Nonprofits Make a Powerful Statement Against Proposed Federal Grant Changes
Nonprofits from across the country responded quickly and forcefully to efforts by the White House to further politicize federal grantmaking. A whopping 500,000 comments were submitted in opposition to new rules recently proposed by the OMB (Office of Management and Budget).
CalNonprofits helped lead California’s response. We signed onto national comment letters, submitted our own detailed comments to OMB, mobilized our statewide community, engaged nonprofit leaders and legislative champions, and conducted targeted outreach to California’s congressional delegation. We encouraged nonprofits to submit stories about their own experiences and the potential impact of these proposed changes. Later this summer we are planning a webinar to help organizations understand what comes next.
We were encouraged to see that 173 representatives of California nonprofit organizations took the time to sign onto this national letter, submitted in opposition to the proposal by the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN). In the current political climate, not all of our nonprofit peers feel safe taking a public stance, and we are thankful to all on this list who were able to endorse this letter.
There is still time, and new ways, to make your voice heard! Here are some options:
Take Action
National Call-In Day on Wednesday, July 29
- Call or email your Senators – both Republicans and Democrats – on July 29th and urge them to block the proposed changes. Review this sample phone script and other resources, including a list of congressional targets and talking points.
Advocate during the U.S. Congress August Recess (July 24-September 14):
- 🗓️ Schedule In-District Meetings with your Members of Congress. Use this time to meet with your congressional delegation or attend their public events to ask them to block the proposed changes. Use NCN’s August Recess checklist to learn more.
- 📰 Publish an Op-Ed or Letter-to-the-Editor in your local newspaper. Help raise awareness about how this harmful proposal will directly harm the seniors, families, and individuals in your community.
- 👥 Educate community members about how this proposal will impact them!
We don’t believe the work of nonprofits – housing the unhoused, educating kids, feeding seniors, providing healthcare to low-income individuals – should be politicized or subjected to ideological tests by any administration. We’ll keep you updated on what’s next.
