Senate Bill 606, The Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act
Task Force | Origins of the NPMA | Endorsers | Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting Project | Resources
With the signature of Governor Kotek on July 31, 2023, Senate Bill 606, the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, was passed into law.
Huge thank you to our bill sponsor Senator Campos and her team, co-convener Nonprofit Association of Oregon, the campaign team, the 170+ endorsers of the bill, and all those who provided testimony.
Information about upcoming Task Force meetings.
Senate Bill 606 creates the Governor’s legislative Task Force for Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting. The task force will examine how the state’s granting and public procurement practices limit the wages of employees of nonprofit organizations and make recommendations to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services concerning:
Changes to state procurement practices that will support living wages for employees of nonprofit organizations
Uniform application procedures for grant moneys that apply to each of the following agencies: Department of Human Services, Oregon Health Authority, The Housing and Community Services Department, Department of Education, Department of Early Learning and Care, Oregon Youth Authority, Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and Department of Justice
Standard contracting language that permits flexibility in contract terms and conditions and multiyear contract terms;
Sufficient reporting requirements that are commensurate with funding levels and that allow for adequate lead time for changes to reporting required within the term of a contract
Payment models that prioritize full cost recovery
A mechanism for ongoing review and evaluation of grantmaking and procurement processes
Task Force Members
Legislative Members
Senator Wlnsvey Campos
Representative Charlie Conrad
Non-Legislative Members
Svetha Ambati, State of Oregon Governor’s Office
Debbie Dennis, State of Oregon Department of Administrative Services
Mercedes Elizalde, Latino Network
Heather Ficht, East Cascades Workforce Board
Kristen Gallino, Oregon Department of Justice
Tamara Henderson, Native American Youth and Family Center
Katrina Holland, Urban League of Portland
Dahnesh Medora, United Way of the Columbia Willamette
Felicita Monteblanco, Northwest Health Foundation
Bettina Schempf, Old Mill Center for Children & Families
Marianne Schlies, Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County
Lea Sevey, Oregon Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence
Helen Wong, Meyer Memorial Trust
Task Force for Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting
One of the top obstacles standing in the way of nonprofits achieving their missions is government contracting practices and how they affect the wages of nonprofit workers. In 2023, Nonprofit Association of Oregon and Northwest Health Foundation convened a campaign team to explore a legislative fix to this issue. The 2023 campaign for Senate Bill 606, the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act, aimed to help Oregon’s nonprofits retain staff and continue providing essential services and promoting all Oregonians’ well-being.
Origins of the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act
The State of Oregon relies on nonprofits to fill an essential role. Nonprofits promote the well-being of Oregonians every day, providing for basic needs like food and shelter, offering opportunities for education and economic advancement, supporting arts and culture, protecting our civil rights and so much more.
But nonprofits face a daunting barrier to fulfilling their essential role. Nonprofits cannot exist without nonprofit employees, and nonprofit employees have an incredibly high rate of burnout and turnover.
That’s why we campaigned for the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act during the 2023 legislative session.
The original Nonprofit Modernization Act included:
Easy and simple changes to government contracting practices that can be implemented right away and have an immediate impact.
A Nonprofit Task Force to take a close look at streamlining and simplifying contracting, improving payment delivery, reducing burdensome reporting requirements, and raising nonprofit wages to improve employee retention in the long-term.
A Workforce Retention Fund to help nonprofits retain employees in the short-term.
Co-conveners: Nonprofit Association of Oregon and Northwest Health Foundation
Sponsors: Senator Campos (Chief), Senator Gelser Blouin, Senator Golden, Senator Jama, Representative Neron and Representative Pham
Endorsers
Thank you to the 170+ organizations and individuals who endorsed the Oregon Nonprofit Modernization Act! These logos represent only a few dozen of the full list of endorsers.
Nonprofit Association of Oregon has created the Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting Project. This project spans the life of the Task Force and beyond. It will continue to find ways to improve government partnerships with nonprofits even after the Task Force concludes its work. The project sets up multiple opportunities for nonprofits to be engaged in this critical work. Learn more about the Modernizing Grant Funding and Contracting Project at NAO’s website.