A Dual Shot of Uncertainty
“There’s something powerful about what happens when a company makes a real commitment to the community it serves. The impact of corporate giving isn’t always immediate or visible in one moment, but over time, it strengthens the organizations people rely on every day. It helps nonprofits stay resilient, expand their reach, and continue doing work that matters.”
That’s what Tara Brewster, vice president of Business Development and director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank, wrote last month in a blog post for the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, which recently partnered with the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation and New England Public Media on a project called 413 Gives, with corporate sponsorship from Greenfield Savings Bank, Greenfield Cooperative Bank, and MHC Services.
As the article on page 4 explains, the goal was to draw more attention to the plight of nonprofits that have struggled with a broad swath of federal funding cuts over the past 18 months that affect aspects of the social safety net, from food pantries to housing assistance to healthcare and childcare services.
“Across our region, federal funding is declining at the very moment community needs are growing more complex and urgent,” said Kara Mikulich, president of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “413 Gives is an opportunity for us to come together in a powerful expression of support for the organizations that hold our communities together.”
In saying this, Mikulich drew attention to what has become a dual stressor for nonprofits: some funding sources have dried up at the same time demand is soaring — because those federal cuts are also affecting individual benefits, which causes people to seek out services at a higher rate. That has put more pressure on philanthropic and foundation efforts to help fund the region’s many nonprofits — and are spurring awareness and fundraising campaigns, like 413 Gives, that aim to get people more involved.
“Last week, the Office of Management and Budget in Washington proposed changes to federal grant rules that would give agencies broader authority to terminate grants mid-project if they do not align with administrative priorities. The proposal would place greater weight on political review by appointees rather than encouraging independent peer review, increasing compliance and funding uncertainty for nonprofit organizations,” noted Karin George, board chair with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, in another post.
“It is unfortunate and dangerous to force nonprofits into constant ‘do more with less’ scenarios while continuing to increase the pressure,” she added. “This is why I am so grateful for philanthropy’s role in encouraging donors to provide unrestricted support through organizations like the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, with practices that reduce administrative burdens for nonprofits and make it easier for them to seek funding.”
In a challenging environment for nonprofits without any easy answers right now, their leaders — and the foundations that seek to support them — are hoping the message gets through.
