Even large agencies like United Way say they are feeling them.
Some North Alabama nonprofits are struggling to stay operational due to federal grant cuts.
United Way of North West Alabama in Florence raises money and receives grants to distribute to their smaller local organizations. They fund 13 different local nonprofits and 17 different programs but due to funding cuts, less grants will be given out this next funding cycle.
“We’re facing funding cuts for our organization so of course we have to think of United Way, but United Way as an organization is really only part of our mission,†CEO Jennifer McNulty said. “The other part is our community, these different 13 nonprofit partners that are also facing the same type of funding cuts that we’re facing.â€
McNulty says their organization had roughly $350,000 in federal grant cuts, explaining they will be forced to cut program allocations this next grant cycle by $50,000 dollars.
“At a time when we might feel like we need to keep and hold money back from them, now it’s even a bigger need that we need to be able to distribute those funds for them,†McNulty said.
Safe Place is one of the 13 organizations that receives funding from United Way. As an all inclusive domestic violence program, the executive director says it’s unfair people in the community who are struggling may not get the help they deserve.
“To continue the quality of services that we offer, it takes funding," Sandra Ells said, "it takes continuous funding and if this continues I don't know what we're going to have to do."
On top of reduced grants from United Way, Safe Place's major funder for their nonprofit, the Victims of Crime Act, lost nearly $200,000 in the last four years. Ellis says their lack of funding has left four positions empty over the last year. She says it’s been difficult on their staff to keep up with the growing need of services.
“I don't want to make those hard decisions, we don't want to have to make those hard decisions,†Ellis said. “Do we let staff go? Do we close the shelter? What are we going to have to do?"
The Community Action Agency is another nonprofit affected by the lack of federal grants. The executive director says two of their federal funding sources were recently put on pause, a supplemental fund on energy assistance and a weatherization program called LI-HEAP.
During the time of the pauses, David Crosby says their local partners, donors, and help from the community worked to offset the lack of federal funding.
“We take those funds that are available and we help those that are in need,†Crosby said. “Just a few weeks ago, we had up to 60 people outside waiting on us on Monday morning for us to open. That shows the need that’s there and so we have to continue to use whatever dollars were allocated.â€
With a stable decrease in their donations and funding, Crosby says all of the local nonprofits need community partnerships and donations now more than ever.
To donate to a local nonprofit of your choosing, click .
