Annual Budget and Tax Briefing

Watch Party Goals

The purpose of the watch parties is to help state and local funders:

• Gain a better understanding of this year’s pressing federal budget and tax issues and the impact on their state budgets and economies;
• Discuss with peers the implications for programs serving children and families; and
• Consider grantmaking strategies and opportunities for collaboration with like minded stakeholders.

Why Federal Budget and Tax Policy Matters to State and Local Funders 
States get about one-third of their revenue from the federal government — funds that help pay for health care, schools, housing, roads, child care, job training, and a range of other programs. President Trump’s 2020 budget includes massive cuts to public services, shifting costs to the states and leaving policymakers with difficult choices about how to respond. Programs that support kids and families and help them afford the basics—like food assistance, Medicaid, housing, and education investments—are all at risk.

Local Watch Party Logistics

• There is no fee to participate.
• Watch parties will participate via a URL link. The only technology needed is an internet connection.
• Watch parties can view the federal budget and tax outlook presentation via live (on March 5, 2020, 12:30-2:00pm EST) webstream or as a recording at a later date.
• Participants viewing the live webstream will be on mute, but will have the opportunity to post questions via text or email during the Q&A portion of the session.
• We ask that hosts share watch party details (date, time, venue, sponsors, speakers, and number of participants) so that we can track participation.
• Watch party hosts will be recognized on the EOF website and meeting materials.

Virtual Budget and Tax Briefing for Grantmakers
[Date, Time]
[Host, Location Address]

Sample Agenda

• Sharron Parrott, Senior Vice President for Federal Policy and Program Development, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Erica Williams, Senior Director of State Policy Initiatives, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

60 minutes

Funder Discussion

Local experts will share their perspective on [state’s] fiscal landscape and how the federal landscape will affect funding for critical programs and services serving children and families in [state].   We will then have an open discussion about what this means for our work as funders and for the work of our grantees.

Local speakers may include staff from the State Priorities Partnership group in your state or other non-profit human services coalitions.  Sample questions your follow-up conversation might explore:

• How does the federal tax and budget landscape impact our state/locality?
• How do federal decisions impact the resources our state and local leaders can access for critical safety net human services, health and/or education services?
• If proposed federal changes go through, how would this impact the areas our foundations focus on and our grantmaking seeks to advance?
• What is the policy and advocacy infrastructure in our state/locality to help inform federal and state decision makers?  How is it connected to federal and state tax and budget debates?  What are its strengths and areas that need attention?
• How can we, as grantmakers, work collaboratively to ensure that decisions made about public funding impacting struggling populations and communities are informed by the best practices of our grantees?

[Add speaker names here].

5-10 minutesClosing Remarks/Adjourn

• Fiscal 50: State Trends and Analysis, The Pew Charitable Trusts, January 9, 2020.
• How much money does your state receive from the federal government? By Samuel Stebbins, 24/7 Wall Street, USA Today, March 20, 2019.
• Addressing the Family-Sized Hole Federal Tax Reform Left for States, by Richard C. Auxier, Elaine Maag, Tax Policy Center, November 15, 2018.
• Federal Aid to State and Local Governments, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, April 19, 2018.
• Federal Tax Reform and the States, National Conference of State Legislatures, April 1, 2018.
• How Much Do States Rely on Federal Funding?By Mike Maciag, Governing, May 22, 2017.