August 2026 Newsletter: Grant Trends, DOJ Changes & AI

Message from the President & CEO

What’s Moving at Warp Speed, and What’s Stalled

We’re living in a time of rapid, radical change. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on what’s moving forward at warp speed, and what’s stalled on the tracks.

DOJ is Halting External Peer Review of Grant Applications

The grant-seeking landscape is changing quickly, sometimes in discouraging ways. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced it would halt external peer reviews of grant applications, describing peer review as an inefficient and outdated process that relies on individuals outside the Department who may not share the Administration’s goals and priorities. This decision is especially troubling in an already backlogged and complicated system. It removes field experts—people who understand survivor-centered, trauma-informed services for victims of crime—from a process where their expertise is essential.

OVW and OVC Funding Still Unreleased

At the same time, millions of dollars in Office on Violence Against Women and Office for Victims of Crime funding from the last federal fiscal year have yet to be released, even as the next fiscal year approaches. Think about what that means. A year of helping survivors has gone unfunded. That’s a monumental setback.

How AI Is Reshaping Grant Research and Writing

Meanwhile, artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping grant research and writing. Nonprofits and grant professionals are using AI to identify prospective funders, assess fit, and draft proposals more quickly than ever — we’ve written about what it actually looks like when a grant team adopts AI, including where it helps and where human judgment stays essential. But increased output has also meant an eye-popping volume of applications for funders to review, many of them written in language that feels increasingly familiar and formulaic. In response, some funders are narrowing access through invitation-only processes or prioritizing current grantees.

Technology Can’t Replace Trust-Based Relationships

Technology can help us work faster, but it cannot replace relationships based on trust. More than ever, successful grant seeking is rooted in relationships built through time, intention, credibility, and consistent effort — the case for why strategy, relationships, and readiness matter more than ever in an uncertain funding landscape.

A Three-Month Sabbatical: Practicing Radical Rest

I have been sitting with these changes during a pivotal season of my own. On Friday, September 4, I will begin a three-month sabbatical—an intentional practice of radical rest. I am excited, nervous, and, mostly, well-prepared.

As a small-business owner, preparing to step away has been emotionally challenging. I wanted to ensure that our clients and staff would feel supported, and I have carried the understandable worry of leaving the business in a strong position. But now that the time has arrived, I can say with confidence: we are ready.

Leadership While I’m Away — Naomi Hattaway as Acting CEO

I have tremendous faith in our talented, capable team and know they will continue providing excellent service and support to our nonprofit clients. While I am away, Naomi Hattaway of 8th and Home will serve as our Acting CEO, guiding key decisions and supporting our staff and clients. If you email me, it will be routed to Naomi or another team member.

Resurgens Turns 11 This October

Resurgens turns 11 this October, and I am deeply proud that we are still here: serving nonprofits whose missions move communities forward through grant writing, research, and customized strategy. When I return on November 30, I look forward to coming back restored, grounded, and ready to dive in.

Thank you to everyone who has offered encouragement and support. This is a big, scary leap—and I feel held. I hope you do too. Nonprofits shoulder an enormous burden and do critical work to help people who’ve been harmed and change the systems that harm them. If you need support, reach out to us. We’re here to help.

See you in December,

Betty

Trend Watch: Grant Landscape Changes and Updates

Here’s what you need to know about the grant landscape changes, updates, and trends:

Unrestricted Foundation Funding Jumps From 20% to 38%

Unrestricted foundation funding rose from a long-standing 20% to 38% in 2025—a major shift toward the flexibility nonprofits have sought for decades. Yet 52% of foundation leaders say they should provide more large, multiyear, unrestricted support. Grantees can help sustain this progress by asking trusted, long-term funders to convert restricted awards into general operating support. In an era of AI disruption, funding volatility, and evolving community needs, accountability should be rooted in trust, not rigid plans made years in advance. We cover some top strategies for winning government funding, including diversifying funding sources and defining partner roles.

Federal Court Vacates HUD’s FY 2026 Continuum of Care NOFO

A Rhode Island federal court vacated HUD’s FY 2026 Notice of Funding Opportunity and all associated deadlines, preventing the agency from advancing proposed changes to the Continuum of Care program. The ruling blocks a “colossal” set-aside that could have pushed communities away from evidence-based permanent housing programs and helps protect housing stability for at least 97,000 formerly homeless people. While HUD’s next steps remain unclear, the National Alliance to End Homelessness is urging prompt confirmation that the competition cannot proceed and will continue advocating for lawful, evidence-based federal homelessness funding.

Funders Shift Toward Invitation-Only, Relationship-Based Giving

As proposal volume and competition balloons, funders are receiving more applications from organizations they do not know. Generic narratives and limited staff capacity are pushing some foundations away from open competitions and toward invitation-only, relationship-based processes. Increasingly, funders may form impressions long before a proposal arrives by reviewing an organization’s website, digital footprint, and thought leadership — a dynamic we assessed directly when we analyzed digital competitiveness as part of a grant readiness strategy that makes communications strategy a grant strategy. Grant professionals can help build credibility by partnering on public-facing content that demonstrates expertise, results, and lessons learned. It also works the other way: cultivating a brand-new funder relationship through in-person information sessions, a site visit, and consistent follow-up helped one rural domestic violence shelter secure its full request. We’ve heard of nonprofits testing innovations like posting LinkedIn listicles and forming a thought leadership hub to share insights from grant-funded programs, engage partners and peer organizations, and become more visible to “stealth funders.” How are you getting creative?