This page is being updated as part of a broader website redesign. If you are looking for information on an issue that you don’t see here, try the search window above, or please email us. Thank you for your patience!
Our policy recommendations to the Sherrill Administration (11/2025)
2024-25 Advocacy Plan (detailed)
2024-25 Advocacy Priorities (2-pager)
Resources
Nonprofits CAN Lobby! – Overview of IRS lobbying regulations for 501(c)(3) public charities.
New Jersey’s Lobby Disclosure Law
Charities and Elections – Read this election-season fact-sheet for information about how New Jersey public charities can safely advance their missions and encourage civic participation.
About NJ’s Nonprofit Community
New Jersey Nonprofits: Trends and Outlook 2026
Read the Report
Watch the March 4 web briefing, “The State of New Jersey’s Nonprofit Community”
National Issues
National Council of Nonprofits Nonprofit Advocacy Updates E-newsletter
Election/Voter Education Nonprofit VOTE
NJ Nonprofits Advocacy Day
On June 22, 2026, Nearly 200 nonprofit leaders, staff, board members, volunteers, partners, and advocates came together for NJ Nonprofits Advocacy Day. Together, we demonstrated the power of solidarity and shared purpose in support of nonprofit missions and the people and causes we serve for all of New Jersey. Together, we reminded our friends in government that we are partners in the important work of making a strong, vibrant New Jersey for everyone – and that we need this partnership to work for all of us.
We are deeply grateful to Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell, Assemblyman David Bailey, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblywoman Tennille McCoy, Sandra Toussaint, Theresa Jacks, and Tyneisha Gibbs for sharing their insights with us.
And special thanks to the Center team, our partners at Capital Impact Group, all of the volunteers, and to all of you who made it happen!
This was one important day. The work continues.
Center opposes draconian OMB proposed regulations
“[T]hrough this sweeping proposal, OMB seeks to upend this entire process across the federal government, applying vague and undefined standards to previously well-established grant procedures, and effectively throwing entire systems into a state of disarray. Although OMB’s stated goals of this proposal are improved accountability, transparency and oversight; clarification of the regulatory structure; and reducing recipient burden, in reality these regulations would do the exact opposite, imposing confusing and impossible conditions on grantees and within an unrealistically short timeframe.”
Read our comments to the proposed U.S. Office of Management and Budget regulations.
Read the National Council of Nonprofits sign-on letter, signed by nearly 2,000 organizations nationwide.
NJ Government Grants Reform Legislation Re-introduced
Updated March 9, 2026 – A two-bill package aimed at tackling decades-old problems with the government grants and contracting processes for nonprofit organizations has been re-introduced in the State Legislature.
A-3492 and A-3495, sponsored by Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, and S-3924 and S-2856, sponsored by Senator Angela McKnight,would implement a series of reforms to the processes that nonprofits undergo when they apply for or receive state government funds and would establish an ombudsperson to field inquiries and provide assistance to nonprofits that are experiencing problems.
Looking ahead post-election
November 11, 2024
The 2024 presidential election results have evoked a full spectrum of emotions and a high degree of uncertainty, speculation and concern.
There is much to process and many different paths and contingencies to consider as we navigate the potential impact on our communities, our organizations, and the people and constituencies we serve. With humility, we offer some thoughts as we look ahead to the coming months and year.
Law Raises Mandatory Audit Threshold for Charitable Fundraising in NJ
On January 18, 2022, Governor Murphy signed legislation that raises the statutory threshold for which an annual New Jersey charities registration report must be accompanied by an independent audit to $1 million in contributions. The new law also excludes certain nonmonetary contributions from the calculation of the audit threshold, and it provides for automatic filing extensions for certain nonprofit annual reports submitted to the state.
New law allows nonprofits to conduct member meetings remotely; removes requirement that state of emergency be in effect
January 11, 2022 – Legislation signed by Governor Murphy on January 10, 2022, allows nonprofits greater flexibility to conduct member meetings remotely on an ongoing basis.
The Center advocated for this measure, which took effect immediately.
More details
Games of chance ballot question PASSES
GAMES OF CHANCE BALLOT QUESTION PASSES! In the November 2021 general election, New Jersey voters PASSED Ballot Question 2 by an overwhelming margin. As of January 1, 2022, New Jersey nonprofits may use their games of chance proceeds for general operations. Previously, only veterans’ organizations or senior group had this flexibility. THANK YOU to all who voted for it!
NJ Charities Registration
NJ Consumer Affairs will no longer enforce donor information submission requirement invalidated by U.S. Supreme Court ruling
Updated 9/1/2021
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs has announced that it will no longer enforce regulations requiring that organizations submit donor names and addresses to the Division as part of their annual reporting requirements under the New Jersey Charitable Registration and Investigation Act. Learn more
Reminder: All New Jersey charitable solicitation registration filings must be done online
The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs in May 2018 began requiring that all charities registrations and renewals be submitted via the Division’s dedicated online portal; paper submissions are no longer accepted. The Center is continuing to work with the Division regarding the portal and other suggestions to make the charities registration system as smooth as possible. More information
Employment Law in New Jersey
Pay Equity, Earned Sick Leave, Minimum Wage and other Employment Changes Enacted
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently signed into law several important bills affecting employers of all sizes, including non-profits, in regards to pay equity, earned sick leave, minimum wage and more. Additional legislation banning salary history inquiries is also advancing through the New Jersey legislature. Learn more.
NJ Health Insurance Individual Mandate Becomes Law
May 30, 2018 – Legislation that would preserve in New Jersey the individual mandate to purchase health insurance was signed into law on May 30, 2018, by Governor Murphy. The “New Jersey Health Insurance Market Preservation Act” will require most resident taxpayers to have health insurance or pay a prescribed penalty. The law takes effect January 1, 2019. Learn more.
Don’t Weaken the Existing Ban on Electioneering by 501(c)(3) Organizations
Some public officials routinely call for a repeal of the 1954 Johnson Amendment, which bars 501(c)(3) organizations from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits OPPOSES repeal of the Johnson Amendment and supports retaining the current ban. Read why in our blog.
Property Tax Exemptions
Updated February 16, 2020 – Legislation that would help curtail arbitrarily challenges to non-profits’ property tax exemptions by limiting the ability of third parties to appeal the property tax exempt status of other entities has been signed into law as part of a broader package. The Center for Non-Profits strongly supports this provision. more information
Additional background on non-profit property tax exemptions
“Is Non-Profit Property Tax Exemption Sound Public Policy?” Presentation slides of Center executive director Linda Czipo to 4/15/2016 Seton Hall University School of Law conference
RED TAPE
Organizations Seek Relief from Contracting Burdens
Read the 2015 report from an alliance of non-profit and provider organizations outlining reforms to help ease the “stranglehold” of burdensome government contracting procedures that threaten their ability to provide services in their communities. Represented by the Center for Non-Profits, an umbrella organization serving New Jersey’s charitable community, the organizations endorsed comprehensive recommendations to streamline and improve the rules and procedures by which government contracts for services with non-profit organizations. Since this report’s release, the Center has continued to push for the recommendations. |
Government Grants
The OMB Uniform Guidance: What Non-Profits Should Know
In late December 2014, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published final guidance governing government grants and contracts that means good news for non-profits that receive federal grant funds, either directly or passed through state and local entities. Collective action will help make the promise of these reforms a reality. more information
Report: New Jersey “Worst” at Paying Non-Profits Full Cost of Services
May 15, 2014 – Although some progress has been made in the past several years, the system of contracting between governments and non-profit organizations remains rife with problems that threaten the ability of non-profits to provide services across the country, according to data released by the National Council of Nonprofits and the Urban Institute. The National Council of Nonprofits report, Toward Common Sense Contracting: What Taxpayers Deserve, examines the causes and consequences of five recurring problem areas that involve billions of dollars. The report connects new data from the Urban Institute with the experiences of front-line non-profits that are delivering services on behalf of governments at all levels, and then outlines sixteen proven and often readily available solutions to these problems, including many proposed by New Jersey advocates. |
Help END the Overhead Myth!
The Center for Non-Profits and the Council of NJ Grantmakers are joining forces to ask you to support a nationwide campaign to help end the overhead myth – the misguided notion that the percentage of expenses spent on administration and overhead should be the sole criterion for judging the merits of a charity.
Learn more and spread the word!
For older articles and information see the Center’s Policy Archive