Governor signs SB293 Media Release
The Neighborhood Investment Program (NIP) was established in West Virginia in 1996 to encourage charitable giving to local nonprofits. The program allows 501(c)3 organizations to apply for tax credit vouchers which they then distribute to businesses and individuals who contribute to their organization. By donating to approved NIP organizations, contributors can support their communities while earning credits to reduce certain West Virginia taxes. Since this program’s creation, there has been a marked increase in itemized charitable giving in the state.
If legislation to renew the program doesn’t pass during the 2016 legislative session, this program will expire.
The West Virginia Nonprofit Association and Philanthropy WV are making renewal of the Neighborhood Investment Program a top priority. We need your help in order to be successful! Below, you will find a legislative “toolkit” and other resources we have put together to help you advocate along with us:
1. Take Action: Legislative Toolkit
| Thank You Letter Template | Sample thank you letter to send to your legislators thanking them for the program and sharing the impact its had on your organization/community | December 2015 |
| West Virginia State Legislature House and Senate Finance Committees | List of State Senators and Delegates on their respective finance committees including contact information. Send thank you letters and invitations to visit your organization to see community impact and schedule visits at the Capitol. | December 2015 – January 2016 |
| Letter to the Editor Template | Sample Letter to the Editor that can be tweaked to your organization’s specifications and send to local and regional press encouraging support of the program’s renewal | December 2015 – January 2016 |
| Top 10 Values of the Neighborhood Investment Program | Talking points to use when interacting with your legislators about renewal | |
| White Paper | Summarizes position on NIP renewal | |
| 2015 WV State of Philanthropy Report | Annual report from Philanthropy WV on the state of itemized charitable giving in West Virginia. Can be used to aid talking points when discussing NIP Renewal. |
2. Spread the Word:
| Donor Survey | Send a message to your NIP donors asking them to take a brief survey to help us assess the value and impact of NIP credits. The survey is incentivized with entry into a lottery for a $250 contribution to the organization of their choice. | Immediately – December 2015 |
| Share Your Stories | We need personal stories about how your organization uses NIP Tax Credits to increase private investment, create economic/community development, improve education and health, advance tourism/arts and culture, create jobs, etc. Send your stories to: Send your stories to the WVNPA at lauralee@wvnpa.org | December 2015 – January 2016 |
| Social Media | Educate your social media followers about this program and its renewal on your organization’s Facebook, twitter, and other accounts. Reference members of the WV House of Delegates and WV State Senate using the hashtags #RENEWNIP2016 #Give2WV #SupportWVNPOs | December 2015 – January 2016 |
| Join the Coalition | Become a part of the coalition of partners. Send your email of support to paul@philanthanthropywv.org endorsing the policy proposal: “In collaboration with the WV Development Office, Philanthropy WV, and the West Virginia Nonprofit Association, we support the renewal of the WV Neighborhood Investment Program for another 5 years at the $3 million level with an increase of the program in State FY Budget 2019 by $500,000 to be in total value of $3.5 million. We are working in collaboration with the WV Development Office to propose this legislation. “ | Immediatel |
Your involvement will make it possible for us to strengthen our dialogue for education and advocacy and advance our work to ensure renewal of this legislation. The WV Neighborhood Invesment Program makes it possible for more than $6,000,000 in new charitable private gifts to be given annually, and those gifts support nonprofits across the Mountain State. The loss of this program would be catastrophic to so many organizations that provide important services to our communities. Your participation renewal is critical, and we hope you will use the resources provided to join us in advocating for this important cause.
For more information, contact the WV Nonprofit Association at lauralee@wvnpa.org or Philanthropy WV at paul@philanthropywv.org.
Thank you for your support,
Laura Lee Haddad Paul D. Daugherty
West Virginia Nonprofit Association Philanthropy WV