Message from the President & CEO
Nonprofits feel this in their core. This is one of the hardest years our sector has experienced. I’m writing this on October 20, and as of today, we’re on Day 20 of a federal government shutdown, with no end in sight. We’ve faced attacks through Executive Orders, regulatory changes, and mass layoffs. Corporate and private grantmakers have been closing ranks, pulling back, and quietly changing their strategies.
It’s a difficult period, to say the least. I’m grateful for connections and shimmers of inspiration. I found that and more last week when I attended AFP LEAD, the Association of Fundraising Professionals leadership conference. It was time well spent. I made a lot of great connections, learned about innovative strategies that nonprofits and fundraisers are testing out, and got some great ideas to share with our clients and our staff. I’ll be posting tips and resources on LinkedIn — follow me for updates, hot takes, and insights.
The conference was also validating. The attendees had a wide range of fundraising roles from generalists like Development Directors to specialists in different fields like planned giving, special events, and major gifts. But as we chatted over coffee and during breakout groups, a common thread emerged. We are all experiencing similar dynamics. As we traded war stories and shared ideas, I felt less alone.
Most of the other attendees were dismayed by the current fundraising landscape. Giving is down, and nonprofits are struggling. Multi-year grants weren’t renewed as planned. But it wasn’t all gloom and doom. There was a lot of hope, creativity, and determination. Those are the sentiments I want us to embody at Resurgens Impact Consulting.
During the welcoming address, AFP Global’s Board Chair, Roger Ali, underscored what we’ve been saying: Uncertainty is the theme of the year, and we have to help guide nonprofits to adapt. That is our purpose and our calling at Resurgens Impact Consulting, especially in this new era. It may seem trite to say, but it’s true: we will get through this together.
Betty Barnard
President & CEO
Trend Watch
Here’s what you need to know about the grant landscape changes, updates, and trends:
According to the Southern Economic Advancement Project – SEAP, data confirms what many nonprofits have been feeling. During the government shutdown, funding awards were distributed unevenly. Projects in Democratic-leaning areas faced more suspensions, while Republican districts retained a larger share of active grants (The New York Times). This reflects a broader shift in federal grantmaking designed to tighten political control.
Meanwhile, a report from the Urban Institute shows that a third of nonprofits suffered disruptions from earlier funding cuts in 2025, leading to slower programs and staff layoffs. Two-thirds of these organizations expect surging demand for their services in the coming year, signaling increasing competition for funding while highlighting an increasingly unstable funding environment, even for groups without direct government support.
After the recent government shutdown, the Department of Justice furloughed staff responsible for managing grants to organizations that support victims of domestic violence and related crimes. Although projects with current grant funding can continue and payment systems remain operational, accessing these funds may be challenging without DOJ personnel available to process requests, according to former staffers.
Separately, the DOJ has withdrawn its planned restrictions on over $1.3 billion in Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grants that would have required states to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement in order to receive funding. This decision comes after 20 states and Washington, D.C., challenged the conditions in court. Now, states can access VOCA funds without being compelled to enforce federal immigration measures.
After opening an investigation into the Open Society Foundations, a presidential memorandum issued on September 25 strongly hinted at the use of DOJ and law enforcement to investigate and prosecute nonprofits and foundations that are ideologically opposed to the Trump agenda. These threats should be taken seriously, and investigations into foundations can open grantees up to scrutiny and risk.
Recommended Reading & Resources
▶️ How philanthropy can better support frontline NGOs and movements, Mongabay
▶️ As Trump Administration Aims to Silence Dissent, Nonprofits Must Respond, Nonprofit Quarterly
▶️ The SEAP Table post “What Nonprofits & Local Governments Need to Know About the Federal Shutdown”
▶️ How Are Funders Responding to the Administration’s Threats to the Sector?
▶️ Three thought-provoking articles in IP call for funding for security in the face of doxxing and attacks on nonprofits and foundations, for narrative change in pop culture and the media, and not just civic engagement but efforts to build our faith in democracy in the face of eroding trust in US institutions.
$500 Credit Per Referral
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