#nonprofits

Utterly blown away with how gorgeous the art is on these! Tempted to print them out just to have on the wall, the second to last marbled one I just want to get lost in

Gov. Abigail Spanberger just signed House Bill 167, stripping the United Daughters of the Confederacy — and other Confederate heritage organizations — of their state property and recordation tax exemptions.

A separate bill also kills Virginia’s Robert E. Lee specialty license plates. The UDC has spent over a century erecting Confederate monuments across the country, promoting the “Lost Cause” myth that romanticizes the slaveholding Confederacy. And Virginia taxpayers were subsidizing it.

Bill sponsor Del. Alex Askew was direct: “Why is the commonwealth supporting groups that rewrite history to obscure the true cause of the Civil War? A war fought to uphold the institution of slavery, America’s original sin?” The UDC called it “viewpoint discrimination.” The Sons of Confederate Veterans called ending the Lee license plate “terrible.”

Apparently, losing a taxpayer subsidy feels like oppression when you’ve had it long enough. Askew said it plainly: “A tax exemption is a privilege and not a right.” Virginia was the capital of the Confederacy. Now it’s making clear whose side it’s on.

The ACLU has a simple form you can fill out to send a message to your senators at https://action.aclu.org/send-message/dissent

I strongly recommend signing. Or if you prefer to contact your Senators directly: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm

If you don't know what to say, the ACLU link above has some good language.

While the Continuing Resolutions does not include KOSA, advocates for the bill are still pushing VERY HARD to add it to the package of bills, even going as far as to not vote for disaster relief bills if KOSA is not added to the package of bills.

WE HAVE TO CALL AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD. Below are the posts for contact info and call tools to call, email, and fax both representatives and senators to tell them to say NO to KOSA, it's important to keep up the pressure.

STOP KOSA (SENATE VERSION)

🌍 June 25th is World Decarbonization Day!

When we talk about shifting away from fossil fuels, we often think about electric grids and solar panels—but true climate resilience relies heavily on our natural ecosystems. 🌾💧

A recent Natural Capital Asset Valuation of Saskatoon's own Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (Area 2) highlights exactly why protecting regional landscapes is a high-yield investment:

🌲 Just 132 hectares provides roughly $347,600 per year in critical ecosystem services like water purification and extreme weather buffering.

🌾 Grasslands and wetlands act as massive natural carbon sponges, trapping over 54,000 tonnes of CO2e right in our backyard soil and biomass.

🛑 Converting natural grasslands to croplands or urban sprawl reduces crucial stormwater infiltration by up to 57%.

True decarbonization requires a pragmatic approach that values green infrastructure on par with grey infrastructure.

💡 What can you do to take action? For Businesses: 📊 Audit operations, shift toward high-efficiency LED/smart tech, and integrate native green spaces into corporate real estate footprints to manage stormwater naturally.

For Individuals: 🏡 Boost home insulation, opt for cleaner transit choices, and directly support grassroots conservation.

💚 Take Action for Healing and Ecology: This year, you can directly contribute to local climate resilience and community restoration by supporting the Clavet Memorial Healing Forest—honouring those affected by the tragic Humboldt Broncos accident—and participating in the upcoming ROOTED (Resilience, Outreach and One-Health, Trees, Ecology & Diversity) conference as they tackle overlooked topics in ecology and diversity.

Every strategic choice to invest in clean energy and natural infrastructure pays long-term dividends for our economy, our health, and our planet.

🔗 Read the full breakdown on the economics of natural capital here: https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com/2026/06/21/why-saskatoons-urban-forests-may-be-some-of-our-most-valuable-climate-infrastructure/

There’s a link below to write President and CEO Jamie Clark and Board of Directors Chair Mark Caylor to urge them to accept the union’s demands to end the strike, along with links to the union’s Twitter and website for more information and updates. If you don’t want to write a letter yourself, there’s one prefilled for you to sign. If you do write something, please be professional and respectful. Nothing will be accomplished through harsh or disrespectful language. Remember, the goal is to get Defenders leadership to accept the demands and you catch more flies with honey than vinegar!

People in the D.C. area may also join the picket virtually or in person at the Defenders of Wildlife office in Washington, D.C. (address: 1130 17th Street NW. Be careful! It’s really hot outside!). If you can donate to Defenders of Wildlife, you can donate and put “Union Staff” in the honoree name field. More information about the strike and how to support the union is available at their website.

The government can grant 501(c)3 status. The government cannot tell you, me, or anyone where we can put our money.

ALSO! In some states, you don't need any sort of non-profit status to *accept* donations. You just can't solicit donations (i.e. you can't even mention that you can take money in writing anywhere).

So write down your favorite non-profits. Get the contact info for as many people within the non-profit that you can. And keep giving them money, 501(c)3 or not, preferably in cash.