Even in good times, nonprofits keep people from falling through the cracks, but the demand on charitable organizations has increasingly grown in the face of a global pandemic.
“If you were to take nonprofits out of a community, there would be a lot of holes,” said Jodi Shields, executive director of the Wyoming Nonprofit Network. “The nonprofit sector is in many ways, on a day-to-day basis, kind of hidden. Unless you see a human need, you may not know that a food bank is there 365 days a year.”
kAm%96 D2>6 :D ECF6 7@C ?@?AC@7:ED E92E C6DA@?5 E@ @E96C 7C@?E=:?6 ?665D[ =:<6 $96C:52?’D p5G@424J 2?5 #6D@FC46 r6?E6C[ E96 $96C:52? u@DE6C !2C6?E tI492?86 2?5 %96 u@@5 vC@FA] q69:?5 E9@D6 7C@?E=:?6 286?4:6D 2C6 ?@?AC@7:ED =:<6 >FD6F>D[ 2CED @C82?:K2E:@?D 2?5 27E6C\D49@@= 2?5 DF>>6C AC@8C2>>:?8 E92E 9@=5 2 4@>>F?:EJ E@86E96C] %9@D6 DFAA@CE E96 H@C<7@C46[ 4@?EC:3FE6 E@ @FC BF2=:EJ @7 =:76 2?5 <66A @FC DA:C:ED FA H96? E:>6D 2C6 E@F89]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 E96 E@H? E92E H6 2C6[ H6 2C6 E96 4@>>F?:EJ E92E H6 2C6[ 3642FD6 @7 E96 C:49?6DD 2?5 E96 56AE9 @7 @FC ?@?AC@7:ED[ 2?5 3642FD6 @7 E96 4F=EFC6 2?5 E96 9:DE@CJ[” D2:5 p>J p=3C649E[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 r6?E6C 7@C 2 ':E2= r@>>F?:EJ]k^Am
kAm“(96? A6@A=6 4@>6 96C6[ E96J 42?’E 36=:6G6 9@H >F49 :D 8@:?8 @? :? $96C:52?] (96E96C :E :D $pvt @C E96 (*~ %962E6C[ @C E96 $96C:52? r@>>F?:EJ {2?5 %CFDE … E96 >FD6F>D[ ;FDE 8@ E9C@F89 E96 =:DE[” p=3C649E D2:5] “(96? H6 86E E9C@F89 E9:D[ 2?5 H6 H:==[ E9@D6 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E ?@?AC@7:ED 2D 72C 2D ECJ:?8 E@ <66A @FC DA:C:ED FA[ <66A:?8 @FC <:5D 6?82865 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ <66A @FC 4@>>F?:EJ E9C:G:?8]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= r@F?4:= 7@C }@?AC@7:ED[ E96C6 2C6 2C@F?5 `]b >:==:@? 492C:E23=6 ?@?AC@7:ED :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D[ >2?J H@C<:?8 E@ 7665[ 962=[ D96=E6C[ 65F42E6[ :?DA:C6[ 6?=:89E6? 2?5 ?FCEFC6 A6@A=6 @7 6G6CJ 286[ 86?56C[ C246 2?5 D@4:@64@?@>:4 DE2EFD 5FC:?8 E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4] %96J 7@DE6C 4:G:4 6?8286>6?E 2?5 =6256CD9:A[ 5C:G6 64@?@>:4 8C@HE9 2?5 DEC6?8E96? E96 723C:4 @7 >2?J 4@>>F?:E:6D]k^Am
kAmx? 2 DA64:2= =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? :? |2J[ v@G] |2C< v@C5@? 4C62E65 E9C66 8C2?E AC@8C2>D E@ 5:DEC:3FE6 Sbad >:==:@? @7 (J@>:?8VD S`]ad 3:==:@? 2==@42E:@? 7C@> E96 7656C2= r@C@?2G:CFD p:5[ #6=:67 2?5 t4@?@>:4 $64FC:EJ p4E E@ (J@>:?8 3FD:?6DD6D H9@ 92G6 6IA6C:6?465 92C5D9:A C6=2E65 E@ E96 4@C@?2G:CFD A2?56>:4] }@?AC@7:ED[ 6I4=F565 7C@> E96 7:CDE C@F?5 @7 7F?5:?8[ H6C6 :?4=F565 :? E96 #6=:67 uF?5 2?5 E96 |:E:82E:@? uF?5] #6=:67 uF?5 C6BF6DED H6C6 BF:4<=J 6I92FDE:?8 2G2:=23=6 7F?5:?8 3J =2E6 DF>>6C]k^Am
kAm%96 (J@>:?8 r@>>F?:EJ u@F?52E:@? 2=D@ 6DE23=:D965 :ED r~'xs\`h #6DA@?D6 2?5 #64@G6CJ uF?5 E@ AC@G:56 C6D@FC46D E@ ?@?AC@7:ED 2?5 @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D 5:C64E=J DFAA@CE:?8 GF=?6C23=6 C6D:56?ED 2?5 72>:=:6D :? (J@>:?8[ 3FE 3J 72==[ 2== 7F?5:?8 925 366? 5:DEC:3FE65] %96 (J@>:?8 }@?AC@7:E }6EH@C< C2:D65 Sdf`[bed 7C@> a[age 5@?@CD 2?5 `b_ @C82?:K2E:@?D 5FC:?8 (*~vx't$[ (J@>:?8’D 7:CDE DE2E6H:56 8:G:?8 52J]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< WE96D6 ?@?AC@7:EDX 2C6 8@:?8 E@ =62? 962G:=J @? E96:C 7@F?52E:@?2= A2CE?6CD[” p=3C649E D2:5] “tG6CJ@?6 92D 366? :>A24E65[ H96E96C :E H2D E9C@F89 3FD:?6DD DA@?D@CD9:AD @C 3FD:?6DD 4@==23@C2E:@?] |2?J 3FD:?6DD6D 5@?’E 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 8:G6 =:<6 E96J 5:5[ @C 36 23=6 E@ G@=F?E66C =:<6 E96J 5:5]k^Am
kAm“p?5 E96? H6 42?’E 7F?5C2:D6 =:<6 H6 4@F=5[ J@F 42?’E 92G6 E96 6G6?ED J@F 4@F=5 92G6[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAms6A6?5:?8 @? 9@H =@?8 E96 A2?56>:4 2?5 2DD@4:2E65 64@?@>:4 72==@FE 4@?E:?F6[ 6G6? 7@F?52E:@?2= DFAA@CE 4@F=5 5C@A @77[ $9:6=5D D2:5] }@?AC@7:E DFCG:G2= H:== 27764E 6?E:C6 4@>>F?:E:6D[ 2D E96D6 286?4:6D 2C6 @7E6? 64@?@>:4 5C:G6CD E96>D6=G6D[ A2J:?8 C6?E 2?5 6>A=@J:?8 =@42= A6@A=6]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 G6CJ 7@4FD65 @? E96 :?E6C?2= @A6C2E:@?D[ 3642FD6 E92E :D E96 @?6 E9:?8 2== E96D6 ?@?AC@7:ED 92G6 :? 4@>>@?[” $9:6=5D D2:5 @7 E96 (J@>:?8 }@?AC@7:E }6EH@C<’D r~'xs\`h C6DA@?D6] “p =@E @7 E96> =@DE AC@8C2> C6G6?F6[ :7 E96J H6C6 @776C:?8 27E6C\D49@@= AC@8C2>>:?8 @C 6G6?ED … E96C6 H2D 2 =@E @7 C6G6?F6 =@DD E96C6 E@@[ ;FDE =:<6 2 3FD:?6DD H@F=5 92G6]”k^Am
kAmuC@?E=:?6 ?@?AC@7:ED =:<6 E96 (J@>:?8 u@@5 q2?< @7 E96 #@4<:6D D2H 2? 2=>@DE 5@F3=65 56>2?5 7@C D6CG:46D :? E96 DF>>6C @7 a_a_] x? 2 EJA:42= >@?E9[ E96 DE2E6H:56 ?@?AC@7:E H@F=5 5:DEC:3FE6 f__[___\g__[___ A@F?5D @7 7@@5]k^Am
kAm“~FC 7:8FC6D 7@C yF=J H6C6 2E `]b >:==:@? A@F?5D[” D2:5 %@?J (@@56==[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 (J@>:?8 u@@5 q2?< @7 E96 #@4<:6D] “(6’G6 5@F3=65 2?5 EC:A=65 D@>6 @7 E96 AC@8C2>D E92E H6 @A6C2E6[ 2?5 E96 2>@F?E @7 7@@5 E92E H6 5:DEC:3FE6]”k^Am
kAmpE E96 D2>6 E:>6[ ?@?AC@7:ED =:<6 7@@5 32?<D 2C6 562=:?8 H:E9 DFAA=J 492:? :?E6CCFAE:@?D 2?5 =24< @7 7F?5:?8 E92E E96 C6DE @7 E96 ?2E:@? 92D 72465 :? a_a_] (96? 5:DCFAE:@? :? E96 :?5FDEC:2=:K65 7@@5 DJDE6> 3682? E@ 27764E E96 u@@5 q2?< @7 E96 #@4<:6D :? E96 DAC:?8[ E96 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD 564:565 E@ AFC492D6 >@C6 7@@5 E92? :ED ?@C>2= `_\`dT]k^Am
kAm“%92E H2D 2 G6CJ 42C67F= 49@:46 E92E H6 925 E@ >2<6[ E92E :E H2D E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ 5@[” D2:5 ':4E@C:2 +:E@?[ 4@>>F?:42E:@?D 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E >2?286C 7@C E96 ?@?AC@7:E] “(6 4@F=5 ?@E 2==@H 72>:=:6D E92E H6C6 DF776C:?8 7C@> 7@@5 :?D64FC:EJ E@ 36 27764E65 3J E92E 5:DCFAE:@?] (6 DE6AA65 FA 2?5 @A6C2E65 H:E9 72:E9 E92E (J@>:?8 4:E:K6?D H@F=5 96=A FD :? E96 =@?8 CF?]k^Am
kAm“s@?’E J@F <?@H[ (J@>:?8 :D 2>2K:?8 H96? :E 4@>6D E@ DFAA@CE:?8 E9@D6 :? ?665 H:E9:? @FC DE2E6 3@C56CD[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 u@@5 q2?< 2=D@ 3642>6 :??@G2E:G6 2?5 E62>65 FA H:E9 E96 u:CDE {25J’D wF?86C x?:E:2E:G6] %H@ ?6H AC@8C2>D[ u@@5 7C@> E96 u2C> 2?5 u@@5 7C@> E96 u:6=5[ 2C6 2=D@ 3C:58:?8 E96 82A[ 2==@H:?8 =@42= 9F?E6CD 2?5 8C@H6CD E@ >2<6 5@?2E:@?D E@ E96 DE2E6H:56 AC@8C2>] qFE @A6C2E:@?D 92G6 925 E@ 36 @G6C92F=65] }@ =@?86C 42? 2 =2C86 8C@FA H2:E :? =:?6 7@C 2 7@@5 5:DEC:3FE:@?]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 E@ 492?86 6G6CJE9:?8[” (@@56== D2:5] “(6 92G6 925 E@ E@E2==J 492?86 E96 H2J H6 @A6C2E6[ 32D65 @? r@G:5] ]]] %92E :?G@=G65 492?8:?8 E96 H2J H6 92?5=6 7@@5 :? E96 H2C69@FD6[ 492?8:?8 @FC 5:DEC:3FE:@? >@56= 2?5 2=D@ 492?8:?8 E96 H2J H6 56=:G6C E96 7@@5] $@[ ?@E @?=J E96 H2J H6 56=:G6C 7C@> 2 ECF4< DE2?5A@:?E[ 3FE 2=D@ @? E96 8C@F?5 @?46 H6 86E E96 7@@5 E@ H96C6 :E ?665D E@ 8@]”k^Am
kAm%96 u@@5 q2?< 92D DE6AA65 FA :ED A2CE?6CD9:AD H:E9 =@42= 286?4:6D — :? E96 $96C:52? 2C62[ E9:D :?4=F56D E96 $E@CJ r@>>F?:EJ r9FC49[ r6=63C2E6 #64@G6CJ[ %96 $2=G2E:@? pC>J 2?5 E96 r@>>F?:EJ rFA3@2C5 — 2?5 92D 2=D@ 492?865 E96 H2J E96J 5:DEC:3FE6]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 5@?6 5:C64E 5:DEC:3FE:@?D E9C@F89 >@3:=6 A2?EC:6D[ 2?5 H6 >2<6 DFC6 H6 5@ E96> D276=J 2?5 67764E:G6=J] (6 92G6 5@?6 2 5C:G6\E9C@F89 >@56=[ H96C6 A6@A=6 5C:G6 E96:C 42C FA[ @A6? E96 ECF?< … 2?5 H6’G6 H@C<65 H:E9 @FC G@=F?E66CD E@ AFE 2 3@I @7 7@@5 5:C64E=J :?E@ E96 324< @7 2 G69:4=6 WE@ D@4:2= 5:DE2?46X[” (@@56== D2:5]k^Am
kAm(96? 2 72>:=J AF==D FA E@ C646:G6 7@@5 2E 2 7@@5 A2?ECJ[ E96J 86E E9C66 3@I6D @7 7@@5[ 6?@F89 7@C 2 72>:=J @7 7@FC 7@C 2 H66<[ +:E@? D2:5] %96J H:== C646:G6 52:CJ[ AC@E6:?[ 7C6D9 AC@5F46 2D H6== 2D AC6\A24<2865[ D96=7\DE23=6 :E6>D] }@ AC6\D4C66?:?8 :D C6BF:C65]k^Am
kAm“%9C@F89 r@G:5[ H6 5@ ?@E 5:D2==@H 2?J@?6[” (@@56== D2:5] “p?J@?6 E92E ?665D 7@@5 42? 4@>6 2?5 86E :E]”k^Am
kAm|2?J A6@A=6 :? =:?6 :? a_a_ 92G6 ?6G6C 366? 27764E65 3J 9F?86C 367@C6[ 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 =25J 5@H? :? %@CC:?8E@? H9@ H@C<65 7@C 2 4276 E92E 4=@D65] $96 925 EH@ 49:=5C6? 2?5 96C ;@3 H6?E 2H2J 3642FD6 E96 4276 925 E@ 4=@D6] $96 … 925 ?6G6C C6=:65 FA@? E96 DJDE6> 367@C6[ 2?5 D96 H2D D@ 2AAC64:2E:G6 E92E D96 H2D :? E62CD H96? D96 42>6 E@ 86E 7@@5[” (@@56== D2:5]k^Am
kAm~E96CD 6IA6C:6?465 E96 @AA@D:E6[ C62=:K:?8 E96J 92G6 ?@E 366? 2D 5C2>2E:42==J :>A24E65 3J E96 A2?56>:4 2D E96:C 7C:6?5D 2?5 ?6:893@CD]k^Am
kAm“x7 J@F 2C6 =@@<:?8 2C@F?5 E9:?<:?8[ ‘x H2D 7@CEF?2E6[ 9@H 42? x 96=An’ x H2?E J@F E@ <66A E9:?<:?8 E92E[” p=3C649E D2:5] “%96 4C:D:D :D ?@E @G6C] xE :D ?@E @G6C 7@C E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 4@F=5?’E 86E 324< E@ H@C<[ 2?5 E9@D6 2C6 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 8@:?8 E@ 36 =62?:?8 @? ?@?AC@7:ED 2D H6==] x7 J@F H2?E E@ D66 FD 86E @? E96 @E96C D:56 @7 E9:D[ 2?5 36 2D G:E2= 2?5 DA2C<=J 2?5 2>2K:?8 2D H6 H6C6[ J@F’G6 8@E E@ :?G6DE ?@H] x?G6DE:?8 :? D:I >@?E9D @C 2 J62C :D >2J36 E@@ =2E6]” k^Am