Message From the President & CEO
As I write this message, I’m enjoying my first time attending ICON, the Association of Fundraising Professionals conference. ICON is the world’s premier fundraising conference, bringing together over 3,000 fundraising professionals. The ideas and enthusiasm are flowing, and I’m feeling energized and more determined about the future of fundraising. I’ve been sharing key takeaways on my LinkedIn page and will be including other tidbits in the next monthly newsletter and our next Ask Me Anything webinar on June 9.
If you’ve been following me on LinkedIn and keeping abreast of federal grant funding trends, then you know that the picture is grim. Many federal agencies, including the Office on Violence Against Women and the Office for Victims of Crime, still haven’t made award announcements from the last federal fiscal year and new grant announcements are nearing six months past their usual posting dates. We strongly encourage you to contact your elected officials and let them know how these delays are impacting your agency and your ability to serve people.
As we navigate sea changes in fundraising, tech, and well, the world, we are adapting and adding new services to better support nonprofits. We’re highlighting our new board engagement and training package, which can help your board better understand grants, good governance, and how they can lead your organization to adjust to a rapidly-changing environment. We’re also testing operations and systems support services, helping your nonprofit become more effective and efficient by using new technology in alignment with your values, ethics, and mission. Want to learn more? Email me or complete our Work With Us form, and we’ll start the conversation.
In solidarity,
Betty Barnard, President & CEO
Resurgens Impact Consulting
Trend Watch
Federal Funding
At Resurgens, we work with many victim service providers to pursue grants from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) and the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), so we’re tracking major federal funding developments in real time.
Recent proposals from the Department of Justice signal significant changes ahead. A planned consolidation of COPS, OJP, and OVW into a new Bureau of Justice Grants (BJG) could reshape how funding is delivered—though legal approval remains uncertain. Proposed updates include a unified grant application process, standardized reviews, and a single point of contact for applicants.
At the same time, the FY 2027 budget reflects shifting priorities. While some programs—like trafficking and missing persons initiatives—see modest increases, others face steep cuts or elimination. OVW funding is proposed to drop by over 25%, with reductions across 19 programs, including the STOP Program and services for underserved survivors.
Compounding concerns, many FY2025 and FY2026 funding decisions are already delayed by nearly six months. That’s half a year without critical resources for many victim service providers.
You can read a more detailed analysis on my LinkedIn page. We’re monitoring these changes closely and helping clients adapt, advocate, and stay prepared. If you need support navigating this evolving landscape, reach out—we’re here to help.
Georgia Legislative Session
The Georgia Center for Nonprofits released a 2026 policy summary after Georgia’s legislative session ended on April 2. GCN reported that the 2026 Georgia legislative session was largely positive for nonprofits, strengthening service capacity and economic stability while introducing longer-term risks. State budgets were a major win, with investments in Medicaid, foster care, early childhood, literacy, and food access—creating new funding opportunities and sustaining critical services. However, tax changes, including property and income tax reductions, may reduce future state and local revenue, potentially constraining nonprofit funding. The failure to extend a key sales tax exemption adds costs for some organizations. Overall, nonprofits face a mixed outlook: strong near-term gains paired with longer-term fiscal uncertainty.
Recommended Reading
- Someone Else Has to Make Your Case, an insightful post from Susan Schaefer’s Major Grants Substack on how to make it easier for grantmakers to champion your proposals to their trustees.
- Federal grants can save the lives of abuse victims. $200 million is sitting unspent.
- An incisive 2027 White House Budget Analysis by the Southern Economic Advancement Project (SEAP)
- Transforming Our Organizations, Transforming Ourselves article by Sha Grogan-Brown contains many links to resources that can support organizational culture shifts
- 3 Ways to Test if Your Nonprofit’s Message Is Breaking Through Opinion piece on “philanthrobabble” and nonprofit lingo
- How can funders better support Black nonprofits for lasting change? Candid found that Black nonprofits (led by and serving Black communities) are less likely to receive foundation funding, and the disparity is even worse for small Black nonprofits
- Nonprofit Trends 2026: Collaboration Is No Longer Optional from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits
- Diversifying revenue sources: Where do nonprofits find funding? Candid surveyed nearly 4,000 U.S.-based nonprofits between August and October 2024. Among the key findings:
- Larger and older nonprofits tend to have more diversified revenue streams.
- Nonprofits led by Black CEOs and majority-Black boards are less likely to rely on earned income.
- Fewer nonprofits depend on earned income or government funding.
- Most nonprofits do not rely on a single revenue source, indicating widespread diversification.
- Revenue strategies are influenced not just by choice, but also by factors like size, age, and leadership.
- Smaller and newer nonprofits are less likely to pursue foundation or government funding.
- Nonprofits led by or serving communities of color often rely on different funding sources than their peers.
New Service Launch
In today’s nonprofit landscape—marked by shrinking government funding, economic uncertainty, and intense grant competition—we’re excited to announce brand-new services designed to supercharge your funding success and fuel your nonprofit’s work to provide health and human services and build movements for progress.
Visit our new services page to learn more. These innovative offerings will equip your nonprofit with cutting-edge strategies to navigate grant funding trends, secure resilient grant revenue streams, and amplify your mission’s impact amid heightened scrutiny and grant maker selectivity. Want to learn more? Email me or complete our Work With Us form, and we’ll start the conversation.
$500 Credit Per Referral
We have space to help new nonprofit clients! We love helping nonprofits that work in health, human services, and movement building, with operating budgets of $2M or more. To refer a client and earn a $500 credit if they sign a contract, make an email introduction to betty@resurgensimpact.com
Need Grant Support?
Get help from a team of expert grant consultants who have helped over 100 nonprofits raise more than $158 million in grant funds. Fill out this brief form and we will send a link to schedule a free consultation call!
