Silicon Valley organizations are providing support to local nonprofits as they navigate changes in federal funding and regulations.
Nonprofits have been affected by federal spending cuts, prompting groups such as the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits to offer resources and legal assistance. According to San José Spotlight, these efforts aim to help nonprofit leaders manage shifting grant rules, funding freezes, and other challenges.
The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley is offering up to 10 hours of free legal services for nonprofits dealing with issues related to federal contracts, internal operations, and more. The foundation’s nonprofit protection project has assisted 35 clients so far and was launched in partnership with the council of nonprofits, funded by Sobrato Philanthropies and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation with $345,000. Nonprofits can request legal counsel through a form on the law foundation’s website.
Kyra Kazantzis, CEO of the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits, said her organization began responding immediately after the election. “We know that the Trump administration is no fan of the nonprofit sector. So we, right away after the election, started responding,” Kazantzis told San José Spotlight. She added that her group will continue convening people, hosting wellness programs, sending newsletters about federal updates, and providing analysis on how to respond. The council also plans a conference in April for nonprofits.
Melissa Hollatz, senior counsel for the nonprofit protection project at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, said: “I think the secret sauce for this particular project is there are a lot of organizations that need a lower barrier to (entry). Law firms have extraordinary resources, but it’s just difficult. It’s a longer path to get in to see them.”
Kazantzis said some local nonprofits have shrunk or closed due to funding disruptions and staff face burnout from increased demand for services without adequate resources. “We’re waiting for the worst right now, because the worst hasn’t happened yet,” she said. “I know nonprofits are very resilient. As these changes and cuts and shrinkages of availability of services happen, nonprofits are going to rise to the occasion, because they always do.”
