Since the new administration took action to rapidly defund the work of thousands of nonprofits, we have been hearing from so many of you about the challenges you are facing in helping your communities. We are working quickly to gauge the scope of any new actions, and to create and update resources to keep you informed on what is happening and what can be done.

Last week - after hearing from many of you - we filed a second suit against the administration to address funds being held up by the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Office of Management and Budget.

If your organization is still facing challenges with receiving payments from the federal government, please share your stories with us, so we can understand the different challenges and the impacts in local communities and work toward solutions.

This month’s edition of Nonprofit Essentials is focused on sharing resources for both organizations and individuals as we all work to navigate the rapidly-changing landscape together.

The challenges for nonprofits delivering services under federal grants and contracts are changing day by day. Whether your nonprofit is dealing with freezes, extra reviews, or outright cancellations, it is challenging keeping up with the changes. We are continuing to update our chart of the effects of executive actions, as well as the frequently asked questions we have been hearing from you. Feel free to bookmark those links and check back often for updates – and also share them with other nonprofits you know.

The newest resource we created addresses what a nonprofit should do if you receive a notice that your federal grant or contract is terminated. A lot will be determined by the particular agency and language in your award agreement, but the checklist linked below provides some high-level guidance on steps to take.

This is an especially trying time for many in the sector as we weather not just funding cuts, but demonization of our work. In this article, Stephen Thompson of the Headington Institute explores the emotional and psychological challenges faced by workers in the humanitarian sector during times of crisis. The lessons in the article apply to anyone in our sector, not just those doing humanitarian work. As funding cuts and program closures impact our organizations, many people are grappling with feelings of grief, moral distress, identity loss, and burnout. The piece provides practical strategies to cope with these challenges, including giving oneself permission to grieve, focusing on the legacy of one's work, taking control where possible, and establishing contingency plans. It emphasizes the importance of personal resilience and maintaining well-being through mental and physical care. Thompson concludes that, while the landscape is shifting, the core purpose of aiding others remains and adapting while prioritizing self-care is key to long-term sustainability.

We don’t need to tell anyone reading this newsletter about how nonprofits change lives for the better every day. But there are some loud voices with large followings who seek to demonize and diminish what we do. Help us combat these false narratives and tell the story of the true value and tremendous positive impacts of nonprofits.

A new report from the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) reveals that nonprofit leaders overwhelmingly report they are experiencing a negative impact from the current political climate.

The report analyzes survey responses from hundreds of nonprofit leaders, citing the negative impact on the organizations’ work, uncertainty of funding, and well-being and safety of staff as concerns from the recent shifts in policies. The report also offers insight into what nonprofit leaders say they need from funders right now.

Hundreds of people visit our job board each day, where they find thousands of nonprofit jobs across the country like those in this recent sampling. Browse jobs or list openings at your nonprofit.