Contacting Your Legislators
COVID-19 has decimated Osprey Wilds’ primary source of revenue—program fees. We have been able to move forward over the last four months through deep budget cuts, federal assistance through the CARES Act, creative new programming, and generous giving by our supporters. There are two bills being considered in the U.S. House and Senate that could greatly help Osprey Wilds in different ways.
The Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act
- This bill is a bipartisan effort to increase the above-the-line deduction, from the initial $300 allowed in the CARES Act, to $4,000 for individuals and $8,000 for couples. Senator Amy Klobuchar is one of the bill’s Senate sponsors.
Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program (P4) Act
This bill would allow small businesses and nonprofits who already received a PPP loan to apply for a second loan from the unused $120 billion in funding (from an initial $630 billion).
You can help Osprey Wilds, and other nonprofits you support, by contacting your federal legislators to voice your support of these bills.
Contacting your elected representatives is easy—a phone call or email will only take a few minutes and doesn’t require extensive preparation. Contacting your elected representatives is effective—your simple statement will demonstrate your commitment to a cause and help your representatives know where their constituency stands on an issue.
A few tips:
- Establish that you are a constituent at the outset of your communication. With email (or letter) also provide your full address in the contact information following your name at the end.
- Be clear and concise about what you are requesting. Your phone call will be taken or your email read by legislative assistants who field scores of constituent communications each day. One of the primary things they will do is tally responses, e.g., count how many constituents support a bill. Unique or compelling messages may be shared with the legislator. The example phone call and email below include language about two Acts, but separate communications for each Act are advised.
- Include a call to action, e.g., vote for passage of a bill.
- Responses to email messages vary by office; you might receive responses from some offices, none from others.
Find contact information for your representatives:
This example includes language about both the Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program Act (P4) and the Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act (UGPRA).
Identify yourself, establish your relationship with the senator or representative, and explain why you are calling:
"Hello, my name is _______, and I am calling as a constituent of REPRESENTIVE/SENATOR _______ to urge HIS/HER support of the Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program Act/Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act.”
Establish why you are concerned and offer any special perspective you might have on the issue.
[P4 Act] "It is vital that the unused PPP funds be targeted to help small businesses and nonprofits as public health concerns delay full reopening of our economy. Smaller employers with limited reserves or access to credit are struggling to survive. For instance, one non-profit I support, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, will be without its primary source of revenue as long as schools across Minnesota cannot bring groups of students to its campus near Sandstone.” [Add or substitute another example if you have one.]
[UGPR Act] “This act recognizes the need to drive more donations to charities in a time of great need. Allowing all Americans to deduct their charitable giving in 2019 and 2020 will encourage Americans to give more money away, putting it into the hands of organizations that are delivering critical services during the current crises, as well as those that are suffering from loss of program revenue because of COVID-19 restrictions. For instance, one non-profit I support, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, will be without its primary source of revenue as long as schools across Minnesota cannot bring groups of students to its campus near Sandstone. Charitable gifts will be crucial to Osprey Wilds’ survival over the coming months.” [Add or substitute another example if you have one.]
Ask that your member of Congress take action:
[P4 Act] "I urge the SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE to support passage of the P4 Act and provide the help Minnesota’s small businesses and their employees need."
[UGPR Act] "I urge the SENATOR/REPRESENTATIVE to support passage of the Universal Giving Act and provide additional incentive for Minnesotans to give generously to and through our nonprofits."
Thank the staffer:
"Thanks for your time and attention today."
EMAIL SUBJECT: Act Now to Save Small Businesses and Nonprofits!
Dear Senator/Representative [LAST NAME],
I am writing to urge you to support the Prioritized Paycheck Protection Program (P4) Act. It is crucial that the unused PPP funds originally authorized in the CARES Act now be targeted to help small businesses and nonprofits. As public health concerns delay full reopening of our economy, smaller employers with limited reserves or access to credit are struggling. According to a June 27 article in the Star Tribune, “…some entrepreneurs say their businesses may not survive until 2021 if they don’t get more help soon. Already, dozens of restaurants in the metro area have announced they will never reopen, and financial experts are predicting a tidal wave of business bankruptcies” (“Despite aid, Minnesota small businesses brace for bleak times”).
Minnesota’s nonprofits are also in jeopardy. One nonprofit I support, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, will be without its primary source of revenue as long as schools across Minnesota cannot bring groups of students to its campus near Sandstone.” [Add or substitute another example if you have one.] The funds authorized by the P4 Act could be key to the survival of Osprey Wilds and many other smaller nonprofits over the coming months, allowing them to continue playing their unique role in meeting the diverse needs of communities across our state, both during the current crises and in the better days ahead.
Please support the P4 Act and provide the help that is so badly needed by Minnesota’s small businesses and nonprofits, and their thousands of employees.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, ST ZIPCODE
EMAIL SUBJECT: Act Now to Encourage Charitable Giving!
Dear Senator/Representative [LAST NAME],
I am writing to urge you to support the Universal Giving Pandemic Response Act, authorizing an expanded above-the-line deduction for charitable giving on federal income taxes. The $4,000/$8,000 deduction will be a much-needed boost for nonprofits in Minnesota and across the nation that are facing unparalleled challenges during these times of crises. Many nonprofits are providing critical support for communities suffering the effects of the pandemic or recovering after the recent unrest. Others are facing loss of program or fundraising revenue because of COVID-19 restrictions. For instance, one non-profit I support, Osprey Wilds Environmental Learning Center, will be without its primary source of revenue as long as schools across Minnesota cannot bring groups of students to its campus near Sandstone. Charitable gifts will be crucial to Osprey Wilds’ survival over the coming months. [Add or substitute another example if you have one.]
Your support of the Universal Giving Act will encourage Americans to be more generous, ensuring that Minnesota nonprofits will be able to continue playing their unique role in meeting the diverse needs of communities across our state, both during the current crises and in the better days ahead.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, ST ZIPCODE