Navigate uncertainty in the public sector through resilience, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving.
As a record number of executive orders flood the White House, it’s abundantly clear the next four years will be turbulent. From gutting diversity, equity, and inclusion to censoring public health data, the administration is swiftly dismantling funding, programs, and policies that serve the public good. This is hitting both the public and private sectors hard, but government agencies and nonprofits will feel the worst impact.
In 2023, two-thirds of nonprofits in the National Survey of Nonprofit Trends received government funding, with 1 in 5 relying on it for over half their revenue. From FY2021 to FY2023, state and local governments received more than $1 trillion in federal funding, more than a third of their total revenue. In California, federal funding makes up about one-third of the state’s budget, and proposed cuts threaten vital services in health care, food assistance, child care, and education.
The Department of Government Efficiency’s mass firings and budget cuts are forcing public-serving organizations to confront the possibility that their work — and for some, their very existence — may be outlawed if they do not align with political interests. The consequences won’t just affect the “bottom line.” They will have devastating health, social, and economic effects on the lives of low-income and communities of color who already experience inequity.
Though it’s natural to feel discouraged, I believe in our collective power to push back. To navigate these uncertain times, we must begin with the unvarnished truth: we’re witnessing a coordinated effort to undermine democracy. With no roadmap forward, we must create our own.
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Assess & Operate Within Your Capacity for Risk
- Individuals and organizations each have their own tolerance for risk. Our livelihoods depend on our ability to secure housing, food, and healthcare. For organizations, the programs and services you offer may be the only way your community can access these needs. Get clear on what risks you are or aren’t willing to endure, and then take action from that place.
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Stay Grounded in the Present While You Forecast for the Future
- While it’s important to plan for the future, don’t lose sight of the options and possibilities available now. Threats abound — often intentionally distracting us — but many are still in the planning stages. By focusing on the present, you can maximize your mission with the resources you currently have.
Find the Opportunity Within the Crisis
- The usual rules of engagement no longer apply. This creates space for strategic and unique approaches. Embrace out-of-the-box thinking, seek workarounds, and identify hidden opportunities to remain responsive to the communities you serve.
Connect, Collaborate, Co-create
- It’s easy to feel powerless, but remember: your organization isn’t alone. Now is the time to build multidisciplinary communities that help you stay resilient in uncertain times. Share concerns, articulate needs, and collaborate to create systems that facilitate resource- and knowledge-sharing. This will buffer your work from external threats.
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Hold on to Hope
- Fear is natural and valid in uncertain times, but hope will sustain us. Organizers Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba talk about hope as a practice and discipline, something we build through repetition. In whatever ways you can, practice hope personally and professionally to remind yourself that we will get through this.
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