The Alliance has created this Policy Watch page to help you keep track of public policies that may have impacts in your communities. This one-stop location provides you with links to national organizations that are tracking the seemingly constant changes so you can stay abreast of activities. These sites are being updated regularly so check back often.

If immediate action on an issue is required, watch your email for an alert from us.


Federal Updates

Congressional Contacts

GrantStation is closely monitoring recent federal actions and their impact on the nonprofit sector. This article tracks ongoing developments, providing links to source materials. The article is updated at least once a week.

Article: What is the Financial Risk of Nonprofits Losing Federal Grants? Urban Institute

Economic Policy Institute: Federal Policy Watch is an inventory of how the administration, Congress, and the courts are affecting workers' quality of life. Their team of economists and lawyers analyzes the actions taken by those in power and their impact on working people. Click here for details.

The Council of Development Finance Agencies is a national association dedicated to the advancement of development finance concerns and interests. Members are state, county and municipal development finance agencies and authorities that provide or otherwise support economic development financing programs as well as a variety of non-governmental and private organizations including bankers, underwriters, attorneys, financial advisors and other organizations interested in development finance. Check out their Advocacy Center.

The NY Times has reported on the evolving shift in language reflecting the DEI objectives of the new administration. They have reported on these revisions at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/07/us/trump-federal-agencies-websites-words-dei.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2E4.iRCK.eqHPc0_rhBf-&smid=url-share

Student Loan News: The Department of Education announced it was firing more than 1,300 workers, effectively reducing the agency to half its current size. The cuts, which impact both K-12 education and the student loan program, may be followed by major changes such as transitioning oversight for student loans to another federal agency. You can learn more about the changes here.

What to do if your Federal Grant or Contract is Terminated: A number of national organizations and legal experts are providing tools for nonprofits to use if their federal funding has been frozen or contracts have been rescinded. Here's a curated list of ways to protect your funding and alert the right people about the impact of the funding cut. Take these steps to protect your funding.If your nonprofit’s federal grant or contract has been terminated, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCC) provides this checklist of initial steps to take.

  • Report cancellations to NCC.They’re collecting information for lawsuits, advocacy, and press outreach. Use this secure form, which allows you to determine the level of confidentiality.
  • Get free legal guidance.The Lawyers for Good Fund Protection Clinic offers legal assistance to organizations. Their attorneys provide generalized best practices guidance and customized templates to build your administrative record. Pro bono 1:1 consultations are available to EPA, USDA, and DOE grantees.
  • Tell your elected officials.These templates make it easy to send letters to your representatives in Congress and your state and local officials. The templates were drafted by the Environmental Protection Network.

Executive Orders

The National Council of Nonprofits has created a chart that outlines the Executive Orders and how they affect charitable nonprofits.See the Updated Chart of Executive Orders

  • Still too much? Use this handy FAQ document on the Executive Orders to find what you need to know.
  • Steps to take so you can conduct a risk assessment of potential federal funding termination.
  • Finally, policymakers need to hear how nonprofits change lives for the better every day. Help us combat false narratives and tell the story of the true value and tremendous positive impacts of nonprofits. Share your nonprofit’s story here.

 

Florida-centric

Contacts

Sadowski Affiliates legislative webinars help you stay on top of legislative actions on SHIP and SAIL, the State budget, a timeline of important legislative dates and key legislators responsible for fully funding the Sadowski Housing Trust Funds.  Register for the remaining 30-minute webinars so you won’t miss anything. You can view previous calls here, check out projected SHIP & SAIL estimates and view summaries of various bills related to affordable housing. There are only two weeks left in the session and the budget reconciliation talks should be interesting.

1,000 Friends of Florida has put out an alert regarding three pairs of bills that are aimed at dismantling agencies that provide valuable services and opportunities for coordination between communities. Each play a role in assisting local governments with important planning issues, allowing them to better serve Florida’s citizens, particularly in rural, vulnerable or under-served areas. Please let legislators know that we need more, not fewer, opportunities for local coordination. 

  • Regional Planning Councils - SB 1264 / HB 1125 would abolish the state’s nine regional planning councils (RPC). These councils provide data, analysis, and planning support for important issues such as transportation, emergency preparedness and economic development.
  • Soil and Water Conservation Districts - HB 973 / SB 986 would dissolve 35 of Florida’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD). These districts were established in the late 1930s to provide landowners, agricultural producers and the general public with information and resources for the efficient use of land and water, to prevent water quality, flood and sediment damage.
  • Community Redevelopment Agencies - HB 991 / SB 1242 would sunset all Community Redevelopment Areas by 2045, and no CRAs or CRA projects could be initiated after this year. Community Redevelopment Areas are special districts created by a local government, in partnership with a designated area within the community, to direct funds aimed at stabilizing and revitalizing the area. They can provide necessary financial support for infrastructure improvements and have proven critical for affordable housing initiatives in rural and metropolitan areas throughout the state.

They also have a Legislative Tracker you may find useful.