Bridging the Sector – April 9
This monthly newsletter is your connection to vital information and resources for navigating local, state, and federal government developments that affect the Northeast Florida nonprofit sector. By curating resources from trusted organizations, you’ll be connected to the reliable information you need to make informed decisions for your organization and the communities you serve.
| Calls to Action: |
| Bridging the Sector Convening | May 30, 10AM Join us for this monthly virtual gathering where we will be joined by local and national leaders to the most recent government developments. Experts will share their perspectives, information, and guidance to help you and your organization navigate the changing landscape.  Featuring guest speaker Ben Kershaw, Director, Public Policy and Government Relations, Independent Sector REGISTER HERE | Florida Policy Institute | Tell Congress “No Cuts to Food Assistance and Health Care” In every corner of Florida, families are stepping up, doing what it takes to care for our loved ones and make ends meet. We all deserve the peace of mind that comes when we can afford to build the lives we want for ourselves and for our families. That’s what makes our communities healthy, safe, and connected. But even as households across the Sunshine State are shouldering new challenges just to keep up with the high cost of living, Congress is considering dangerous policies that take aim at our pocketbooks. Many members of Congress have backed reckless cuts to the health care and food assistance that help millions of American households stay afloat. TAKE ACTION HERE |
| Executive Actions Impact Survey: In the early days of his administration, President Trump issued dozens of Executive Orders with wide-ranging effects. Florida Nonprofit Alliance (FNA) and the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida invite nonprofits to share the impacts of these executive actions on their work. COMPLETE SURVEY | COJ Nonprofit Gateway Town Hall | April 23, 9:30AM These quarterly meetings provide local nonprofits with access to representatives of key departments and discussions around important updates and opportunities. REGISTER HERE |
| Federal Resources: |
| National Council of Nonprofits | Suit Filed To Restore Critical Infrastructure and Investment Funds On March 13, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, National Council of Nonprofits, Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District and Green Infrastructure Center filed a lawsuit challenging the Administration’s freeze on funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known also as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The freeze, ordered through the Unleashing American Energy executive order, left vital community projects in limbo. READ HERE |
| Independent Sector | March Recap of Policy Trends Shaping the Charitable Sector In Congress, legislation impacting the charitable sector must navigate a complex system of committees, amendments, and negotiations before it reaches the president’s desk. As lawmakers consider tax incentives for charitable giving and funding for social programs, understanding the legislative process is key for those working to strengthen the nonprofit sector. READ HERE | Nonprofit Quarterly | Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Who and What Is at Risk? Public service loan forgiveness enables public sector and nonprofit workers to earn an accelerated write-off of their student loan debt. During the Biden administration, over one million borrowers benefited, compared with fewer than 7,000 beneficiaries during the previous Trump administration. A new Trump order puts the future of the program at risk. READ HERE |
| State Resources: |
| Florida Nonprofit Alliance | Get Your Nonprofit Disaster Ready – April 29, 9:30AM This virtual webinar, Get Your Nonprofit Disaster Ready, will give you information and tools to get your organization ready for all kinds of disasters. This webinar is designed for nonprofit and foundation leaders and board members, so you can operationalize disaster preparation within your organization. It walks you through the why, what, and how of making your organization more resilient when facing disasters. REGITER HERE | Florida Policy Institute | HB 1225 and SB 918 Would Further Erode Child Labor Protections in Florida In the 2025 session, the Legislature has filed SB 918 and HB 1225, “Employment of Minors.” The proposed rollbacks to child labor laws would pose an even greater risk to the health and well-being of Florida youth than those contained in the original version of HB 49. READ HERE |
| Local Resources: |
| City Council Special Committee on Duval DOGE | April 15, 12:30PM Council Member Ron Salem will hold a noticed meeting on Tuesday, April 15th 2025 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm at 117 West Duval Street, 1st Floor, City Hall – St. James Building, Jacksonville, FL 32202. The purpose of these meetings will be to address the questions/matters as noted in the President White March 17, 2025, Special Committee Charge Memorandum. All interested parties are invited to attend. CLICK HERE |
| Resources for Funders: |
| Center for Effective Philanthropy | It’s Time for Funders to Move Into Swift Alignment With Movements — Participatory Processes Can Help As we collectively navigate a new political reality that has devalued and divested from equity, justice, and inclusion, funders must interrogate how we think about movement impact and progress. Community wisdom fuels our ability to make lasting change: if it’s progress we seek, it is time to set aside funder-led goal-setting and fundamentally reorient ourselves to support our grantee and community partners. READ MORE |
| Additional Resources: |
| Bridgespan | From Principles to Practices: Structuring Your Decision-Making Process When times are tense, decisions need to be made quickly while staying true to your organization’s values and impact goals. Thoughtfully implementing a decision-making process can help make that possible. So, what does a good decision-making process look like? Use this article and downloadable checklist to learn more about structuring your decision making and think through your organization’s current approach. ACCESS HERE | Freedman Consulting | Collaborating Through Uncertainty: Harnessing the Power of Public-Private Partnerships in 2025 and Beyond. This webinar recording will give nonprofit, government, and philanthropic leaders tools and practical considerations for effective cross-sector collaboration in times of crisis, including insights from the Cross-Sector Collaboration by Design toolkit, which shares strategies to jumpstart a public-private partnership model. WATCH HERE |
| Chronicle of Philanthropy | Facing Federal Defunding, Nonprofits Draft Best and Worst Case Budgets Organizations are struggling to plan amid uncertainty about government funds. As a result, some are crafting multiple spending options. READ HERE |
| Nonprofit Center Events & Resources: |
| The Nonprofit Center is committed to developing and delivering programming and resources that help organizations strengthen their infrastructure and sustain their impact. To see a full list of our programs and resources visit our website at www.nonprofitctr.org. State of the Sector: Key Trends & Financial Health | April 16, 1PM CEO Confidential Convening | April 17, 9AM Resources for Scenario Planning & Disaster Preparedness Nonprofit Center Advocacy Center |