December | 2021 | David Robert Lambert

Archive for December, 2021

Public-Private Partnerships

2021/12/28

There is no single definition of a Public-Private Partnership, often referred to as P3. The Government Accountability Office defines a public-private partnership as “a contractual arrangement that is formed between public and private-sector partners. These arrangements typically involve a government agency contracting with a private partner to renovate, construct, operate, maintain, and/or manage a facility or system, in whole or in part, that provides a public service.”

This is an arrangement where businesses supplement public investment for the common good; each party must be as committed to achieving the others’ goals as they are to their own goals.

However, numerous interviewees told the Harvard Business Review that focusing on contract terms often set partners to act more like adversaries than allies. “Public clients prefer building iron-clad, oppressive contracts that are extremely one-sided and which start the relationship off on the wrong foot,” said a leader of a semi-governmental Canadian agency. Others said that contractors often exploit the contract terms to increase their profit at the expense of the project.

Montgomery County, Maryland, government and nonprofit service agencies are bucking this trend and are cooperating with each other.

We must have food, water, air, and shelter to survive. If any one of these basic needs is not met, then humans cannot survive. Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you” (Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7 NLT) but the pandemic has exasperated this, especially with regard to food.

Early on, a service hub was established in Germantown to provide food, diapers, and other necessities. A Food Security Task Force was established. Over 100 food-related nonprofit agencies began meeting with County personnel each and every week. The Montgomery County Food Council’s Online Food Assistance Resource Directory was updated and lists food assistance sites throughout the County. The Germantown Service Hub was successful and the County replicated it in 7 more locations.

With 1 in 10 Montgomery County residents facing food insecurity due to COVID-19, The Community Foundation’s Food for Montgomery initiative is marshaling the resources of nonprofits, faith communities, local businesses, farmers, and county agencies to increase food access and help families recover from the crisis. Grants totaling $959,590 will build the resiliency of 14 nonprofit and faith-based partners to more effectively and efficiently meet the needs throughout Montgomery County.

“The pandemic not only increased demand for housing, food, and educational supports, it also exacerbated and brought longstanding inequities into focus,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “These grants [of more than $6.2 million to 70 nonprofits] will help our nonprofit partners sustain and continue to adapt their services to support equitable recovery by providing individuals and families with what they need to survive and thrive today and for the long-term.”

The Community Foundation is specifically interested in neighborhoods and census tracts that are experiencing the highest incidences of system-induced inequities in the areas of health, homeownership, education, employment, income, and life expectancy.

SOURCES (accessed 12/27/2021)

Public-Private Partnership (P3) Basics
https://www.agc.org/public-private-partnership-p3-basics

What Successful Public-Private Partnerships Do, Elyse Maltin, January 08, 2019
https://hbr.org/2019/01/what-successful-public-private-partnerships-do

Human Needs Exploration: Then and Now, NASA
https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/162514main_Human_Needs.pdf

The Holy Bible, Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+26%3A11%2C+Mark+14%3A7&version=NLT

Community Foundation Invests $6.2+ Million in 70 Nonprofits, December 15, 2021
https://www.thecommunityfoundation.org/news/the-community-foundation-invests-in-equitable-recovery

Posted in Food & Culinary Arts, General, Montgomery County | 1 Comment »

Everyday Philanthropist Act

2021/12/11

This bill allows employers to offer certain employees a tax-advantaged flexible giving account as a fringe benefit. Flexible giving accounts allow employees to set aside up to $2,700 of their annual pretax earnings to make tax-deductible charitable contributions without having to itemize tax deductions.

The Everyday Philanthropist Act (S.3191), a bipartisan bill to incentivize charitable giving by providing Americans with an effective tax break, has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Ben Sasse (R-NE) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). Companion legislation (H.R.4585) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) on July 20, 2021.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA) was signed into law in 2017. The act nearly doubled the standard deduction and eliminated or limited many itemized deductions. The effect of the tax reform was that many people who used to itemize on Schedule A took the standard deduction instead.

Whether deductions eliminated by the TCJA or other changes have a negative impact on you depends on your personal financial situation and the types and amounts of deductions you might be able to take.

The passage of the Everyday Philanthropist Act
will help counteract some of the negative effects
the TJCA has had on charitable giving.

The Federal Government has a payroll deduction program similar to the proposed Everyday Philanthropist Act. The Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) is available to all Federal workers whether they be military, civilian, or postal. This year, the CFC is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since its inception, the CFC has raised more than $8.5 billion for charities and people in need.

A similar program for large, international corporations is provided by Benevity. According to their website, payroll giving lets people give as they earn and is by far the easiest way for them to give to nonprofits. The Greater Give says working Americans should feel inspired to give back, and that their employers should have the tools and resources to help them give.

“The Everyday Philanthropist Act would help people who give currently to give more and encourage those who don’t already give to start,” says Dan Rashke, Founder of The Greater Give. “It would revolutionize the way Americans give back and could have incredible impacts on those in our community who are in need.”