Nonprofit organizations are inextricably woven throughout American society, shaping our daily lives — from education and healthcare to human services and the arts.
Despite our reliance on stable nonprofit services and programs, a wave of uneasiness and uncertainty is permeating the sector. Why? Because the federal government is making sweeping changes that impact funding, staffing, policy, and capacity.
Nonprofits are well-versed in reacting to funding shifts each time an administration changes, and the end of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars was long anticipated, but the changes we are seeing today go deeper.
When government agencies and departments are closed or dramatically reduced in size and capacity, it means there are fewer people to process loans, grants, contracts, applications, and other administrative functions that enable nonprofit work. It also means a loss of institutional knowledge as seasoned administrators leave their positions through retirements, layoffs, furloughs, and terminations.
But as serious as these concerns are, one that is most perplexing is the wave of antipathy toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Anti-DEI orders are rippling through the sector, with universities making some of the biggest headlines as offices are dismantled, programs are canceled, funding is cut, and scholarships are in question.
And the impact is not only in higher education. We’re hearing from nonprofit leaders across the sector that legal counsel is telling them to scrub their websites and alter certain activities because of these orders, and in some cases, investigations.
It’s chilling, and it feels contrary to the open and free society that we have long cherished.
While it may be easy for some to say they are “anti-DEI,” separating the acronym from its true meaning, would those same people say they are against diverse people, perspectives and experiences? Against equity? Against the idea that everyone should have a seat at the table?
Language is powerful, and we recommend you use it, especially now.
If your organization is grappling with scrubbing language and scrapping programs, we offer a suggestion. Take a vote to re-affirm your mission, vision, and values. Create a statement to be adopted at board and staff meetings that focuses on the culture and ethos of your organization. Have those statements represented in board meeting minutes and in your offices.
Use language, the very thing they are asking you to change, to keep everyone grounded in what you believe to be true — that everyone your mission serves has value and that you will not waiver in your efforts to serve all.
While the website may change and your programs may be adjusted in the near term, the truths of who you are and what you believe remain constant.
The word “unprecedented” has lost some of its weight recently, but these truly are unprecedented times.
Your board and senior staff can play a pivotal role in calming the storm, remaining focused on your mission, and giving everyone you serve the confidence to handle the pressure points with clarity of purpose. Stay committed.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with you and will remain committed to advancing your missions, too.
