How RI Nonprofits Are Banding Together to Navigate Funding Uncertainty

On April 23, United Way of Rhode Island teamed up with The Providence Journal to organize a discussion on the present condition of the nonprofit industry.

Since 1926, the United Way of Rhode Island has existed to link individuals who require assistance with suitable support services. Additionally, they gather funds and supplies for community nonprofit organizations through various fundraisers. Over the past half-decade, this organization has helped coordinate these efforts effectively. an alliance program This provides nonprofit employees an opportunity to engage with and gain knowledge from one another.

Ten panelists—who often engage with the alliance—responded to queries during an event held at Cranston’s William Hall Library. They discussed their strategies for dealing with the barrage of federal actions and funding instabilities stemming from the Trump administration. Additionally, they provided suggestions on potential ways nonprofit organizations could endure these challenges.

Nancy Wolanski, who is in charge of partnerships at the United Way of Rhode Island, began the event by praising those working in the nonprofit sector for their resilience during challenging times.

Nonprofits serve as the backbone of our communities," she stated. "They also act as a stabilizing force for both state and federal governments." She added, "Unfortunately, this role is frequently overlooked when nonprofits are perceived by governmental bodies—not as collaborators in delivering crucial services—but as expendable service providers. Changing this perspective is one of the primary objectives of the alliance.

This is what the panelists shared:

Tanja Kubas-Meyer, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families

Kubas-Meyer’s group is a coalition of 44 organizations that advocate for the state’s children and families, including foster youths, low-income families and domestic violence survivors. Much of their funding comes from the state, which actually trickles down from the federal government.

Kubas-Meyer is particularly worried about executive orders that target LGBTQ+ youths, a population that already experiences higher rates of homelessness and suicide than non-LGBTQ+ youths.

“The executive orders, some of them are about business, but some are very personal,” she said.

Even though all nonprofits are putting in their best effort, Kubas-Meyer isn't sure if there's significant additional funding available from private sources.

"I'm not sure if I remain hopeful that everybody will make it through this difficult time," she stated.

Kimberly Simmons, executive director of The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness

The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness operates a call center and collects data on the state’s homeless population. Simmons shared that there are about 1,200 people in the state experiencing homelessness on any given day, 600 of whom are living outside.

A major concern that Simmons has observed among both her organization’s clients and her staff is fears about Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids . She explained that what’s going on is exacerbating disparities and having a greater impact on people of color and other minorities.

"Healthcare has faced significant impacts and changes. Tariffs have also influenced businesses and academia. Our whole community has felt these effects, and as this occurs, the most vulnerable individuals—those struggling and experiencing homelessness—are disproportionately affected," Simmons stated.

Vanessa Volz, who serves as the president of Sojourner House

Sojourner House offers support to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse through services such as emergency shelter, supportive housing, support groups and sexual health advocacy.

Eighty percent of Sojourner House’s budget comes from federal funding, and Volz said that nearly every one of the government agencies they work with has told them to anticipate cuts, but they don’t know when or how much. Many of the grants that Sojourner House has right now are expiring in September, and the online applications to reapply for them have disappeared.

“We’re dealing literally with life or death on a daily basis. We’re working with families who are in crisis, who can’t go home tonight, who are experiencing physical abuse, so even under the best of circumstances, this work is extremely stressful,” Volz said.

She knows that it’s taking a heavy toll on her staff, and even though they’re used to developing five- or 10-year plans, it only feels feasible to take things month by month.

Courtney Smith, director of Innovation and Community Outreach for United Way of Rhode Island

United Way of Rhode Island operates an emergency helpline, runs a resource center for disabilities and aging and has a community outreach team. Smith said they’ve definitely noticed a higher need for their services over the last few months, and a lot of people want help making sense of how policy changes will affect them.

“This is often their lifeline,” Smith said. “We’re trying our best to make sure that our services are safe and available to everybody all the time. We’re carrying information to provide to families when we see them on-site to make sure they can get access and keep it.”

Patrick Anderson, who covers the State House for The Providence Journal

Anderson articulated his viewpoint on reporting about executive orders and legal conflicts from a journalistic standpoint, noting that sometimes these situations have straightforward interpretations yet often remain complex due to swiftly evolving circumstances and the challenge of making sense of conflicting occurrences for reporters.

"I believe that in numerous aspects, we find ourselves in an even more precarious situation now compared to just a month or two back, due to the multitude of legal cases and the significant doubt surrounding the future state of the economy," he stated.

Anderson stated, however, that he believes it's still too soon to determine how variations in the worldwide economy might impact local organizations at this point.

Erik Wallin serves as the executive director and general counsel for Operation Stand Down Rhode Island.

Wallin’s nonprofit assists homeless veterans. He said that so far, funding for veterans services has stayed fairly level and Operation Stand Down Rhode Island has been awarded numerous identical grants consistently each year.

Wallin pointed out that similar to other nonprofits, his organization frequently assists individuals dealing with various mental health issues, including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. Some of these individuals are finding it increasingly challenging due to information circulating in the media. A particular concern is the speculation that if the Department of Veterans Affairs faces budget reductions, veterans may lose access to healthcare professionals they trust.

“There’s an element of trust that needs to be built with the veteran community,” Wallin said. “Veterans need to stay focused with their providers in going to their treatment and not be worried about something that may or may not happen."

Mario Bueno, executive director of Progreso Latino

Progreso Latino promotes socioeconomic growth for Rhode Island’s Latino and immigrant communities. As a community-based organization, the agency recognizes its limitations and focuses on the work staffers know they can achieve, Bueno said.

Bueno added that he’s seen a lot of collaborations between nonprofits come and go, and there’s often still a sense of competition, so it’s vital that all parties think things through first.

“We can get lost in the shuffle and ultimately be even less effective than we were before,” he said. “We have to figure out how to overcome those challenges as a nonprofit community in order to be able to make a difference.”

Nina Pande, who serves as the executive director at Skills for Rhode Island’s Future,

Skills for Rhode Island's Future efforts to link job seekers with employers who are socially responsible and civically engaged.

Pande said that Rhode Island leaders recognize how valuable the nonprofit sector is for the local economy, and nonprofits are lucky they can have conversations with those officials through avenues that larger states lack.

“I actually think our philanthropic sector, our corporate sector and our government sector all need to come together and collaborate in figuring out how to go after larger national dollars that our state just simply doesn’t attract,” she said.

Ralph Tavares, vice president of people and culture for Diverse Search Group Global

Tavares’ group is a consulting firm that focuses on providing diverse expertise. He observed how a few years ago there was a push in the business world to hire people who would focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. However, the trend fizzled out, and many of those positions have been phased out.

“It was a reactive stance,” Tavares said.

Currently, he’s observing a comparable problem wherein institutions are employing gift officers or philanthropy professionals. He urges individuals to exercise caution and confirm that these roles remain viable over time.

Tavares emphasized, "Strategic planning is essential for determining the long-term approach when you have a gift officer."

Tina Guenette, the founder and president of Real Access Drives Progress

Guenette’s non-profit organization, which is also referred to as RAMP, supporters of accessibility and inclusivity across Rhode Island.

I am someone with disabilities who relies on a wheelchair. Additionally, I have survived domestic abuse. Unfortunately, nothing seems designed for accessibility," she stated. "In our state, 55% of individuals register as having disabilities—whether they use walkers, wheelchairs, or canes. The population aged sixty and above forms the largest group within our state. Can anyone here confidently say they won’t be using a walker, wheelchair, cane, crutches, or another mobility aid at some stage in their lives?

Guenette pointed out that the existing resources such as food pantries and shelters are largely inaccessible for people who are disabled. She’d like to see more intersectional work that doesn’t just serve one niche group of people, but that can help communities dealing with overlapping issues.

The article initially appeared in The Providence Journal. What strategies are Rhode Island nonprofit organizations using to manage funding instability? Discover how they are supporting one another.