Colleagues and Friends,

We are all receiving so much information so quickly that it is challenging to process it all. As a member of the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), CNE has been closely following updates, and I wanted to share key information with you.

Federal Grant and Loan Freeze

Thanks to NCN’s strong advocacy alongside partner organizations, they have successfully secured a temporary stay on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s response to recent executive orders, which included pausing all federal grants and loans. This stay blocks the freeze until February 3rd at 5 PM EST.

For more details, NCN has created a webpage to support nonprofits, including a summary chart of recent executive orders with analysis and related actions.

Call to Action

To better understand the real-world impact of these executive orders and the federal funding freeze, NCN has set up a feedback form for nonprofits to share how their missions and the people they serve are affected. If your organization is impacted, please fill out this brief impact form at NCN, then share this link with other nonprofits in your network.

Be Prepared

  1. Assess Your Financials
    • Run cash flow and forecasting models with and without federal funds for short- and long-term planning.
    • Start with three- and six-month projections, then expand to long-term scenarios in case the freeze is extended.
  2. Scenario Planning with Leadership
    • Determine if you need to adjust deliverables or shift timelines.
    • Identify what must happen immediately, in three months, in six months, and beyond.
  3. Engage Your Board
    • Keep your board informed and involved in decision-making, ensuring they understand the factors influencing your next steps.
  4. Communicate with Private Donors
    • Update your funders on the situation, its impact, and how your organization is adapting.
    • Clearly outline immediate and long-term needs based on your updated action plan.
  5. Take a Breath
    • This is another moment of uncertainty, not long after a global pandemic.
    • Prioritize self-care—as we learned during the pandemic, resilience starts with making space to breathe amid the urgency.

Stay Informed

Watch for our statewide newsletter next week, where we’ll share updates, resources, and upcoming webinars or forums related to this issue.

Advocate

Now is the time to reach out to elected officials and share how this federal funding freeze is impacting your organization and those you support. Consider asking:

  • What plans are in place to support nonprofits serving vulnerable Virginians?
  • How is constituent feedback being collected regarding the effects of this grant freeze?

 

Thank you for all that you do to support Virginia’s nonprofits and the communities we serve. I’ll continue to share updates on LinkedIn and through our newsletter next week.

With appreciation,

Mariane Asad Doyle, Ph. D.