Resources to Navigate Uncertainty
Last reviewed/updated August 1, 2025
See also Navigating Uncertainty in 2025
Recent federal government actions such as the Office of Management and Budget memo freezing federal grants and sweeping executive orders, coupled with a bleak state and federal budget outlook, are understandably causing deep concern within nonprofits about our missions and the people and communities we serve.
Especially in times like these, it’s important to examine your organization’s capacity and systems, to help strengthen sustainability and make informed decisions. This resource list, building on one from our friends at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, is designed to connect you with information and tools to help navigate the uncertainty. It will be updated regularly.
Have a resource to suggest? Let us know!
Fundraising and Philanthropy
Communicating with Donors in an Uncertain Environment (Blackbaud)
Steps that everyone involved in fundraising can take to keep donors informed and engaged.
Informing Philanthropy on New Executive Actions (Council of New Jersey Grantmakers)
A compilation of resources for and about philanthropy.
How Funders Can Respond to an Unprecedented Threat to Nonprofits (Center for Effective Philanthropy)
Questions that grantmakers should consider in this moment.
The Racial Equity Advancement and Defense Initiative (READI) (ABFE)
A collaborative effort led by ABFE, in partnership with Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, Hispanics in Philanthropy, and Native Americans in Philanthropy.
Legal & HR Compliance
Nonprofit Legal Compliance in an Unfriendly Political Environment (Nonprofit Quarterly)
Checklist of compliance items to prepare in the event of a threat. Written by Gene Takagi, Esq., of NEO Law Group.
Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives
Guidance issued February 13, 2025, by the attorneys general of 16 states, including New Jersey, to “help businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations operating in our respective states understand the continued viability and important role of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility efforts (sometimes referred to as ‘DEI’ or ‘DEIA’ initiatives) in creating and maintaining legally compliant and thriving workplaces.”
Open letter from former EEOC officials regarding DEI workplace practices
Signed by 10 former U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) officials, this was published April 3 in response to a document posted by Andrea Lucas, the Acting Chair of the EEOC, that the former officials fear will chill legal efforts to advance DEI. (The Lucas document they are responding to, which was issued by the Acting Chair without a full EEOC vote, is here.)
The Department of Justice’s “Guidance for Recipients of Federal Funding on Unlawful Discrimination”: What You Need to Know
Fact sheet produced by Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Democracy Forward, LatinoJustice PRLDEF, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the National Women’s Law Center in response to a July 29 memo from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. That memo seeks to dramatically expand the federal government’s interpretation of what constitutes “illegal DEI” by recipients of federal funds, including nonprofits.
Advisory to Nonprofit Organizations and Social Service Providers Regarding Immigration Enforcement
Produced by Lowenstein Sandler LLP, Make the Road New Jersey, and Morris County Organization for Hispanic Affairs, to educate nonprofits on their rights to protect their immigrant clients and to help them establish best practices.
When the Government Comes Knocking at Your Nonprofit’s Door—How to Be Prepared and What to Do
Webinar recording and slides from the law firm Venable, LLP.
Nonprofit Toolkit: Resources for organizations facing government investigations
Series of publications and guides for nonprofits, produced by ProtectDemocracy.
Nonprofits Under Fire: How the IRS Can – and Cannot – Revoke Federal Tax-Exempt Status – Tenenbaum Law Group PLLC
Legal Resources List from Pro Bono Partnership
A compilation from our friends at Pro Bono Partnership, a nonprofit that provides free business and transactional legal help to other nonprofits serving underrepresented people or enhancing the quality of life throughout neighborhoods in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Scenario and Program Planning
How to Simplify and Streamline During a Crisis (Nonprofit Risk Management Center)
“If you face an existential threat or mission-disrupting event or decision over which you have no control, gather your team to take these actions.”
Nonprofit Scenario Planning (The Bridgespan Group)
Guide to build scenario plans to successfully navigate uncertainty of local, national, or even global events.
Emergency Succession Plan Template (Propel Nonprofits)
Craft an emergency response plan should your Executive Director become ill or temporarily unable to perform their duties.
True Business Planning for Nonprofit (Nonprofit Financial Commons) (Video)
The distinction between business planning, financial planning, and strategic planning; how to present risks to board members; frameworks to analyze your model and explain to stakeholders.
Resiliency Tactics During Financial Crisis: The Nonprofit Resiliency Framework (Wiley)
A research study establishing the Nonprofit Resiliency Framework mapping tactics in five areas: financial, human resources, outreach, program and services, and management and leadership.
Risk Assessment Template (Tangelo Tree Consulting)
Identify risks; rate likelihood of occurrence; rate potential impact; identity top risks for further discussion; plan to mitigate risk.
Financial Modeling
OMB’s Temporary Pause on Federal Financial Assistance: Detailed Implications for CFOs (BDO)
An overview of the financial implications of the federal actions for CFOs.
Finance Fundamentals for Nonprofits (Nonprofit Finance Fund)
A collection of tools and resources to help you navigate change and opportunity.
Navigating Through Times of Financial Crisis (Nonprofit Finance Fund)
Assess your nonprofit’s potential financial risks and create a plan to respond to them.
What to Watch and Do as Your Nonprofit Enters a Chaotic 2025 (Nonprofit Financial Commons)
(Video) Nonprofit leaders and experts examine key financial trends that nonprofits need to navigate an uncertain landscape.
12 Urgent Financial Action Steps for Nonprofits: a 2025 Checklist (Nonprofit Financial Commons)
“This article is intended to help nonprofit organizations take on the first phase of what is likely to be an extended period of financial uncertainty. It is structured as an action checklist designed to build your organization’s agility under turbulent conditions.”
Scenario Budget Planning Template (Propel Nonprofits)
Think through different possibilities and consider the impact on your programs and organization.
Cash Flow Management (Propel Nonprofits)
Management strategies to help your nonprofit prevent cash flow shortages.
Cash Flow Template (Propel Nonprofits)
Template to help you understand the ebbs and flows of your cash.
Cash Flow Management: A Tactical Review for Nonprofits of All Sizes (Nonprofit Financial Commons) (Video)
Tools to use for projections and forecasts, and tactics to manage cash after you have identified a potential problem.
Steps Your Nonprofit Can Take During Uncertain Times (Sax LLP)
Proactive steps you can take to safeguard your organization.
Cash Flow Considerations: Federal Funding Pause (CLA)
The most urgent need for many organizations — particularly for those with tight balance sheets and reliance on timely federal grant reimbursements — is cash flow.
Understanding Nonprofit Markets (Nonprofit Financial Commons)
Framework through which leaders can segment the market, develop a shared understanding of relevant forces, and prioritize the most pressing market-based challenges they face.
Do You Have the “Right Revenue?” (Spectrum Nonprofit Services)
Explore “right” revenue as a way of analyzing and deepening your understanding of the connection between financial resources and mission impact.
Advocacy Resources
Summary of Executive Orders Issued by the White House (National Council of Nonprofits)
A summary grid of some of the Executive Orders issued by the White House, their potential impact on nonprofits, and links to additional information. See also General FAQs about executive actions affecting nonprofits. Both documents are updated frequently.
Advocacy Causes and Organizations (NJ Center for Nonprofits)
A “first stop” list of some New Jersey and national organizations focused on specific policy issues.
Nonprofits CAN Lobby (NJ Center for Nonprofits)
Our overview of the IRS lobbying regulations governing 501(c)(3) public charities.
New Jersey’s Lobby Disclosure Law (NJ Center for Nonprofits)
Our summary of the New Jersey statute governing lobbying (applies to all entities, including nonprofits, that influence NJ legislation, regulations or governmental processes)
Nonpartisan Voter Engagement Guide for New Jersey Nonprofits
Produced by Nonprofit VOTE, the National Council of Nonprofits, and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits.
Boards & Governance
Governing in a Time of Crisis (Propel Nonprofits)
10 actions for boards.
Revisiting the Financial Oversight Role of Nonprofit Boards (Nonprofit Financial Commons)
(Video) The real financial governance challenges of nonprofit boards and how they can function more effectively through redirecting efforts and redefining duties.
Beyond Financial Oversight: Expanding the Board’s Role in the Pursuit of Sustainability (Nonprofit Quarterly)
This article stresses that sustainability and engagement with the work is essential for nonprofit boards as they approach the future.
How Board Members Can Learn to Spot the Red Flags (Propel Nonprofits)
Rather than expecting board members to instantly recognize a problem in the making, let’s encourage boards to learn to ask the questions that will lead them there.
The Board’s Financial Leadership (Nonprofit Financial Commons)
(Video) Recorded webinar to help nonprofit boards understand their fiscal leadership, including fiduciary duties, committees, audit, legal forms, and internal controls.
Boards in Times of Adaptation (Propel Nonprofits) (Video)
Recorded webinar.
Trauma and Self Care
Trauma Showing Up at Work: Recognizing it and Offering Support to Sustain Your People (Nonprofit HR)
Article includes links to additional resources.
How Nonprofits Can Prioritize Self-Care and Prevent Burnout in 2025 (Flipcause/The Modern Nonprofit)
Data Privacy and Cyber Security
Earning trust: the imperative of data privacy for nonprofits (National Council of Nonprofits)
Article includes links to additional resources.
Cyber Security for Nonprofits (National Council of Nonprofits)
Article includes links to additional resources.
Surveillance Self-Defense (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
Comprehensive data security resources.
Government Data Archives
The Data Rescue Project
A multi-organization effort to “serve as a clearinghouse for data rescue-related efforts and data access points for public US governmental data that are currently at risk.”
The Wayback Machine (Internet Archive)
An online library and archive where users can search for older versions of over 900 billion web pages and other resources.
Selected links to government preservation websites, articles or publications:
- How nonprofits can find deleted government websites – article from wiredimpact.com; includes links related to healthcare, environment, the Census, and more.
- Researchers rush to preserve federal health databases before they disappear from government websites – article describes and links to a variety of efforts to preserve government public health data.
- Nothing Without Us – US Agency for International Development (USAID) Disability Policy Guide (October 2024)
The National Council of Nonprofits Network
National Council of Nonprofits
The nation’s largest network of nonprofits.
Find your state association of nonprofits
Tap into state and local networks and resources.
The Center’s advocacy, communications and education programs are made possible by Center members.
If your organization is a dues-paying member, thank you being part this network to strengthen the charitable community for all people of our state.
If you’re not a member yet, check out the many benefits of membership at njnonprofits.org/membership. Membership is a sound investment in your organization and in New Jersey’s nonprofit community for the people of our state.