The Delaware State Legislature returned to Dover on January 9th to start the second half of General Assembly 149.  Despite a slight upturn in DEFAC projections in December, concerns over the state’s ongoing fiscal health are overshadowing the development of the fiscal year 19 budget.  The sense is that there is a will among legislators to support nonprofits with a reinstatement of funds, however it is very early to speculate on if and how this would take effect.

Governor Carney shared his policy priorities in the State of State Address to the General Assembly on January 18th.  To review the full text of the Governor’s State of the State please click here.

Next week, Governor Carney will follow up the State of the State with his FY19 Recommended Budget Release on Thursday, January 25.

DANA will offer our Annual Budget Update on the Governor’s Recommended Budget on January 29th, at 8:30am, at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Please register here, it is FREE for DANA members.  We will share an overview of key funding priorities, an agency report from Department of Health and Social Services, and a discussion on the leveraging organizational advocacy during the budget cycle.

Our Key Message this year: The nonprofit sector contributes $3 billion in the local economy and employs over 40,000 people. Another 193,000 Delawareans work in nonprofits as volunteers.  Over 1,000 not-for-profit small businesses are critical drivers of economic prosperity and quality of life for our state.  DANA has created a Palm card for nonprofit advocates to reference as they speak with elected officials.  The card can be customized with your nonprofit logo.  They will be available at the Annual Budget update on the 29th.