Latest news with #AllianceforNonprofitImpact
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
United Way of RI expands support for nonprofits with federal funds uncertain
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — United Way of Rhode Island is doubling down on its efforts to support local nonprofit organizations worried about the uncertainty surrounding federal funding. The 'United is the Way' initiative will provide vital resources to assist Rhode Islanders and nonprofit organizations as President Donald Trump continues to make 'unpredictable' cuts to federal funding. RELATED: RI Black Business Association's future uncertain with DEI rollback 'It's been dizzying to try and keep up with the barrage of funding and policy shifts coming out of Washington, but one thing is certain – what's being targeted would be devastating to nonprofits and to our families, friends, and neighbors,' United Way of Rhode Island President Cortney Nicolato said. 'The current climate and what's at risk requires that we be swift and decisive in our actions, and that's what we're doing. You cannot have strong families and strong communities without also having strong nonprofit.' The new initiative focuses on expanding both grants and services for local nonprofit organizations, as well as 211 services for Rhode Islanders. United Way of Rhode Island is also working with the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact to facilitate legal support as local nonprofit organizations navigate the new federal regulations and policies. The Alliance for Nonprofit Impact also plans to expand nonprofits' access to various experts in certain fields, like strategic planning and revenue generation, as well as offer discounted certification programs. United Way of Rhode Island said new safety net grants will also be made available through the request for proposal process in the near future. The grants, once available, will be awarded on a rolling basis. The free and confidential 211 service is being strengthened in a way that will assist Rhode Islanders with accessing housing, food and affordable childcare. United Way of Rhode Island said it is working to bolster its 211 staff due to an expected increase in calls. 'This is a broad-based mobilization strategy to defend our community infrastructure from federal disruptions, and do so with the heightened sense of urgency this moment demands,' Nicolato explained. 'We need to ensure the preservation of vital services and empower the nonprofits that deliver them.' 'This is not a time to sit idly-by,' she continued. 'It's time for the caring power of the community to shine through.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Help the helpers: Rhode Island needs its nonprofits, and R.I. nonprofits need support amid chaos and uncertainty
Advertisement This action has thrown critical systems into existing and legally contracted programs for such things as housing assistance, food security, and health care. Some organizations were ordered to stop providing services immediately, and some will not recover from this disruption. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up These executive actions have been put into place without clarity or justification. Organizations and states have been scrambling to understand what's happening, while continuing to serve the people they proudly support. The minute one thought they had it figured out, it changed again. And while, yes, the memo has been The actions and orders at play ensure the most vulnerable in our society are the ones who suffer. And the effects of these actions will be felt immediately — for all of us. Today, Advertisement These actions affect Rhode Island families you have never met, yet they will also have a ripple effect that will no doubt impact your family and friends. Every dollar that doesn't reach nonprofit programs for the Rhode Islanders who need them translates into added stress for these individuals and their families. It also is a dollar that does not make its way into our state's economy, impacting local business. Some perceive the nonprofit sector and the immense number of services it provides to be not worthy, while the truth is quite the opposite. Our nonprofits are filled with smart and passionate humans… the ones who step up in difficult times, and never back down. They aren't here for the politics, but for humanity. Nonprofit leaders are some of the most creative and nimble businesspeople you will ever meet. Because these broken systems require them to be. I am reminded that United Way of Rhode Island, in its 99-year history, has taken on the tough things and supported our great state every step of the way. This time it is no different. We are unwavering in our vision of a Rhode Island where each individual in every community has equal opportunity for justice and prosperity. Our Alliance for Nonprofit Impact, Rhode Island's nonprofit resource center, is providing up-to-the-minute support for the sector. We are assessing the impact of these changes and helping the organizations continue to serve. Our 211 and POINT helplines are supporting Rhode Islanders as they seek to understand how these changes will affect them. We are connecting them to the resources that exist for them. But we need you and your support. Now. Advertisement We need you to call your congresspeople, and the White House. Tell them to take action. Give to an organization that speaks to you. Volunteer your time. Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers, said: 'When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'' This is the time to look for the helpers. This is the time to BE the helpers. Cortney M. Nicolato is the president & CEO of United Way of Rhode Island.
