This past summer, I joined the board of the NH Center for Nonprofits. Based on our reporting in Business NH Magazine, and talking with friends in the industry, I knew the enormous challenges they have been facing and wanted to help.
The past few months, especially during the recent government shutdown, have shown how many Americans are barely getting by and the many ways nonprofits meet the public’s needs.
I will emphasize here that what follows are my own opinions and do not reflect any official stance by the center. My short time on the board so far has been eye opening. Policies and funding at the state and federal levels have in many cases either made the jobs of nonprofits more difficult or caused actual harm.
Many nonprofits that receive government funding were scrambling to see how they would be able to provide services, if they even could, during the shutdown. It was a wakeup call as to how fragile our support systems are and how much we ask of nonprofits, especially in NH where our tax structure means nonprofits take on work that other state governments typically tackle.
While the government is now open, funding hasn’t stabilized. At the federal level, grant requirements are in flux depending on the policy priorities of the week. Many now come with requirements that may go against the missions of nonprofits, such as agreeing to support anti-homeless policies or to disavow their own DEI policies.
Our nonprofits need corporate support now more than ever. This month’s issue not only explores the significant challenges facing NH’s nonprofits, but also highlights several that are doing important work in the Granite State.
I encourage you to follow the lead of many of our Best Companies to Work For winners and implement paid volunteer time off for employees, match employee donations, set up a charitable giving committee where employees decide how to invest the business’s charitable donations or adopt a nonprofit to provide free services, and hold fundraisers or volunteer efforts.
Reach out to the NH Charitable Foundation for ways to connect with nonprofits that do the work you want to support, including those tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing businesses: affordable housing, workforce development, health care, and child care. And when you consider your end-of-year giving, dig deeper into your pockets if you can. While the world may seem dark at times, nonprofits are lights of hope.
Sincerely,
Matthew J. Mowry,
Co-Publisher and Executive Editor
