Give This Your Stamp Of Disapproval

You might have heard that legislation being considered in Congress could have devastating effects on nonprofits’ ability to do urgently needed work. If passed, the Postal Reform Act (H.R. 2309) would mean the near elimination of the nonprofit rate discount -- from 40 percent to 10 percent over six years. This would equate to an immediate postage rate increase on the order of 10 percent.

The net effect of the planned total reduction of this discount would be a 50 percent increase in the cost of postage, a hike that would cripple most nonprofit organizations, particularly those that rely heavily on direct mail income in order to properly fulfill their missions. At Food For The Poor, for example, this would drastically curtail our ability to raise funds for food, water and housing.

Special postage rates for qualified nonprofit organizations have existed since 1951, reflecting a strong belief in our government leaders that nonprofits strengthen our civil society. Provisions such as this are one of the reasons that Food For The Poor can operate as efficiently as possible, with 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. A 50 percent increase in postage costs will reduce our mailings by half and have a deleterious effect on our income and our mission.

We know that hundreds of other organizations would also feel these effects. With that in mind, we are asking the nonprofit community and vendors that support that community to act now.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has taken an active role in calling attention to this threat. Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor, is chairman of the DMA’s  Nonprofit Federation Advisory Council Government Affairs Committee. The group has worked to inform and engage all those who might be affected, but more help is needed.  

We urge you to tell your members of Congress and Senate how devastating the nonprofit postage rate increase in H.R. 2309 would be to the work of nonprofits that help all of those who have no voice of their own. The email and the email addresses of your area elected officials in Congress and Senate will be available automatically as you enter your own address. Simply go to this link and complete the form to help make a difference.