Poll of Voters Shows Nonprofits Get High Marks for Covid Response

Forty percent of registered voters say nonprofits have done a better job responding to the needs created by Covid-19 than the federal government or businesses. That compares with 21 percent who said the federal government had done a better job and 16 percent citing businesses, according to new survey results.

The polling also showed that 75 percent say Congress and the president should take urgent action to provide support for charities so they can continue to help communities.

TargetPoint Consulting conducted the poll of 1,009 registered voters on October 11 and 12 on behalf of Independent Sector, an organization that represents foundations and other nonprofits in advocacy work. The poll reports a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

The survey also found:

• 88 percent want Congress to raise the cap on the charitable deduction. In March, Congress enacted a $300 “universal deduction” — for the current tax year only — for taxpayers who don’t itemize.
• 78 percent support keeping in place the law that prohibits religious organizations and charities from endorsing political candidates.