It’s definitely a tough time for nonprofits—because it’s a tough time for many of the people they help.
As Lois Mikkila, executive director of the Association of Community Services of Howard County puts it: “Nonprofits have always been challenged to meet the needs of the people they serve while struggling to secure the resources they need to support their work.”
While the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the nimbleness and resilience of the nonprofit sector, it also increased the stress and burnout on nonprofit staff.
“And now, on top of that, we are in a time when nonprofit organizations are facing severe funding cuts, seeing rising demand for their services, and their very existence is being belittled and attacked,” said Mikkila. “Nonprofits are struggling with the uncertainty that is being created at the federal level, and they’re concerned about their future and what will happen to the people and causes they serve.”
The Association of Community Services of Howard County has directed much of its programming this year to addressing the current times, with topics such as understanding and navigating executive orders, leading an organization during turbulent times, and moving from risk to resilience.
Connecting to residents
As Howard County’s designated antipoverty community action agency, the Community Action Council of Howard County, Maryland, Inc. stands ready to act and respond to community needs, regardless of the reason. “Today is no different,” said CAC President Tracy Broccolino. “CAC is prepared to connect residents to critical resources through its five core services: food assistance, housing assistance, energy assistance, weatherization, and early childhood education.”
