Beyond the Bottom Line: Building Resilient Nonprofits in Uncertain Times

By Annie Dart, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation

August 15, 2025 — Across the country and here in Northeast Wisconsin, nonprofits rely on government grants to deliver essential services. Public funding sustains everything from health care and housing to education and food access. But seismic shifts in government grantmaking, reductions in the federal workforce, and sweeping policy changes are sending ripples through the sector both directly and indirectly.

To help make sense of this evolving landscape, we’ve compiled key data and insights that highlight both the scope of government support and the risks facing the nonprofit sector. Understanding these dynamics is the first step toward ensuring that nonprofits have the knowledge, tools, and support they need to remain resilient in the face of change.

National Overview

• 30% of U.S. nonprofits receive government grants totaling $303 billion annually. **
• Two-thirds of nonprofits received at least one government grant, resulting in an average of 25% of their revenue from government sources*.
• The available data only reflects a fraction of the sector. IRS Form 990 data captures just 1 in 6 nonprofits, leaving 85% of U.S. organizations out of funding analysis and likely understating the scope of the risk.**

Local Impact: Northeast Wisconsin

• Nonprofits in Wisconsin received $3.1 billion in government grants. *
• In Brown County, 78 nonprofits received $98.1 million, and more than half, 58.3%, are at risk of not being able to cover their expenses if they lose government grants. *
• In Kewaunee County, 5 nonprofits received $186,738, with 60% at risk. *
• In Oconto County, 8 nonprofits received $32.6 million, with 75% considered at risk. *

*Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics, 2021; **Candid, 2023

Could philanthropy replace federal funding when it recedes?

The answer is a resounding “no.” In 2023, the federal government awarded $303 billion in grants to just 30% of U.S. nonprofits, meaning the total amount of public funding across the entire sector is likely much higher.  In comparison, the combined assets of all U.S. private and community foundations total $1.466 trillion. At the 2023 rate of spending, all of the philanthropic assets would be depleted in less than five years.

What’s at Stake

These numbers tell a powerful story: Government funding plays a vital role in sustaining the services that keep our communities strong. As the funding landscape shifts, many organizations are facing mounting financial vulnerability.

Reductions in public funding force hard decisions – downsizing staff, cutting programs, or even closing doors. In this environment, it’s critical to equip nonprofits with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to plan for long-term sustainability.

This isn’t just about weathering the next storm, it’s about planning for the future of vital services in our community.

Supporting Nonprofits

Educational resources, financial training, and risk assessment tools can help nonprofits better understand where they are vulnerable, assess their revenue streams, and prepare for future shifts in funding. Strengthening these internal capacities is essential to building a more resilient nonprofit sector.

At the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, our Nonprofit Impact Initiative has been working to do exactly that. Through training, technical assistance, and peer learning we help nonprofit leaders strengthen their financial practices, strategic planning, and operational resilience.

By building these capacities now, we empower nonprofit leaders to make informed strategic decisions, so their work remains strong and effective.

What you can do

Together, we can ensure organizations have the resources they need to meet today’s needs and prepare for tomorrow’s challenges. Here are a few ways you can support: 

• Invest in capacity-building: Support the Nonprofit Impact Fund and help build strong sustainable organizations.
• Lend your expertise: Share your professional skills to help nonprofits improve internal operations.
• Spread the word: Raise awareness about the funding challenges nonprofits face and the importance of investing in their capacities.

Together, we can ensure local nonprofits are equipped to meet our community’s needs – now and in the years ahead.