February is Black History Month and at NAO we want to recognize and celebrate the diversity of the organizations in our nonprofit sector, including the incredible Black-serving organizations that do so much such as Albina Vision Trust. Y.O.U.TH PDX, and NAACP Eugene-Springfield. We know how important representation is, and we will always recognize and celebrate the diversity in our communities, including Black History Month. Our history is rooted in Black History and is not something we will deny, no matter the circumstances.
The last few weeks have been tumultuous in the actions coming out of Washington, DC. Executive Orders are being signed at all hours, and Executive Actions are being taken that have fundamentally disrupted essential programs to ALL Americans: Black, Brown and White, citizen and immigrant, rural and urban, straight and Queer, Republican and Democrat. As we’ve previously reported, federal funding was frozen to all programs and then that order was blocked (and theoretically rescinded by OMB). Nonprofits have been working overtime to make sense of the impact it may all have on the sector, and they continue to provide services even though some federal funding is still frozen or portals for drawing down payments are unresponsive.
NAO has been tracking all the proposed changes closely and we’ve been working diligently with our national partners to get information out as quickly and accurately as possible. We know that currently many federal portals are still frozen, and several Head Start programs are having issues accessing funding. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still shuttered and funding is still frozen despite the lawsuit filed by the National Council of Nonprofits and several co-signers being granted by a US District Court Judge in Washington D.C. We are also aware that several nonprofits that work with the Department of Homeland Security on immigrant support programs have had their funding cut off.
Additionally, late yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo stating that the Department of Justice will begin investigating the private sector and educational institutions that receive federal funding for “illegal DEI and DEIA preferences, mandates, policies, programs and activities.” We will keep an eye on this memo and the impact it could have on the nonprofit sector.
I know this feels overwhelming, but there are actions you can take to buffer your nonprofit as well as help us challenge several of these orders and actions that are illegal and/or unconstitutional. Keep checking out our constantly updated FAQ sheet that has current information and practical tips on what you can do now. Please also, reach out to us if you are experiencing issues with funding portals being down or are otherwise impacted by the EOs that have been issued. If you can share your stories by emailing [email protected], we can continue to work on the issues that are most critical to our sector.
Additionally, if you are an NAO member, you are automatically an affiliate member of the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN). This means that not only do you have access to the benefits of your NAO membership, but you also have access to benefits and advocacy being done on behalf of the nonprofit sector through NCN. We have already been able to connect several organizations with NCN to help have their stories heard and to be included in the lawsuit that NCN has worked on to stop the federal funding freeze. If you are not a member of NAO, I encourage you to become one. We are here to support the sector the best we can, and while we provide a lot of information directly to anyone signed up on our mailing list, there are also member-only benefits that go beyond what we provide to all.
I can commit to you, that NAO will continue to be at the forefront of analyzing, communicating to you, and where appropriate, calling out illegality of the actions being taken by the new administration. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Keep doing the work you do. Our communities need you now more than ever.
Jim White
Executive Director