KNN’s Louisville Nonprofit Coalition Hosts Breakfast Event with Rep. McGarvey to Address Nonprofit Challenges

Nonprofit leaders from the Louisville area gathered over breakfast Thursday morning for an in-depth discussion with U.S. Representative Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., focusing on the pressing issues facing their organizations and the communities they serve. The event, hosted by the Kentucky Nonprofit Network (KNN) and their local alliance of members, the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition, was part of an ongoing effort to strengthen the relationship between federal lawmakers and the nonprofit sector, which plays a critical role in Kentucky’s economy and quality of life.

Sponsored by Pinnacle Financial Partners and held at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, the forum allowed the more than 170 nonprofit leaders in attendance to engage with the Congressman on topics ranging from mental health services to affordable housing, charitable giving and more. The attendees represented charitable organizations with unique missions but united by common challenges including workforce and funding shortages, declining charitable donations and volunteerism, and the complexities of federal grants and contracts.

Danielle Clore, CEO of Kentucky Nonprofit Network, opened the event, emphasizing the vital role nonprofits play in strengthening Kentucky communities. “KNN’s mission is to advance and protect Kentucky’s nonprofit sector so that you can do what you do best—serve and strengthen Kentucky communities,” Clore said to attendees. She highlighted the recent formation of the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition, which began official meetings in April 2023. “This Coalition is about action. At KNN, we believe that convening without action is simply a meeting—and while meetings have their place, this work is about creating real solutions.”

Clore also introduced KNN’s Director of Regional Advocacy and Engagement who leads the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition, Laela Kashan. She provided an update on the Coalition’s efforts. Kashan noted, “The power of advocacy and collective action is real, and together we will make a difference!” She shared that the Coalition was testifying before the Louisville Metro Council’s Budget Committee later in the day and is focusing on improving partnerships and funding opportunities, including two planned listening sessions and a survey aimed at gathering insights from nonprofits across Louisville to then share with city officials.

The morning’s dialogue covered several key legislative priorities for nonprofits, two of which Rep. McGarvey is a co-sponsor: The Charitable Act (H.R. 3435) which aims to address continued declines in charitable giving by providing a tax deduction of up to one-third of the standard deduction for all taxpayers, regardless of whether or not they itemize their deductions, and; the Streamlining Federal Grants Act (H.R. 5934) – legislation that improves the effectiveness and performance of federal grants and cooperative agreements, as well as simplifies application and reporting requirements. Nonprofit leaders emphasized the importance of this legislation in reducing the administrative burden of federal funding, which they argue hinders their ability to effectively serve their communities. The Congressman remarked that in this election year, neither measure is likely to pass, but he’ll continue to champion them.

“I know we have not been giving enough funding to our communities. We’ve not been giving enough funding to the people who need it. I told you my religion. I believe, in my life, not just in politics, we are judged by how we treat those in the margins. We’ve not been doing a good enough job. You all have stepped into the gaps. You’re the ones who are doing it and we need your help so that we can push [the legislation] so you can get the resources you need,” remarked Rep. McGarvey.

In her remarks, Clore underscored the economic impact of nonprofits in Kentucky and Louisville, noting that Kentucky nonprofits generate more than 162,000 jobs, creating nearly $27 billion in annual expenditures, benefiting Kentucky’s economy. “In addition to the important work of nonprofits, we are critical to the economy in many ways,” she noted. She also addressed the sector’s ongoing challenges, including declining charitable giving, decreased volunteer engagement, and workforce shortages, which have led to waiting lists for vital services and, in some cases, closed programs.

The breakfast featured a series of questions posed to Congressman McGarvey by Coalition members, covering topics such as mental health services, gun violence, federal grants and contracts, affordable housing and homelessness. Congressman McGarvey, who has been a strong advocate for the nonprofit sector throughout his career, responded to each question, offering insights into current legislative efforts and his commitment to supporting the nonprofit community. He mentioned one measure that has vast bipartisan support is increasing mental health services.

“We all recognize the mental health crisis, particularly in the aftermath of COVID,” said McGarvey. “This has become one of those issues in Washington that’s a little more front and center, and it is one that is no different between Democrats and Republicans, urban and rural, there are mental health problems in every congressional district in this country. We know we have to get more funding. We have underfunded mental health. We’ve underfunded a lot, but we’ve underfunded mental health significantly in the decades leading up to this moment.”

In closing, Clore thanked Congressman McGarvey and all attendees for the “life-saving work” they do. “Nonprofits are here as your partners in solving problems and leveraging opportunities,” she said. “The work of Kentucky Nonprofit Network, the Louisville Nonprofit Coalition, the Lexington Nonprofit Coalition, and additional alliances and coalitions forming around the state will amplify the role of the nonprofit sector for the betterment of our Commonwealth.”

Serving as the state’s association of nonprofits, KNN was founded in 2002 and exists to strengthen and advance the Commonwealth’s nonprofit organizations, which are essential to vibrant communities. KNN provides quality education, sharing of best practices and resources, time and money-saving member benefits and a unified public policy voice for its 1,000+ member nonprofits. The Louisville Nonprofit Coalition, launched in 2023 by KNN, is a local alliance of nonprofits focused on strengthening the operating environment for nonprofits in the Louisville Metro through advocacy, collaboration, and collective action.