PANO's Community Connector E-Newsletter: February 2025
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Resources & Updates on Recent Executive Orders & Funding Freeze
On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed dozens of Executive Orders (EOs) on a broad range issues affecting nonprofits and those we serve. Then, on January 27, a memo was released by the Office of Management & Budget (OMB) temporarily pausing all federal grants and loans that was to go into effect at 5:00 PM on January 28. Here's what's happened in the month since our last Community Connector went out.
The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), of which PANO is a proud member, has put together some incredibly helpful resources:
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion EOs FREE Upcoming Virtual Panel & Conversation offered in partnership with The Nonprofit Center at Lasalle University:In the wake of the EOs striking at DEI initiatives (and more), nonprofits everywhere are asking: Should We Say DEI? Answering this is not simple and one size will not fit all. This session brings together a panel of national and state leaders to provide legal and ethical considerations as your organization decides how to proceed. Along with providing guiding principles and questions for you and your board to discuss, you will hear from organizations who made decisions based on how they could best ensure service to those most vulnerable. And perhaps most important, you will have the opportunity to grapple with all this entails with your peers. Learn more and sign up here.
Upcoming Webinar on Minimizing Employment Law Risks in this New Legal Landscape: On Tuesday, March 25, nonprofit attorneys with Cheshire Law Group will cover shortcuts gone wrong and common misunderstandings and missteps that cause legal headaches when handling employment matters, touching on DEI considerations to help you make sense of how to further your organization's DEI goals while staying legally compliant. Learn more and register here.
Federal Judge Blocks DEI Orders: On Friday, February 21, a federal judge issued apreliminary injunctionblocking two executive orders (EO 14151, and EO 14173) attempting to terminate or change federal grants and contracts for programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The judge ruled that the policies and term “diversity, equity, and inclusion” as used in the EOs were potentially vague, discriminating, and unconstitutional by penalizing private organizations, including charitable nonprofits. However, agencies are permitted to proceed with reviewing various programs related to these EOs and to issue any reports as required under the EOs. The ruling applies nationwide.
Immigration EOs
Webinar Recording: On Friday, February 7, PANO hosted Executive Orders on Immigration: Information & Resources for PA Nonprofits. This session, led by two PA attorneys specializing in nonprofit law, covered:
The legal status and implications of these two Executive Orders
How to prepare your nonprofit for an interaction with ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement)
How to review your nonprofit’s I-9 compliance and prepare for potential I-9 audits and worksite visits (internal self-audits mitigate the risks of fines and penalties)
Tips for supporting your team during this time
Pennsylvania legislative updates
Access the recording here (FREE for PANO Members - must be logged in to your PANO Member account | $10 for Not-Yet Members).
Federal Funding Freeze Temporary Restraining Order & Preliminary Injunction Granted: Thanks to the quick action of NCN, a federal judge temporarily blocked the funding freeze the evening of January 28. As noted above, a Preliminary Junction was granted on February 25, blocking the new administration from enforcing two Executive Orders that would have allowed the termination or changing of federal grants/contracts for programs related to DEI.
Sharing resources within and between networks is more critical now than ever. PANO is one place to share information that may not be widely available. We welcome any information you have and would be willing to share more broadly; you can do so by emailing Executive Director Anne Gingerich (anne@pano.org).
Economic Impact of PA Nonprofits - Survey
Have you heard?
PANO is developing the first Economic Impact of Pennsylvania Nonprofits Report, in partnership with Fourth Economy. This report will provide data for all of us to use in telling the story of how nonprofits invest in our communities and residents - supporting health, culture, education, emergency services, worker support, economic opportunity, and so much more. And today, we need to tell this story more than ever before.
We recommend having someone from your organization who is familiar with your budget and operations complete the survey on behalf of the organization.
All information will be anonymously reported. All of the questions should be answered with your best estimates, including a few that cover the calendar year 2024 and a few that look to the future.
A Message from Nonprofits for the 119th Congress - National Sign-On Letter Update
Last month, PANO shared this Nonprofit Community Letter, drafted by the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) to ensure our Representatives and Senators understand the importance and impact of charitable organizations to their constituents and communities.
And we're pleased to report back that more than 4,500 charitable organizations from all 50 states signed on to this letter, urging the 119th Congress to keep front of mind the reality that charitable nonprofits are essential to the U.S. economy and society, including as significant employers, taxpayers, and partners with government at all levels.
Our board is currently in the process of reviewing and updating some of our policies. In the course of this process, we've realized we don't have a gift acceptance policy. Where do we even start?
While this particular type of policy is not required under the IRS Code, it's one that we recommend nonprofits develop in order to avoid having to make "heat-of-the-moment" decisions in the face of a potentially controversial gift - or even just one that could create more problems than it's worth. In general, it's helpful to consider:
Limits on persons or entities from whom your organization will accept gifts
Limits on the types of gifts that will be accepted
Limits based on the practical or financial implications of accepting a gift
Limits on the purposes for which a gift will be used
As many "what ifs" as possible
Any potential unintended consequences of accepting a gift, applying an equity lens to this particular consideration
This is, of course, just the basics! For more, check out:
What is Digital Strategy?...And Why You Really Need One Now Wednesday, March 5 | 1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | FREE Affiliate Partner Webinar (Tech Impact) | Free to attend! Learn More|Register Now
Integrating Measurement & Technology Tuesday, March 11 | 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | FREE Affiliate Partner Webinar (Tech Impact) | Free to attend! Learn More | Register Now
Do I Really Need to Redesign My Website? Wednesday, March 12 | 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | FREE Affiliate Partner Webinar (Tech Impact) | Free to attend! Learn More | Register Now
Charitable Giving: Enhancing Relationships and Ensuring Compliance Wednesday, March 12 | 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Webinar(Nonprofit Issues) | $45for PANO Members, $100forNot-Yet Members Learn More |Register Now
