By: Marc Cadin and Stephen Caldeira
DATE: May 23, 2025
Philanthropy
To the Editor: Ben Gose’s recent article “Meet the Man Who Wants to Tax Most of the Nonprofit World” (May 8) misses the mark in its critique of the Community Impact Coalition. As co-chairs of the coalition, we believe the piece overlooks the value our members bring to society.
The article repeats familiar arguments from Scott Hodge, a longtime critic of nonprofit tax structures and a senior advisor at Arnold Ventures — a $4.3 billion LLC funded by former Enron trader John Arnold, who made the company $750 million during its collapse. In the past, Hodge has dismissed trade and professional organizations like ours as “special interests,” ignoring the fact that many such groups often step in when the government and private sector can’t.
In the article, Gose writes that only a few of the coalition’s members are public charities and questions whether it would be “devastating if some of the members of this particular coalition had to pay more in taxes.” But Gose, like Hodge, misses the forest for the trees and ignores the real, direct impact these nonprofits have on America.
These organizations are more than ideological. They’re mission-driven engines of public good. They help veterans find jobs, set safety and industry standards that keep employees safe, and deliver professional education that strengthens the work force. They develop certification programs that uphold quality and trust, provide critical data and testimony to inform policymaking, and coordinate crisis responses, often while operating efficiently and effectively at no cost to taxpayers.
As just one example, consider the work of one of our members, the National Emergency Number Association, or NENA, a nonprofit trade organization that represents thousands of first responders critical to the nation’s 911 system. It sets national standards to ensure 911 calls are processed, routed, and managed accurately and offers training and certification programs for 911 professionals. Unlike its European counterpart, which receives major government funding, NENA operates with no federal funds, demonstrating that American associations uniquely serve the public interest through self-sustaining models.
This is the heart of what the Community Impact Coalition stands for. A diverse alliance of both trade associations and charities, our work is not about self-interested lobbying but ensuring that all nonprofits can deliver services that keep the country strong, safe, and resilient.
We’re not asking for tax breaks for a select few. We just want tax policy that respects the contributions of all nonprofits, including the many trade associations that quietly keep our economy moving, our infrastructure secure, and our country safe. When these organizations thrive, so do the communities they serve — in both red and blue congressional districts.
Marc Cadin, CEO of Finseca Co-Chair of the Community Impact Coalition
Steve Caldeira President and CEO of Household & Commercial Products Association Co-Chair of the Community Impact Coalition
