Council Connection: Updates for Council Members

Public policy news and updates for the philanthropic sector

Happening at the Council

Reminder: Register for Our Upcoming Webinar on the Basics of Civic Engagement

Philanthropic organizations face heightened attention and expectations. To support Council members, our Legal Resources team is hosting a webinar on what philanthropic organizations need to know to engage confidently and responsibly in civic engagement work. This member-only webinar will focus on what organizations can and cannot do, and how to participate in civic engagement with integrity and impact. Register today for this March 10 webinar for Council members.

Foundations on the Hill 2026

The landscape for philanthropy shifted in 2025. How is your organization preparing for what comes next in 2026 and beyond? Join us for Foundations on the Hill on March 16-19 to build the long-term advocacy skills needed to engage policymakers confidently and shape the environment in which philanthropy operates. Register today to save $130.

Foundations on the Hill is hosted and presented by the United Philanthropy Forum, in partnership with the Council on Foundations and Independent Sector.

Building Together 2026

Join us May 4–7 at the Hyatt Regency Seattle for an inspiring, immersive conference designed for professionals in philanthropy who are eager to connect and collaborate across differences. Past attendees of Building Together felt energized, connected, and ready to take this experience and lessons learned back to their own institutions. Register now.

What We're Tracking in DC

Council Testimony for the House Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Nonprofits

On Tuesday, the Council submitted testimony for the record for the House Ways and Means Committee hearing titled, ”Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond.” We clarified misconceptions about the sector and expressed our openness to working with the Committee on measures that would increase sector integrity without chilling charitable giving. The hearing was a continuation of the committee’s investigations into the tax-exempt sector and the presence of foreign money impacting U.S. politics, elections, and policy.

Reintroduction of the Workforce Development Through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act

Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Terri Sewell (D-AL) have reintroduced the Workforce Development through Post-Graduation Scholarships Act (H.R.7594), which would amend the tax code to treat post-graduation scholarship grants from certain tax-exempt organizations, including community foundations, as a charitable activity and exclude them from recipients’ taxable income. The Council strongly supports this legislation.

Take action and urge your Representatives to cosponsor the legislation.

Additional Updates

  • Last week, the Council submitted comments to Treasury and the IRS in response to the agency’s guidance and notice of upcoming regulations on Trump Accounts. We asked for clarifications and recommended solutions that would make it easier for foundations to partner.
  • The Department of Education released a notice of proposed rulemaking in January implementing provisions related to student loan repayment that were enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including those related to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The agency is accepting comments on the proposed rulemaking through March 2, 2026. Share your story: how has PSLF impacted your choice to work in public service?
  • Due to the ongoing lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the Department is adjusting the operations of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA is in an emergency operating status, which means the agency will cease all non-essential activities and focus exclusively on immediate disaster response where there is an active threat to life, public health, or safety.
  • The Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Policy Development & Research is hosting a Quarterly Update on Wednesday, March 4, at 2 p.m. ET. The update, which is open to the public, will focus on HUD’s role in addressing homelessness with an emphasis on addressing root causes, including mental illness and substance abuse.

Take Action

Your voice is powerful with your Members of Congress. Complete our current Action Alerts. 

News & Resources

Opinions expressed in these articles belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Council.

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Please feel free to reach out to any of us on the Public Policy Team with comments or concerns, or to share an issue, article, event, or op-ed you would like to see covered in a future Washington Snapshot.

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