What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Chambers of Commerce and Their Foundations

nexustaxandbusines
Aug 7
3 min read

The recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has sparked headlines for its sweeping tax changes, but for Chambers of Commerce, the real story lies in how the bill’s provisions will impact membership activities, advocacy work, and chamber-affiliated foundations.

Whether your chamber is deeply involved in workforce development, economic policy, or community giving, understanding OBBBA’s implications will help you prepare and adapt.

1. Charitable Giving Changes and Chamber Foundations

Many Chambers operate 501(c)(3) foundations that fund scholarships, leadership programs, community events, and workforce initiatives. OBBBA reshapes the charitable giving landscape in ways that matter for these foundations:

Universal Charitable Deduction – Individuals who don’t itemize can now deduct up to $1,000 ($2,000 for joint filers) for cash donations to qualified nonprofits, including chamber foundations.

Impact: This could encourage small and mid-level donors to give more.
0.5% AGI Floor for Itemizers (Starting 2026) – Itemizing taxpayers will only be able to deduct the portion of contributions exceeding 0.5% of their Adjusted Gross Income.

Impact: May reduce large gifts from high-income donors who already give at or near the floor.
Corporate Giving Floor (1% of taxable income) – Corporations will only be able to deduct charitable contributions above this threshold, though unused amounts can be carried forward for five years.
Impact: Potentially reduces spontaneous large corporate gifts, making cultivation of sustained partnerships more important.

Bottom line for chamber foundations: You may see a boost from grassroots donors thanks to the universal deduction, but major donor and corporate giving strategies will need to adapt to the new deduction floors.

2. Business Tax Changes and Chamber Membership Activities

Chambers exist to serve and advocate for their member businesses. OBBBA contains several provisions the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has championed:

Restored full R&D expense deductions
Expanded bonus depreciation
Preserved and expanded business interest deductions

What this means for chamber programming:

Advocacy wins like these create an opportunity for Chambers to educate members on how to leverage these deductions for growth.
Hosting tax update seminars, publishing guides, and partnering with local CPAs can help position your Chamber as the go-to resource.

3. Policy Shifts That May Affect Chamber Advocacy

Not all chambers are on the same page about OBBBA. While the U.S. Chamber strongly supports it, some regional chambers, like Seattle’s, have voiced concerns about local economic fit and long-term uncertainty.

Takeaway: Your chamber should:

Assess how OBBBA’s provisions align with your local business climate.
Gather feedback from members on which changes they value or fear.
Adjust advocacy priorities accordingly.

4. Action Steps for Chambers Now

For Chamber Activities (501(c)(6)):

Member Education: Host webinars, create resource guides, and connect members with tax professionals.
Advocacy Alignment: Decide if your chamber will publicly support or critique aspects of OBBBA. Staying neutral is also an option. Let your opinion be shaped by the needs of your chamber not by personal politics.
Event Programming: Use OBBBA as a conversation starter at networking events and business roundtables.

For Chamber Foundations (501(c)(3)):

Update Fundraising Messaging: Highlight the universal charitable deduction in donor outreach.
Cultivate Recurring Giving: Monthly donor programs can offset potential declines in large gifts.
Corporate Partnerships: Explore multi-year sponsorships or programmatic collaborations to bypass the corporate giving floor.

Final Thoughts

The OBBBA is both a challenge and an opportunity for Chambers of Commerce.

For your membership activities, it’s a chance to showcase your value as an advocacy and education hub.
For your foundation, it’s a moment to rethink fundraising strategies and deepen community relationships.

With proactive planning, Chambers can turn the OBBBA into a tool for strengthening both their policy influence and their philanthropic impact.

Taking time to present your members about how the bill will affect them will is a great way for chambers to show their value and commitment to their members