The State of Grantseeking 2025 Report
The State of Grantseeking™ provides nonprofit leaders, grant professionals, and fundraisers with an essential benchmark for navigating the evolving funding landscape. Built on responses from nearly 1,258 nonprofit organizations, this report delivers the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping grant funding today.
Organizations are advised to assess their grantseeking benchmarks by mission focus and budget size, as these factors influence both the type and size of awards received. Overall, the report emphasizes that strategic targeting of funders, coupled with realistic operational planning and investment in professional tools, can significantly enhance grantseeking efficiency and outcomes. For full report, select the link here: 2025 State of Grantseeking Report.pdf
Resources for Grantseekers/Nonprofits in Response to Executive Orders and the Federal Grant and Contract Freeze
We continue to monitor the impact of the current Executive Orders and the Federal contract and grant funding freeze. This section of our site will contain various resources to assist the grantees of our Members and the nonprofit organizations in our State.
The Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement (DANA), the United Way of Delaware (UWDE) and the Delaware Community Foundation (DCF) and our organization are building and updating resources to help nonprofits develop some risk mitigation and scenario planning as it relates to required legal preparedness around DEI certification, staffing impacts, programmatic shifts, etc.
Updated June 6, 2025
Given the unpredictability at the national level and the importance of “big picture” financial planning, DANA has launched our Scenario Planning toolkit to help nonprofits better evaluate their situation in the current climate. The toolkit includes critical resources, financial modeling tools, checklists and templates to help nonprofits plan for possible scenarios that could adversely affect their operations. Those materials can be found here.
Congressional Republicans have released the text of their major tax bill, and it includes several harmful-to-nonprofit provisions. The bill is expected to be voted on in committee on Tuesday. It includes provisions to:
- Giving unprecedented authority to the Administration to revoke nonprofit status from certain organizations without due process
- Increase taxes on foundation and university endowments.
- Tax “fringe benefits” for nonprofit organizations, with a carve out for religious orgs.
- And on the positive side, a charitable deduction for those who take the standard deduction.
The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) is analyzing this bill further and will send more information and a call to action. We will share that with you when we receive it.
***********
Here we will also note the offerings from Philanthropy Delaware and various resources that may assist with some of your scenario planning and preparation during this time due to the impact of the Executive Orders and Federal Funding cuts. We continue to monitor the Federal, and State actions related to contract and grants and work to support our members in advising their grantees in determining how to proceed. As resources are available, we will certainly share those via our website or via email. We hope these are helpful.
As an FYI, we offer this public statement from the Council on Foundations: We invite all charitable giving organizations to join us in this effort to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. Please sign on to the statement below to show your support. A Public Statement From Philanthropy | Council on Foundations Resources from the National Council of Nonprofits: UPDATED: Chart of Executive Orders 2025 Articles from The Chronicle of Philanthropy March 14, 2025 - Pivoting to Private Donors When Government Funding Isn’t There - By Rasheeda Childress The CEO of a social-service nonprofit and two of its major donors discuss how private support funded a key program — and helped win other grants.March 24, 2025 - Facing Federal Defunding, Nonprofits Draft Best and Worst Case Budgets - By Eden Stiffman Organizations are struggling to plan amid uncertainty about government funds. As a result, some are crafting multiple spending options.March 13, 2025 - How Nonprofits Are Fundraising Amid ‘Scary, Challenging Time’ - By Rasheeda Childress After cuts in federal spending, charities are making carefully worded appeals to donors to continue critical programs.February 25, 2025 - Don’t Tell Your Strategy': Bernice King Has Advice for Nonprofit Leaders - By Stephanie Beasley “I think everybody has to start looking at language,” says the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. “It doesn’t mean you have to go do away with your core mission, but you’re going to have to wordsmith to get through this season.” |
Legal Essentials for Nonprofits: Navigating Uncertainty and Preparing for What’s Next
Webinar from Catchafire - presented on March 12, 2025 -
Catchafire, Paladin, and special guest Christina Holder, Public Interest Counsel at Lowenstein Sandler, discussed how nonprofits can protect themselves amidst the threats presented by the freeze of federal contracts and grants. The webinar covered:
- Understanding your rights as a 501(c)(3) during times of financial and political uncertainty
-
How to safeguard your nonprofit’s funding and operations
-
Key legal considerations to stay compliant and prepared