Leaders from nonprofits around the state were in Frankfort today to take part in Kentucky Nonprofit network's annual day of advocacy.

The message to lawmakers.

Nonprofits need more help to help them better serve their communities.

For any organizations that receive direct federal funding, it has been a year of stops and starts and funding cuts and an inability to contact someone at government who was their contact.

And that's also trickled down to dollars that may have been federal dollars that flow through state and or local government.

So even for organizations who don't get those funds directly, they may be partners with those nonprofits.

So they feel it.

So when organizations don't have the resources, both financial and human, that they need, then people don't get the services that they need.

And if they're in a real pinch, folks don't get paid.

Vendors don't get paid.

So it has a real impact on the economy.

We have been holding this event every year to really help raise awareness and serve as a reminder to the legislature that nonprofits, charitable nonprofits are an incredible resource for them, and drafting and implementing good policy.

And this year in particular, we are advocating on behalf of a couple bills.

Primary one is House Bill 480, which put some recently created regulations around prompt payment for nonprofit grants and contracts with the state.

Our goal is to put those in the law, in the statute, with this legislation.

And again, it's just education.

Nonprofits employ 1 in 10 Kentuckians.

We are the fourth largest private sector employer in the Commonwealth.

And so it's the quality of life and the programs nonprofits deliver.

Definitely important economic impact as important nonprofits are employing people.

Nonprofits are helping people participate in the workforce, transportation, housing, job training.

So we try to get to Frankfort at least once a year to be sure that legislators know we're here as a resource, we're here as a partner, and we're watching.

We want to see Kentucky community strong.

And when nonprofits are strong, our communities are strong.

Nonprofits are backbones of Kentucky.

We appreciate all that you all do to step up and fill in the gaps that government doesn't.

Not only do you invest your time, your talent, your treasure, you also dedicate your lives to making the world a better place in Kentucky, a better place.