Meeting the Moment: Support that Sustains
By Erika Ritchie, Greater Green Bay Community Foundation
July 29, 2025 — Local nonprofits are the steady hands reaching out when neighbors need support, whether it’s a warm meal, a safe place to sleep, or compassionate care in the wake of stress or trauma. But behind the scenes, these same organizations are navigating a new and complex landscape.
Nonprofits nationwide are adapting to a changing funding environment. While some sources have decreased or eliminated funding, others are stepping up efforts to meet growing community needs. This evolving landscape brings both opportunities and challenges as nonprofits navigate when and where support will be available.
In response to the increased needs of nonprofits, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation awarded its largest amount of general operating support to date. Unlike grants tied to specific programs or projects, this flexible funding — totaling over $143,800 through Funds for Greater Green Bay — is giving 16 local nonprofits the freedom to use funds where they are needed most.
At the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Green Bay, that kind of flexibility has been especially important as the Club works to close unexpected funding gaps while maintaining its model of care that makes mental health services fully accessible to youth at no cost to families. By embedding support into daily activities, the Club removes barriers and stigma, ensuring kids can show up and get the help they need when they need it.
“Club is not a long-term or permanent counseling home, but it does fill that gap in support during a child’s greatest time of need,” said Johanna Wicklund, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Bay and Lakes Region. “In Brown County, there is at times a 6- to 8-month or longer waitlist for many clinicians and other resources that families need but do not have access to.”
Thanks to the Community Foundation and the generous donors who partner in providing these grants, the Club and other nonprofits are adapting to unexpected funding changes in real time.
Golden House continues to offer safety and shelter for survivors of domestic violence, even as rising costs and loss of funding through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) pose growing challenges. In Kewaunee and Oconto counties, general operating support for Bread by the Bay and Kingdom Come food pantries is helping keep doors open, lights on, and shelves stocked with nutritious food.
In each case, the Community Foundation’s grantmaking reflects deep trust in nonprofit leaders to allocate resources where they’ll have the greatest impact.
“General operating support is a beautiful thing,” says Wicklund. “When funders entrust nonprofits with the flexibility to apply support toward the areas of greatest need, that’s when our organizations are the healthiest and most nimble.”
Support like this isn’t just practical — it’s essential.
When nonprofits have the resources to respond in real time, they can remain focused on what matters most: serving people, meeting needs, and building a stronger community.
Funds for Greater Green Bay awards grants twice a year to support efforts serving Brown, Kewaunee, and Oconto counties. By supporting both critical programs and the organizations that deliver them, the program helps strengthen our quality of life today and help build a more resilient, connected community for the future.
Explore ways you can contribute to your favorite charities and the causes they champion at ggbcf.org/donors.
