A bedrock of American democracy that is foundational to how we take care of people in our communities is under attack. Imagine you’re at church on Sunday, and you make a charitable contribution when they pass the plate, just like your family has done for generations. If you’re like me, you might even teach even the kids in your family to do the same. Reasonably, you think the hard-earned money you’ve dropped in (or perhaps texted in these days!) is going to help keep the church’s lights on or fund a critical local need, such as to support a food pantry. Then, you later learn those dollars instead went to help fund the campaign of a political candidate for office who you don’t support — who you might not even know. During the next week’s sermon, your pastor then asks you to vote for this candidate in an upcoming election. This is what could happen if we roll back the Johnson Amendment — an American policy for more than 70 years that is currently under threat. The Johnson Amendment is an important provision in the federal tax code Section 501(c)(3) providing that, in exchange for tax-exempt status, a charitable nonprofit, foundation or religious organization may “not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” Since 1954, that language has served to protect charitable nonprofits, houses of worship and foundations – and the donating public. It helps to ensure that organizations dedicated to the public good in communities remain above the political fray. Keeping this practice in place is critical for ensuring nonprofits can continue to focus on the public good. Support for keeping the Johnson Amendment in place is overwhelming, based on data shared by the National Council of Nonprofits. Polls show that 72 percent of the public supports keeping the Johnson Amendment in place. Nearly 90 percent of evangelical leaders say it is wrong for preachers to endorse candidates from the pulpit. If you’re as concerned as I am about this issue, pick up the phone or draft an email right away letting your elected officials in the U.S. Senate and House know of your opposition to any change related to nonprofit nonpartisanship. Let’s keep charitable donations charitable… and not political!