Advocacy is crucial to creating lasting change in our community and addressing the root causes for inequity in Southern Nevada. At United Way of Southern Nevada, we engage in advocacy efforts because we have the local knowledge and firsthand experience to inform policy makers as they make decisions. We believe those most closely impacted by an issue or policy must be active participants this work to truly transform our community into a place for everyone to thrive.
Our work in advocacy ranges from collaborating directly with lawmakers to educating our community about the issues that affect all of us. We remain non-partisan and issue focused in all of our advocacy efforts.
Pictured (right): Samuel Rudd, Congresswoman Dina Titus, Janet Quintero
Know The Issues
At the federal, state, and local levels, we work to support measures that advance our mission and goals.
United Way of Southern Nevada advocates at the federal level following United Way Worldwide’s Policy Agenda. We advocate for issues that increase access to key resources in our community. We advocated for:
- Expanding the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
- Creating a Universal Charitable Deduction
- Expanding the Child Tax Credit
- Expanding Earned Income Tax Credits
- Education and Implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program
- Introducing the Human-Services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act
Additionally, we have worked to collaborate with our federal delegation to invest federal dollars into Southern Nevada. We are proud to worked with:
- Congresswoman Dina Titus to secure $1 million for language access to ensure Limited English Proficient Nevadans have equitable access to social services and are on a path to self-sufficiency. Learn more about our ongoing language access work here.
- Congresswoman Susie Lee to sure $850,000 for structural improvements and building rehabilitation for nonprofits providing VITA programs. These funds will go toward securing access to no-cost tax preparation services to working-class Nevadans. Learn more about our ongoing partnership with the VITA Program here.
United Way of Southern Nevada works with state lawmakers both during the biennial convening of the Legislature and interim periods. During the 2023 Legislative Session, we were proud to support the following legislation. You can read more about our work here.
- AB 400 – Revises provisions relating to education; substantially increased funding and expansion opportunities for UWSN’s Nevada Ready! Pre-K program.
- AB 525 and 526 – Appropriated federal COVID-19 relief dollars to nonprofit and social service providers
- AB 256 – Revises provisions governing students’ abilities to assume internship and other workforce development-related programs
- AB 246 – Revises provisions relating to elections; requires the Secretary of State to direct certain jurisdictions to expand the number of languages elections-related materials are translated in and establish a toll-free statewide hotline to house translation services for voting.
- AB 266 – Revises provisions relating to local governments; requires certain local and county governments to translate public notices and develop a Language Access Plan.
As we work during the interim to prepare for the 2025 Legislative Session, our priorities are:
- Expand Pre-K to align with the state government’s Read-by-Three priority and ensure Pre-K is centered in conversation around the K-12 pipeline and new Pupil-Centered Funding formula.
- Increase the capacities of the nonprofit sector by reforming the reimbursement model for state and local grants.
- Continue scaling projects and legislation relating to Language Access – including ensuring government and social services sectors have the tools and funding they need to fully support Limited-English Proficient Nevadans.
United Way of Southern Nevada advocates at the local level with our local municipalities, boards, and commissions. We advocate for:
- Removing barriers to access for all communities through data driven policies
- Increasing Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Capacity Support
- Supporting Language Access Initiatives
Register to Vote
Visit the Secretary of State’s Office for more information on how to register to vote. Make your voice count!
Who’s My Legislator? / What’s My District?
Visit the Nevada Legislature website below for more information on who is your legislator!
Share Your Perspective
Share with us issues affecting you and your community ahead of the 2025 Legislative Session!
Get Involved
We encourage you to join us for our English Monthly Nonprofit Connection Call to view presentations about local resources from nonprofits. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to share about your organization. Click here to register for the calls.
Join us for our bi-weekly Junta Comunitaria to view presentations about local resources from nonprofits and have the opportunity to share about your organization. Click here to register for the calls.
View our Community Impact Programs Map to learn which UWSN funded programs are in the districts of our elected officials.
View our Nonprofit Partner Resources page.
Nonprofits can lobby by taking the “expenditure test” to determine allowable spending. They must file IRS form 5768 and track their lobbying expenses. Nonprofits can use up to 20% of the first $500,000 of annual expenditures, with limits increasing to a maximum of $1 million.
For more information, visit Alliance for Justice.
We’re excited to champion legislation reforming the state grant reimbursement model. UWSN is working to secure up to 25% of awarded grants in advance to help nonprofits deliver services faster and more effectively. Read the policy brief* here.
Contact Henry Rosas, External Affairs Manager, at HenryR@uwsn.org if you have any questions.
*Subject to change.
We encourage you to join us for our English Monthly Nonprofit Connection Call to view presentations about local resources from nonprofits. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to share about your organization. Click here to register for the calls.
Join us for our bi-weekly Junta Comunitaria to view presentations about local resources from nonprofits and have the opportunity to share about your organization. Click here to register for the calls.
View our Community Impact Programs Map to learn which UWSN funded programs are in the districts of our elected officials.
View our Nonprofit Partner Resources page.
Nonprofits can lobby by taking the “expenditure test” to determine allowable spending. They must file IRS form 5768 and track their lobbying expenses. Nonprofits can use up to 20% of the first $500,000 of annual expenditures, with limits increasing to a maximum of $1 million.
For more information, visit Alliance for Justice.
We’re excited to champion legislation reforming the state grant reimbursement model. UWSN is working to secure up to 25% of awarded grants in advance to help nonprofits deliver services faster and more effectively. Read the policy brief* here.
Contact Henry Rosas, External Affairs Manager, at HenryR@uwsn.org if you have any questions.
*Subject to change.