Nonprofit Business Agility Series

Editorial by Melissa Hovey, Executive Director of SHARE Charlotte

Nonprofit leaders have weathered extraordinary challenges in recent years.

Just as we are emerging from the depths of the COVID-19 crisis, our sector is now confronting the largest federal funding cuts in its history.

In Mecklenburg County alone, 520 nonprofits have depended on $522 million in federal funding (in 2022). This is funding that has been cut, reduced or is now at risk. And these threats extend beyond federal sources: funding shifts at the county and corporate levels are compounding uncertainty for organizations across our community.

Yet despite these obstacles, nonprofits continue to stand strong, delivering unwavering support to vulnerable families, youth, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, animals and the environment. The need has never been greater.

We once thought the pandemic was the ultimate unprecedented crisis, but the current inequity — soaring community needs paired with declining resources — surpasses anything we’ve faced before.

So how do we respond? How do we, as a sector, meet this moment with courage and creativity to emerge stronger and more resilient than ever?

Nonprofit leaders are seeking practical tools, trusted guidance, and opportunities to connect as they navigate these unprecedented challenges. The answers lie within our sector—through convening,  shared knowledge, lived experiences, and collective expertise.

The Nonprofit Business Agility Series was created to meet this need. It is a collaborative initiative of Foundation For The Carolinas, United Way of Greater Charlotte, The Lee Institute and SHARE Charlotte. 

This free three-part series for nonprofit leaders focuses on Reality, Resilience and Response.

In the first session, Reality (May 27), we featured two panels, led by Tracy Russ of Foundation for the Carolinas and  Peter Blair of the  Lee Institute.

The takeaways were sobering: 

• Private foundation funding amounts to just one thirty-fifth of federal funding, highlighting that private dollars alone are nowhere near sufficient to fill the massive gap left by federal cuts.
• Additionally, nonprofit leaders expressed frustration over the lack of support from their boards and the expectation from funders to collaborate on complex issues without providing the necessary funding or resources.

It was clear that our sector will need to cultivate new sources of funding and build/strengthen nonprofit Boards and partnerships with help from funders and collaborators ready to pioneer new solutions better suited for our current environment. 

The second session, Resilience (June 24), focused on two pain points that came out of the first session – creating a safe space for questions and dialogue.

• Building a Together Mindset: Holding Boards Accountable – co-led by Anne Marie Forbes, Nonprofit Board Expert and Melissa Hovey
• Making Collaboration Real: The Collaboration Continuum – co-led by Laura Yates Clark, Foundation For The Carolinas and Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, United Way of Greater Charlotte

These two workshops offered valuable insights and, more importantly, created a space for leaders to ask their most pressing questions. We expect to offer more on these topics moving forward.

DO NOT MISS THE THIRD SESSION

If you were not able to join us or the first sessions, you have time to participate in the final installment of the series: 

THEME: Response
July 22 | 9 to 11 a.m.
Carolina Theatre at Belk Place 

This third interactive session is about responding to current events and providing tools for leaders to help them navigate moving forward.

• Scenario Planning  – How to plan for funding shortfalls and hear from leaders who have navigated these changes.
• The One Big Beautiful Bill – What’s included and what it means for nonprofits.
• Tools to support your organization:
  • Building Agility Playbook – A dynamic playbook developed by Foundation For The Carolinas will include tools, resources and support to strengthen and build resilience.
  • Nonprofit  Support Hub  – Online repository of helpful resources.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The goal of the Nonprofit Business Agility Series is to provide ongoing support to nonprofit leaders by tapping into the expertise of both local and national leaders who are guiding organizations through these challenging times.

We also aim to create opportunities for funders and board members to come together and learn how they can effectively support nonprofit leaders during this critical period.

Charlotte is a unique city; few large metropolitan areas demonstrate this level of collaboration and coordination to address challenges with the shared goal of building more impactful, sustainable organizations.

Along the way, we’ll likely face difficult conversations and tough decisions as we reevaluate our business models and adapt to meet the reality of the funding challenges.

As the leader of SHARE Charlotte with a mission to build a better Charlotte by EMPOWERING NONPROFITS AND HELPING PEOPLE invest in their communities in ways that matter most to them – I am excited to work on this collaborative effort.

We owe it to our 750+ nonprofit partners, the Charlotte community, and future generations not to let this moment set us back, but to use it as a catalyst to emerge stronger and more united!