Mobilizing and amplifying advocacy for meaningful change 

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Policywork is rarely simple, but when we come together as a sector, we can help shape meaningful change for our communities. It requires long-term strategy, consistent advocacy and a shared, values-driven vision for the future. Philanthropy Ohio has been deeply engaged in this effort, not just during this legislative session, but consistently throughout every session, by monitoring key legislation, working closely with our advocacy partners, maintaining open communication with policymakers and keeping our members informed and involved.    

We recognize that philanthropy alone can’t fill the gaps created when government support is reduced or withdrawn, which is why our collective advocacy work is so critical. The article below highlights the initiatives we've offered to support your engagement – educational briefings, issue-focused convenings and clear, actionable steps to elevate your voice and influence the decisions that shape our communities.    

We have worked together with philanthropy leaders at the national and state levels to influence policy and have signed several letters in support of this effort. Philanthropy Ohio signed on to a public statement to support philanthropy’s freedom to give and invest in our communities, submitted a letter to Senators Husted and Moreno urging them to oppose excise tax increases and signed on to United Philanthropy Forum’s network letter to Congress on the federal budget reconciliation bill. Additionally, our team informed members of the actions happening locally and on the federal level through two Policy Alerts sent out in May and one in April. Since January 1, we have hosted various policy programs designed to inform our members and encourage action. So far this year, we have engaged 434 members in these programs:    

• 2.3.25 Update on Executive Orders Impacting Philanthropy and Nonprofits  
• 2.27.25 Update on Executive Orders Impacting Immigration Policy  
• 3.3.25 Education Policy Table  
• 3.3.25 Health Policy Table  
• 3.6.25 Housing Policy Table  
• 3.10.25 Democracy Table  
• 4.2.25 Philanthropy at the Statehouse  
• 5.5.25 Senate Bill 1 Scholarship Elements Explained  
• 5.15.25 Talking Policy  
• 5.20.25 Federal Policy Update  
• 6.12.25 Policy Summit  
• 6.13.25 Federal Legal Issues Impacting Scholarships  
• 7.24.25 Post-Budget Legislative Update  

Philanthropy at the Statehouse – April 2025   

Philanthropy Ohio hosted Philanthropy at the Statehouse in Columbus on April 2, bringing together funders to engage in person with members of the General Assembly during crucial budget discussions. Meetings with elected officials focused on critical topics such as the state budget and legislation affecting community foundations' ability to accept public school funds.     

A keynote lunch session and early afternoon programming at The Athletic Club of Columbus provided insights from public policy experts, an overview of the current legislative landscape and discussions about the issues facing Ohio from Charles F. Kettering Foundation, The Center for Community Solutions, Byers, Minton & Associates, Ohio Association of Nonprofit Organizations and ​​Human Services Chamber of Franklin County.   

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“Philanthropy can’t address the large issues alone,” said United Way of Licking County Executive Director Deb Dingus. “As an executive director for a United Way, I will continue to engage and invite government, corporations and those with lived experience into conversation. Together we can do more.”

The Philanthropy at the Statehouse event, first held in 2023 and again in 2025, demonstrates the importance of funders engaging with legislators and agency leaders to share stories of what foundations are doing and increasing policymakers’ understanding of the role of philanthropy in their communities.   

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 “My biggest takeaway is confirmation that now is not the time to put our heads down and simply do the work; instead, we must engage in opportunities such as Philanthropy at the Statehouse to strengthen relationships to meet these challenging times head-on,” said Wean Foundation President Jennifer E. Roller. “We’ve already begun to engage our legislators more intentionally and consistently. We’ve followed up with information to support the various topics discussed during our visit, reached out via email and phone to bring awareness to relevant issues and invited our representatives to upcoming events.”

Policy Summit – June 2025   

At the Policy Summit held on June 12, members gathered in person at the Charles F. Kettering Foundation in Dayton to discuss the year’s critical issues related to the philanthropic sector, democracy, education, health and housing and strategize the role of philanthropy in a changing public sector. Moderated by Ashlee Young from Interact for Health, a panel including Casey Krell from Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley, Jill Miller from bi3 Fund and Dr. Renée Willis from the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation shared insights on how recent state and federal policies are affecting their work – from grantmaking and operations to advocacy and equity initiatives – and how they are adapting. 

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“Philanthropy can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines,” said Delaware County Foundation President and CEO Chris Baker. “We have to actively champion the causes affecting nonprofits and the communities we serve. If we’re not at the table shaping decisions with lawmakers, we risk being on the menu.”  

 

John Dedrick from the Kettering Foundation delivered a keynote presentation on citizen engagement in uncertain times, which preceded the Democracy, Education, Health and Housing Policy Table breakouts. These breakouts brought members together for hands-on work analyzing risk, opportunities and exploring how to determine when to take advocacy positions.    

Philanthropy Ohio’s first-ever Policy Summit highlighted members’ energy and appetite for engaging in policy and advocacy work and the importance of our efforts to keep members informed on the implications of legislation. The interactive event was an excellent opportunity for attendees to learn how different types of funders are leading and operationalizing policy and advocacy in their day-to-day work and ways to identify and advocate for mission and values-aligned issues impacting philanthropy, grantees and communities.     

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“The Philanthropy Ohio Policy Summit was an amazing experience. It was so inspiring to be with other nonprofit policy professionals striving to make positive change,” said United Way of Greater Cincinnati Senior Manager for Public Policy & Advocacy Hailey Barr-King. “My biggest takeaway from the day was the strength of our nonprofit community and network. We are banding together, enhancing communication across the state and working hand in hand to build thriving communities. It was wonderful to see in action.”

Post-Budget Legislative Update – July 2025   

Earlier this month, Byers, Minton & Associates, Philanthropy Ohio’s government relations firm, presented an update to members on the state budget. The Ohio General Assembly passed the new $60 billion twoyear state budget in late June 2025, with final passage just in time to meet the constitutional deadline, and Governor Mike DeWine signed it on July 1, 2025. He issued a record 67 lineitem vetoes shortly after signing. The veto override session, where only one override succeeded, was held on July 21, 2025.     

Governor DeWine’s budget vetoes spanned several key areas, including property tax reform, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) education funding and pharmacy benefit manager oversight. In response, the Ohio Legislature focused on overriding the most contentious vetoes, particularly those tied to property taxes. Only one veto was successfully overridden: the elimination of certain replacement levies used by local governments and school districts. The Ohio Legislature is expected to revisit additional override attempts when it reconvenes in the fall. Meanwhile, housing advocates scored major wins: the Ohio Housing Trust Fund was preserved, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency remained independent and $125 million in new development incentives were approved to support urban and rural housing growth.    

Health, human services and education policy outcomes were mixed. The budget retained flexibility for Medicaid enrollment changes but excluded a proposed hospital assessment for the uninsured. Ohio's childcare eligibility remains at current levels, which is one of the lowest in the nation at 145% of the Federal Poverty Level. Still, a $10 million pilot program for the Child Care Credit cost-sharing initiative was funded. Positive health policy outcomes included eliminating monthly SNAP redeterminations and preserving continuous Medicaid enrollment for young children. In education, increased funding primarily favored high-performing districts, with $2.5 billion set aside for vouchers and a new Education Savings Account program. The Fair School Funding formula remained largely intact, though concerns about future shortfalls persist. A new merit scholarship and a $1 billion tax cut for high earners, partly funded by redirecting $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds to professional sports facilities and proposing future restrictions on several tax credits, rounded out the package.     

As the Ohio Legislature enters its summer recess, discussions around veto overrides and tax credit debates are expected to resume in the fall. Funders who are concerned with the outcomes of the latest budget, particularly regarding education, health and housing cuts, can take several meaningful actions. Funders can collaborate with Philanthropy Ohio to provide testimony at committee hearings, submit testimony and coordinate public messaging; support families impacted by reduced childcare eligibility and property tax provisions; and amplify voices in affected districts to raise awareness around cuts to community-serving programs, such as SNAP, childcare, Medicaid and school funding priorities.    

Philanthropy Ohio is gearing up for an upcoming member program focused on the federal budget bill and additional federal policies that impact philanthropy. Stay tuned for the announcement. On July 4, 2025, the budget reconciliation tax bill (H.R. 1) became federal law, and below is a summary of its latest impacts on philanthropy.    

H.R. 1 Reshapes Charitable Giving  

H.R. 1 resulted in mixed outcomes for philanthropy, with private foundations avoiding significant new burdens. Provisions that would have increased the excise tax on private foundation investment income and altered rules on excess business holdings were ultimately excluded from the final law, protecting key financial mechanisms for foundation giving. However, corporate philanthropy faces a potential setback with the introduction of a new 1% adjusted gross income (AGI) floor for charitable deductions. This change requires corporations to donate at least 1% of their income to receive a tax deduction, potentially disincentivizing giving and leading to an estimated $4.5 billion annual reduction in corporate charitable contributions.    

For individual donors, the bill reshapes charitable giving incentives in both helpful and detrimental ways. It imposes a cap of $0.35 per dollar on itemized deductions (down from $0.37) and establishes a 0.5% AGI floor before deductions begin, which could dampen charitable giving. At the same time, it permanently increases the charitable deduction limit for cash gifts to 60% of AGI and reintroduces a universal charitable deduction for nonitemizers, capped at $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for joint filers, broadening access to giving incentives. These changes aim to encourage broader participation in philanthropy but may reduce the tax benefit for major donors who traditionally give at higher levels.    

The bill also introduces new provisions impacting all nonprofits and specific philanthropic initiatives. A 21% excise tax now applies to nonprofit executive compensation over $1 million, potentially affecting talent retention. While concerning proposals like changes to unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and terrorism-related tax-exempt revocation were excluded, new tax credits for donations to scholarship-granting organizations and the creation of “Trump accounts” offer targeted tools for specific charitable causes. Though some of these programs may bolster certain community investments, others risk fragmenting philanthropic equity by prioritizing specific donation pathways over more inclusive, sector-wide support.    

More Work to do  

Thanks to your leadership, persistent advocacy, along with our collective efforts as a network, the final bill includes several major victories made possible by coordinated action, powerful storytelling and a steadfast commitment from philanthropy partners nationwide. However, more work lies ahead, and the philanthropic sector holds meaningful avenues to influence, adapt and improve the policy landscape. There are several ways philanthropy can respond and drive positive change through your networks, partnerships and funding.     

Although the budget reconciliation tax bill (H.R. 1) has become law, many of its provisions will require regulatory guidance from the IRS and the Department of the Treasury. Philanthropy can:    

• Participate in public comment periods to shape rulemaking, especially on ambiguous provisions like the 1% corporate giving floor, and advocate for clarity on deduction calculations.  
• Educate lawmakers with data and community stories to advocate for amending or repealing harmful provisions in future legislation.  
• Collaborate with legal and tax experts to propose clear, nonprofit-friendly implementation frameworks.  
• Mobilize public awareness through storytelling to illustrate the real-world impact of reduced charitable deductions and funding cuts.  
• Invest in nonprofit capacity-building through training, tools and support for diversifying funding sources.  
• Prioritize unrestricted, multi-year funding and expand non-monetary support such as pro bono services, advocacy capacity and partnerships.    

Philanthropy is at its best when we come together with a shared voice rooted in community. That’s the heart of why Philanthropy Ohio is here for you, and your involvement is what makes the work meaningful. We are proud to stand with you in this effort and are grateful you turn to us for trusted relationships, advocacy expertise and insights. Together, there are no limits to what we can achieve.    

As we look ahead, we’ll continue to mobilize our network to champion a bold vision for philanthropy, one that protects the freedom to give and embraces our collective responsibility to act for the common good.   
 

 Jessica Howard
Vice President, Communications & Membership
Philanthropy Ohio 

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