We shouldn't be putting added financial strains on nonprofits at a time when they need this money to better serve our communities."

Nonprofits and the PPP


Congress is also considering a related issue regarding nonprofit groups and COVID-19 relief.

For small employers struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic, Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, created by the CARES Act, can be forgiven if employers use the money for payroll, mortgage, rent and utilities, and if the employer receiving the loan keeps employee and compensation levels stable.

Trade associations, professional societies and local chambers of commerce—which are classified as 501(c)(6) organizations—have not been eligible for the program. However, many groups that conduct lobbying and are classified as nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations are allowed to apply,

"Trade groups have lobbied Congress to make changes to the [PPP]…so they can be included as well," The Hill reported on July 6. Meanwhile, "House Democrats have tried to stop lobbyists from receiving PPP loans."