Current Initiatives

CSAE National Policy Initiatives

As you do for your members, CSAE identifies key issues on behalf of our association members and the industry, and currently we are working on two critical national issues with significant impact for state associations:

The expansion of 529 funds for certification and credentials, and
As of April 23, 2025, it does not appear that the White House is moving forward to tax the 501(c) sector including associations and nonprofits.

CSAE works with ASAE, representing a national community of 40,000 members and with the Association Societies Alliance (ASA), a high-level group of chief staff executives from more than 40 SAEs across the US and New Zealand. We are active with both organizations and involved in nearly weekly briefings to provide all CSAE members with representation at the highest levels. And, while there is good news about the continuing efforts to allow 529 funds to be used for certifications and credentials, there is also a growing threat for tax reform that could severely impact associations.

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1. *Expansion of 529 Funds for Credentials and Certifications – Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
CSAE continues the involvement to move forward a bill to allow 529 to be used for certifications and credentials. More than 900 associations across the country have shown their support, and if your association or business is not yet on the roster, I encourage you to join in. (There’s no cost.) As a state that depends on you and the more than 500 associations and they work they do across Colorado, your involvement reflects the importance of the work you do and the credentials or certifications you provide to enhance the strength of your industry.

*Thank you to Dan Streeter of Mission Fuel for creating this video.

2. Nationally there was a significant concern that associations and nonprofits' exempt status would be eliminated or impact, but according to ASAE, the White House stated it is not drafting an executive order targeting the tax-exempt status of any nonprofit organization at this time. We know that the landscape evolves rapidly.

Let us know if you want more information or to be more involved in either of these two initiatives, as periodicially we identify members who would be willing to join us in talking with legislators. We will continue to provide informational updates as they become available to all members.

Su Hawk
Executive Director
[email protected] or 720.831.9438