Democrats Urged to Endorse Measures to Promote Nonprofit Work

Delegates to next week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver will vote on whether to adopt a platform that includes several steps to benefit nonprofit groups, such as a new federal office and a new government fund for innovative ideas.

“Social entrepreneurs and leading nonprofit organizations are assisting schools, lifting families out of poverty, filling health care gaps and inspiring others to lead change in their own communities,” says the draft 2008 Democratic National Platform.

It proposes a Social Investment Fund Network that “invests in ideas that work, tests their impact and expands the most successful programs” and an “office to coordinate government and nonprofit efforts.

Both of those ideas echo proposals made by Senator Barack Obama, the Illinois senator who is set to win the Democratic presidential nomination during the convention.

The draft version of the party principles that are meant to guide voters as they vote in next November’s presidential race also proposes that Democrats endorse:

• More money for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

• An “unprecedented national investment” to ensure every child has access to high-quality pre-kindergarten programs, Head Start, and Early Head Start.

• An expanded AmeriCorps, new opportunities for international service, new public-service opportunities for experienced and retired persons, tax incentives for college students who serve, and use of the Internet to better match volunteers to openings.

• Health Infrastructure 2020, a global effort involving both philanthropy and business to work with developing countries to improve health conditions.

• Fifty-billion dollars over five years to expand U.S. global programs to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.

• Expansion of programs to help homeless veterans.

For more details on how the 2008 campaign affects nonprofit groups, see this special section of our Web site.