Giving Compass' Take:

• Christina Dragonetti at CalNonprofits argues the importance of nonprofits in our society and how now more then ever they need help and guidance when it comes to government contracts. 

• How can policymakers at a state-level create more consistent guidelines on how to modify contracts and grants?

• Learn about the need for cross-sector collaboration. 

More than 620 California nonprofits jumped at the chance to raise their voices to state government leaders about what they need to continue their work in the COVID-19 crisis. They responded quickly to a CalNonprofits questionnaire, and two key themes immediately emerged:

  • Nonprofits are adapting at lightning speed to serve their constituencies, whether delivering meals rather than serving them at a facility or having dentists at a nonprofit dental clinic do follow-ups and assessments via video.
  • Government, which provides about 30% of the funding of nonprofits, has acted inconsistently and unevenly to adapt contract requirements, invoicing procedures, and more, further adding to the burden nonprofits are taking on.

More than 1,100 nonprofits have signed onto a CalNonprofits-led letter urging specific actions from state government (you can sign on here), and this questionnaire focused more deeply on how nonprofits are impacted by the crisis and what government can do to help.

Read the full article about nonprofits and government contracts by Christina Dragonetti at CalNonprofits.