Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways usually provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).
Personal note: During this very difficult time in our world, may you and yours find ways to appreciate all that is good. Happy Thanksgiving!
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2-min Update: Statehouse news and early ed grant opportunity
Watch our 2-minute highlights from our Policy Update.
Kofi Darku joins us to discuss a new funding opportunity and more from Early Learning Indiana (ELI). Kofi previously served on our Public Policy Committee during his time at Metro United Way.
Learn more about the early education capacity building
grant opportunity
to learn more about the partnership between IaUW and ELI.
Kofi Darku of Early Learning Indiana and Maggie Snyder of our IaUW Policy-Advocacy Team provided this update.
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Roger Frick (left) waits to speak with legislators with volunteer Bob McIntosh at a United Way Day at the Statehouse
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IaUW President Roger Frick is retiring
Roger Frick is retiring after a 37-year career with United Way--the first 20 years with local United Ways in Danville, IL and southwestern IN, and the last 17 years with Indiana Association of United Ways.
You may read about his journey and a bit of advice. During his tenure, IaUW helped develop Indiana's 2-1-1 network, advance early education legislation and support the foundations of the charitable sector--volunteerism, nonprofit tax exemption and charitable giving incentives.
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Legislators look at property tax issues for nonprofits 
The Indiana Commission on Intergovernmental Relations reviewed the challenges faced by local governments in communities with high numbers of parcels owned by nonprofit and government organizations. Communities are served by police and fire protection and road services, but do not receive property tax revenue from certain exempt properties.
Tax exempt properties include nonprofit hospitals, private universities or schools, arts and cultural nonprofits, human service nonprofits, churches or religious nonprofits, other nonprofits, and units of federal state or local governments. Religious organizations comprise the largest concentration of the state's tax exempt properties. In Indiana, the total aggregated tax exempt property value was $17,267,609,780 in 2014. See the IACIR presentations or a table of tax exempt property by county. See a 2014 table from Legislative Services Agency of Property Tax Deductions, Exemptions and Credits.
The "charitable exemption" includes expectations that the property is "owned, occupied, and used by a person for educational, literary, scientific, religious or charitable purposes" (IC 6-1.1-10-16). Religious organizations may fall under the "charitable exemption" or a separate "religious exemption," which includes buildings, land and parsonages (IC 6-1.1-10-21).
Proposed solutions include PILOTs (Payments in Lieu of Taxes), SILOTs (Services in Lieu of Taxes), minimum payments, service fees and more. The commission will meet again on Dec. 1. Watch this space!
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 2015 Hoosier Survey released
Ball State University's Bowen Center for Public Affairs has released the 2015 Hoosier Survey data. Key findings from the survey include: 
- Hoosiers surveyed believe that the top priorities for 2016 legislative agendas should include job creation, improving schools and reducing crime;
- 51.4% of Hoosiers surveyed believe that Indiana is headed in the right direction, while 36% say Indiana is on the wrong track;
- Only 26% say they are better-off financially than four years ago;
- 64% believe that minimum wage should be raised to $10.10;
- 72% of Hoosiers strongly support expanding a needle exchange program statewide and 63% support treatment over prosecution for illegal drug use; and
- the majority (67.5%) of Hoosiers feel high satisfaction with public schools.
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Indiana General Assembly and the 2016 session
On Tuesday, members of the Indiana General Assembly gathered at the statehouse for Organization Day. Legislators were assigned to committees and bills may be filed before December 10. Below are some resources to help you prepare for the start of session.
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- Check for legislative events near you with our Third House Calendar. Examples include:
- 12/1 - Dearborn County
- 12/2 - Greater Ft. Wayne
- 12/4 - St. Joseph County
- 12/11 - Hamilton County
- 12/11 - Muncie/Delaware County
- Key dates for session
- Org Day - 11/17
- Bill request deadline -12/11
- First Day of session - 1/5
- Bill filing deadline; State of the State - 1/12
- State of the Judiciary - 1/13
- Committee report deadline - 1/28
- 2nd reading deadline - 2/2
- 3rd reading deadline - 2/3
- Committee report deadline - 2/29
- 2nd reading deadline - 3/2
- 3rd reading deadline - 3/3
- Conference Committee begin - 3/7
- Sine die - 3/14
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Tell Congress to preserve working family tax credits
 Congress has three weeks left to complete important work--the appropriations omnibus, a highway bill and a tax extender bill.
We believe that any legislative agreement that makes any business tax extenders permanent should also make permanent the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
and Child Tax Credit (CTC) provisions. We urge Congress to close the glaring hole in the EITC that leaves out very low-income workers without children by expanding this part of the credit--just as House Speaker Ryan and President Obama have proposed.
The EITC and CTC are pro-work, pro-family tax policies that help families. If Congress does not act, 256,000 Hoosiers will lose all or part of the EITC or CTC. Married couples would face higher marriage penalties and cuts. Families with more than two children would face an EITC cut. Indiana would lose $264 million, directly impacting the pockets of workers and businesses. Childless workers in entry level or low-wage industries should have access to EITC. See our Indiana Fact Sheet.
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Grants of interest to our members and partners 
Early Education Matching Grants (EEMG) provide high quality early education providers support to increase the number of slots or increase quality. Grants are available to providers at Level 3 or 4 on the Paths To Quality rating system from counties other than the five pre-K pilot counties.
Early Learning Indiana Capacity Building Grants (described in 2-min update) aim to support capacity building and quality early education--equipment, facility improvements, supplies and startup costs for a new preschool classroom.
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Weigh in on issues important to you!
 We work to highlight important opportunities to weigh in on rulemaking or public comment periods. Here are a few opportunities.
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 IaUW Public PolicyIaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on policies that are aligned with the impact work in local communities conducted by our 61 United Ways and United Funds.
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Education, so that children are prepared for and succeed in school;
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Income/Financial Stability, so that individuals and families may achieve and sustain financial stability;
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Health, so that individuals may access quality healthcare; and
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Strong Communities, where a statewide 2-1-1 network and a strong charitable sector help communities thrive.
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Frequently Requested Links / Documents
iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.
IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.
Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.
IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.
Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.
IN211.org - S earch for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.
NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.
Indiana General Assembly
- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.
Library of Congress
- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.
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Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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