Dear Friend,
Today, we are reaching out to ask you to speak up in support of nonprofits.
As an interreligious education nonprofit with 501(c)(3) status, ICJS is deeply committed to fostering religious pluralism and civic engagement through dialogue, learning, and collaboration. A vibrant civil society—where diverse voices are free to speak, organize, and advocate—is essential not only to our mission, but to the health of American democracy.
A legislative proposal recently approved by the House Ways and Means Committee, Section 112209 from the tax reconciliation package, would give the federal government the authority to revoke the tax-exempt status of nonprofits it deems “terrorist supporting organizations.” While national security is, of course, a vital concern, the vague and overly broad language in this proposal opens the door to politically motivated misuse. It could silence organizations—like ours—whose work explores hard histories, challenges dominant narratives, promotes peace across difference, or engages in legitimate advocacy.
This proposal is advancing quickly as part of a larger tax package moving through Congress under budget reconciliation, which allows it to bypass bipartisan scrutiny. As of midday Friday, the bill had stalled following a failed vote in the Budget Committee, though concerns about its potential advancement remain.
At stake is not just ICJS’s ability to carry out our work—it’s the ability of countless faith-based, interfaith, educational, and advocacy organizations to participate fully and freely in American public life.
We are urging our supporters to contact their members of Congress and ask them to oppose this dangerous provision.
The quickest and most effective way to make your voice heard is to call your representative’s office.You can find your representative and their contact information here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Here’s a simple message you can share:
I urge you to oppose any legislation that would allow the federal government to revoke a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status based on vague or politically defined criteria. This threatens constitutionally protected activities and undermines the nonprofit sector that is vital to our democracy.
If you would prefer to use email, we have also drafted a sample letter that you can use.
Please take a moment to make your voice heard—and help us protect the future of civic life in this country.
With warm regards,
Heather Miller Rubens, Ph.D.
Executive Director and Roman Catholic Scholar
Institute for Islamic, Christian, and Jewish Studies (ICJS)