By Melissa Lagowski
Founder/CEO/Queen Bee
Big Buzz Idea Group
As the new administration stepped into office, many nonprofits have been in a frenzy trying to confirm if they will or won’t have the funding they count on to provide their programs. Whether this is your charitable organization or not, this is a wake-up call for all of us, and we need to band together to advocate for one another.
Our industry needs to work together at this time to be heard and protect the funding that many nonprofits rely on. So, first and foremost, contact your congressional leaders to let them know that you are against these policy changes. You can find your U.S. Representative here and your U.S. Senator here. Call or write, but reach out.
You might be wondering what else should or could you be doing in light of this recent turn of events, and to protect your organization, we encourage you to do the following:
-Stay Informed
-Subscribe to your representative and senator’s newsletter. They will regularly send updates on the latest events in Washington D.C.
-Check the White House website at whitehouse.gov for the latest happenings.
-Sign up for newsletters that can keep you abreast of the industry impact of national decisions, such as the National Council of Nonprofits.
-Review Existing Policies and Procedures
It is essential to review the Executive Orders and your organization’s existing policies and procedures to see if any changes are needed. This can include labor laws, hiring practices, and funding eligibility, just to name a few.
Work with coalition partners or advocacy groups to ensure that your association’s voices are represented in discussions about any new policies or regulations going forward.
-Analyze Funding Impact
If the Executive Orders will impact your current funding directly, make a contingency plan to identify what options you have to work leaner in the short term. You might need to adjust the budget, identify new funding sources and/or re-prioritize programs.
-Communications and Transparency
Strategize with your donor communications and donor development teams. Communicate any funding gaps or concerns that are the result of these orders to alert your funders of the need your organization has to meet the need of your community with funding eliminations. This data should also be shared with the representatives to advocate on your behalf and understand the real impact of these changes.
Also, be sure to keep your Board and staff updated on matters relative to the changes.
-Engage Legal Experts
Consult with your legal resources to ensure that you remain compliant with the new guidelines.
-Conduct a Security Audit
Many executive orders may include directives on data privacy and cybersecurity. Nonprofits should conduct a security audit to ensure their data protection measures comply with any new policies or laws.
It is a turbulent time for nonprofits and associations amidst so much uncertainty. The key to finding your way through is to make a strategy to shore up your organization and make a plan to enlist the help of the necessary resources for the sustainability of your association.
