Message From the President & CEO
As we reach the halfway mark of another tremendous year, I’m scanning the horizon for what might come next in a changing and uncertain world. Across the nonprofit sector, we are navigating a period of rapid change in both grant seeking and philanthropy. Funding is becoming more competitive, donor priorities are shifting, and many organizations are being asked to do more with fewer resources. At the same time, we are seeing increased scrutiny around accountability, reporting, and outcomes—alongside important, ongoing conversations about equity and philanthropy during a generational wealth transfer and widening income gaps.
These trends present real challenges, but they also create opportunities for us to strengthen our work. Grant professionals are adapting by diversifying funding strategies, building deeper relationships with funders, and refining how we tell the story of impact. We are also seeing a growing recognition that effective philanthropy requires not just financial support, but partnership, trust, and a commitment to long-term community change.
In this moment, advocacy is essential. Our sector must continue to elevate the importance of nonprofit work, push for fair and practical policies, and ensure that funding practices do not unintentionally create barriers for the communities we serve. Your voice—as a grant professional, a leader, and a connector between funders and communities—matters deeply in shaping a more responsive and equitable funding landscape.
Despite the uncertainty, I remain optimistic. Every day, I see the resilience, creativity, and determination of our nonprofit community. You continue to show up, to innovate, and to advocate for the resources your organizations and communities need. That persistence is what drives progress.
Thank you for your leadership, your commitment, and your unwavering belief in the power of this work. Together, we will continue to adapt, to advocate, and to move forward with purpose.
Onward and upward!
Betty
Trend Watch
Here’s what you need to know about the grant landscape changes, updates, and trends:
- Federal grants for victim service providers are finally being released. Some long-delayed award notices are trickling out, too. We are not yet sure whether the last year and a half is indicative of longer-term trends in the timing of federal grants and awards, but we do know they have been coming out much later than before.
- The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has proposed a sweeping overhaul of federal grant rules under 2 CFR, renaming the “Uniform Guidance” as the “Uniform Grants Regulation.” The proposal would give the revised rules independent regulatory authority and tighten oversight of federal assistance. It would eliminate fixed-amount awards and expand agency power to suspend or terminate funding based on shifting priorities or national interest. New compliance provisions include restrictions on funding for certain DEI-related activities and “discriminatory event services.” Additional changes aim to standardize grantmaking, including senior-level review of awards and expanded use of Grants.gov. Workforce screening measures such as E-Verify and Treasury’s Do Not Pay system would also be required. Public comments on this proposal are due by July 13, 2026, with implementation targeted for October 1, 2026. The National Council on Nonprofits is working to mobilize organizations in opposition to these sweeping changes. Click here to learn more and sign onto a national letter.
- HUD’s Equal Access Rule, which protects people from housing discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, is facing rollback. Advocates warn that weakening the rule could worsen homelessness disparities and are urging public comments by June 29, 2026, to defend these protections.
- Last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 8463 – Pre-Payment Fraud Prevention Act and H.R. 8464 – Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act. The Grant Professionals Association (GPA) sent a letter outlining its position, reaffirming its commitment to ethical grant management and supported efforts to strengthen workforce training in grants administration. However, it raised concerns about potential burdens from new reporting requirements, emphasizing the need to align them with existing processes and funding timelines. GPA also urged that grant payments not be paused without clear evidence of fraud and that any disruptions include proper notice and reasonable resolution timeframes. The bill is unlikely to advance in the Senate this year, and GPA will continue to monitor developments.
Recommended Reading
We were inspired by the Juneteenth edition of the More Than Grant Writers newsletter.
For Juneteenth, we’re reflecting on the state of Black nonprofits now, comparing it to 2020. On the 2026 theme of “not surprised, still disappointed,” we are now seeing the data come back to reinforce most of our individual experiences that philanthropy is pulling away from racial justice. Black-led nonprofits receive less support from donors overall, especially from foundations, and have fewer recurring donors. Smaller nonprofits are taking the brunt of this retreat, but all Black-led and Black-focused nonprofits are suffering.
How can we turn frustration, anger, and despair into actions that support racial justice and equity?
- Grant professionals are encouraged to lead honest, strategic conversations with both internal teams and funders about priorities, trade-offs, and what true partnership looks like.
- We should prepare for an unstable funding landscape by diversifying funding sources, planning ahead, and streamlining application materials to manage increased competition and turnover.
- At the same time, we should continue advocating for equitable funding practices, especially when engaging funders open to deeper change.
- Let’s commit to providing mutual support and building authentic, reciprocal relationships with communities—particularly those most impacted by funding inequities.
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!
