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Register by October 17 to Secure Your Spot!
| Registration Type | Member Price |
|---|---|
| Early Bird Registration (Sept. 11-Oct.3) | $750 |
| General Registration (Oct. 4-Oct.17) | $850 |
The political landscape in Washington, DC continues to evolve daily. Chorus America needs to hear from you: How are the federal government’s actions affecting your work? All stories of specific impact are welcome. Please share your experience here. Thank you to those members who have already shared their stories with us.
Visit our Government Affairs Resource Page for more tools.
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These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.
New Charitable Giving Rules
(Note: This information is not intended to be tax or legal advice; Talk with your financial advisor for your personalized guidance)
As choruses conduct their end-of-year fundraising campaigns, there are new rules to pay attention to. The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) passed over the summer included several changes to charitable giving for individuals, couples, and corporations. Nonprofits will need to communicate with donors and strategize the most fruitful way to navigate the changes.
Here are some of the key changes going into effect in 2026, which may change how some donors give at the end of 2025:
- For non-itemizers, the bill increases the standard deduction and adds an above-the-line deduction for charitable donations. The non-itemizers’ charitable deduction is capped for single filers at $1,000 and $2,000 for those joint filers.
- For itemizers, the bill creates a floor of .5 percent on the charitable deduction and, for those in the highest tax bracket, the value of itemized deductions will be limited to 35 cents per dollar.
- For C Corporations, the bill creates a floor of 1% for charitable donations.
Check out the following resources for more detailed information:
Bipartisan Policy Center: How the New Charitable Deduction Floors Work (Nov 17, 2025)
Giving USA: Adapting to Charitable Tax Changes; What Nonprofits Need to Know for 2026 and Beyond (Nov 10, 2025)
The Tax Foundation: Changes to Charitable Giving Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Nov 10, 2025)
Association of Fundraising Professionals: Federal Taxes and Charitable Giving (July 17, 2025)
Assistance for Arts Education Among Programs to Move Agencies
On Tuesday, November 18, the Education Department (ED) announced it will be establishing six interagency agreements, spreading out the management of national education programs. According to the ED’s press release, “These new partnerships with the Departments of Labor (DOL), Interior (DOI), Health and Human Services (HHS), and State mark a major step toward improving the management of select ED programs by leveraging partner agencies’ administrative expertise and experience working with relevant stakeholders.”
The Arts Education Alliance, which includes the National Association for Music Education, “firmly opposes this decision” stating that “Fragmenting these programs across multiple agencies risks weakening the coordinated federal support that is fundamental to providing students across the country with a balanced education.”
Read the Department of Education’s press release here.
Read the Arts Education Alliance’s statement here.
Chorus America Signs On to Oppose 10-Year State Regulation Moratorium on AI
This week, Members of Congress moved quickly and attached a provision to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to place a 10-year moratorium on AI regulations. Chorus America joined numerous national arts associations in the sign-on including the Future of Music Coalition, OPERA America, Dance/USA, Fractured Atlas, Dance/NYC, and National Performance Network.
If the provision moves forward, it would “prevent states from adopting AI regulation designed to protect artists and other workers” among many other issues.
Read the complete Opposition Letter to Congress, here.
Other Issues Chorus America is Tracking:
- Address Changes for Filing Artist Visa Petitions (as reported last week)
- Ongoing Changes & Activity at the National Endowment for the Arts, including the Arts & the Military Spotlight
- Grantmakers United for Trans Communities at Funders for the LGBTQ Community
- Action Alert for Funding the Institute of Museum and Library Services
- Arts & Cultural Advocacy Program at the National Coalition Against Censorship
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Amy Fitterer is a dynamic leader in association management, government affairs, and the performing arts. She has consulted for OPERA America and Partners in Performance, supporting advocacy and strategic planning efforts. As Executive Director of Dance/USA (2011–2020), she led its transformation into a more equitable and financially strong organization, launching initiatives like Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists. Previously, she directed government affairs for OPERA America and Dance/USA, successfully advocating for arts funding and policy improvements. A former ballet dancer and pianist, Amy holds degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. She lives in northern Virginia with her family and enjoys dance, music, and fitness.
