Support Our Industry This Giving Tuesday
As of October, more than 300,000 energy efficiency jobs have been lost as a result of COVID-19. This means that now, more than ever, our industry needs a voice—and the Building Performance Association wants to continue to be that voice for you. This GivingTuesday, please consider donating to our organization as we work on behalf of professionals in contracting services, weatherization, product manufacturing and distribution, program administration, building science, and nonprofits.
BPA is always working at local, state, and national levels to advocate for and advance energy initiatives. In spite of this year’s many challenges, BPA continued this fight in 2020. Highlights of our policy work include:
- BPA drafted and introduced HOPE4HOMES in the House and Senate. This $6.5 billion training and rebate program for residential energy efficiency upgrades passed the House twice.
- We had increases in appropriations to the House and Senate to DOE’s residential buildings programs.
- Our WAP and Workforce training bills and the 25C tax credit moved forward.
- As part of a broader response to the COVID crisis, BPA continued to engage in energy efficiency and clean energy budget defense in three states when the COVID-19 shutdown prompted several large industrial firms to ask utility commissions to immediately cut their utility bills and eliminate or reduce fees related to energy efficiency and clean energy program funding.
GivingTuesday is held annually the Tuesday after Thanksgiving and this year, it takes place on December 1. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, it has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. This year, GivingTuesday feels even more important as 2020 has turned our personal and professional lives upside down.
According to Kiplinger, Charitable, a donor-advised fund (DAF), recently released a report showing that donors are responding to COVID-19 in big ways. Fidelity examined donor grantmaking from January to April and found that donors nationwide recommended 544,000 grants totaling $2.4 billion—an increase of 16% from the same time in 2019.
Additionally, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act created increased motivation for donations and philanthropic giving, including tax deductions and small-business loans to nonprofits. One of the most prominent provisions of the CARES Act is that it allows non-itemizers to take an above-the-line deduction for their charitable contributions of $300 per person (in addition to their standard deduction) for 2020.
As part of the bill, individuals and corporations that itemize can deduct much greater amounts of their contributions. Individuals were previously limited to deduct donations up to 60% of their annual gross income (AGI). Now, given the new provision, individuals can deduct a full 100%. Corporations can deduct up to 25% of taxable income, up from the previous limit of 10%.
In a year that’s called upon individual humility and strength, it’s not surprising that it’s also been a year of giving. In this global pandemic, strangers become familiar, our neighbors have turned into friends, and our friends have turned into family. We’ve all been forced to appreciate what we have and give what’s left to those who need it most.
This is why we’re asking you this year to help us continue our work as the voice of our industry with a contribution to our cause—and our industry at large. Thank you for your support.