Oklahomans have been through some tough times to say the least. Around this time each year when the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon surges through our streets, we are reminded of the harrowing day that struck our city 30 years ago, during which time I was proud to respond with the American Red Cross. This time five years ago, we were all grappling with the onset of a novel virus that we didn’t know yet would lead to a pandemic that changed the world forever. I was proud at that time not only to lead the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits but also chair the board of the National Council for Nonprofits. So many Oklahomans have similar stories and more of rising to meet some of these historic challenges, but I share mine with you to underscore the seriousness of the current situation: During my more than 30 years of nonprofit leadership, I have never seen anything like the funding crisis currently impacting nonprofits. Due to a combination of Executive Orders at the federal level and Department of Government Efficiency efforts at both the federal and state levels, nonprofits are experiencing unprecedented budget cuts in the form of cancelled grants and contracts, delayed payments and other disruptions to planned funding. Oklahoma nonprofits across the state are reporting millions in related cuts to their budgets, and any more cuts are expected. Many of the policies that set these cancellations in motion are being challenged in the court system, but even delays can have catastrophic impacts on nonprofits and the critical services they provide to Oklahomans. Nonprofits across the state are mobilizing quickly to analyze staffing, service offerings, contracts they have with their own vendors, real estate leases and much more to identify how they can pay their own bills and stay in business. Some experiencing major cuts are looking at how to consolidate or even shutter, and these concerns are guaranteed to become considerably bleaker as time marches on. As a reminder, nonprofits are granted our special tax status because we have proven to the government that we are established for the public good, very often delivering a service to the population that the government may otherwise provide if not for the presence of that nonprofit. Federal, state and municipal governments will support the cost of that work through government grants and contracts. As a national average, government grants and contracts make up about one-third of nonprofit funding, according to the National Council of Nonprofits. Make no mistake that the abrupt cessation of these dollars will lead to an increase in hunger, homelessness, poverty and countless other negative impacts in an already need-intense state, in addition to the economic impacts on the vendors, landowners, employees and others who depend on revenue or paychecks from nonprofits to stay afloat. After all, the nonprofit sector is the third largest non-government employer in Oklahoma. So, what can Oklahomans do in the face of all this? As always, we encourage you to raise your voices. Call your elected officials. Do as much as you can to give a bit extra to your favorite cause. However, very importantly, more than ever, now is also a wonderful time to support your local economy by donating your time and talents. Through all these changes, nonprofits are experiencing increased needs for professional services such as legal, human resources and accounting services, among others. A trusted counselor serving on the board or otherwise in a volunteer capacity is not only invaluable in terms of operations but can help offset costs. Even if you do not have one of these skillsets, consider reaching out to your favorite nonprofit to see how you can volunteer. The national value of volunteer time is an impressive $34.79 per hour, according to the Independent Sector, so your time can make a difference not only for a nonprofit’s bottom line during these challenging times but also for the individuals that nonprofit provides much-needed services for every day. Yesterday, today and tomorrow – we are all in this together!