What to Know…When the Money Moves.

Greetings! Remember to book your space for Start Grant Writing and check out Big Mama’s Playbook for new grants! Happy Social Work Month to all my social work friends, colleagues, and former students! Social Work Month is celebrated in March to raise awareness about the social work profession and to recognize the profession’s history that dates back to the days of Jane Addams, co-founder of Hull House in Chicago, Ill, a famous settlement house in 1889, that provided social services to poor and largely immigrant populations.

Since 1983, I have dedicated most of my career to macro social work, which involves

tackling systemic problems that affect large groups, communities and cultures. Tackling

disparities in health and education is something I am deeply passionate about. This

mission continues to drive my work as an educator, grant seeker, nonprofit leader and

social justice advocate - to bridge gaps and create equitable opportunities for diverse

communities.

Health disparities are well documented in underserved communities as are disparities

in even accessing basic health care. Back in the eighties, I directed a grant-funded project

to address Black infant mortality in my hometown of Oakland, CA. Black babies were

dying at least 2.5 times the rate of White infants. Infant mortality is defined as babies who

die within their first year of life, typically it happens within the first few months. After

decades of work and resources dedicated to address this issue, the rates were beginning

to slowly trend downward. Health disparities have social/emotional and financial

consequences. As health care advocates, we frequently look to the federal government for

guidance, data & research, best practices and of course, funding. Funding to address:

• Why type 2 diabetes that impacts Black and Latinx Americans are at higher rates than

  Whites?
  

• Why non-White Americans with kidney failure are referred for transplants at lower

  rates and wait longer for them when they are?

Access to federal data to look at these problems and having committees of experts that

come together to provide their knowledge, skills, and technical assistance is in peril. That

changed by an Executive Order last month to formally disband the many health equity

panels designed to address the disparities – another victim of the assault on diversity,

equity, and inclusion – now we no longer have a “seat at the table” with the current

Administration to provide a voice for communities impacted by these numbers.

Let’s be real- when the Federal government stops focusing on the health of special

populations like seniors, children, low-income families, rural communities and those with

chronic health issues, that means more people will struggle to get the care they need. And

who’s left to step in? Nonprofits, churches, and community organizations - the ones

already doing more with less. Without health equity panels pushing for fairer policies,

we’ll see longer wait times, reduced access to care, and more folks falling through the

cracks What does this means for funding?

Organizations that serve these populations need to start planning now for how they

will meet growing needs with fewer federal resources. If you’ve been in this nonprofit

world long enough, you know one thing for sure: when the money moves, we have to be

ready to move too. And right now, with health equity panels shutting down, DEI initiatives

eliminated, signifies a pivotal shift in the landscape to support marginalized communities.

What happens when government funding shifts? Private foundations, donors, and

community funders will feel the pressure to fill the gap. Some will step up and redirect

their dollars toward health equity work, while others will stick to their existing priorities.

Either way, competition for funding is about to get tougher. The rules of the game are

shifting, and you need to be ready! Funding trends come and go - remember specialized

funding for emergency needs from COVID? It’s gone.

If you’re looking for funding, now is not the time to sit still. Those who adapt will be

the ones who keep their programs running. If all of this feels overwhelming, don’t worry -

there’s a way to get ahead of the changes. That’s why I invite you to join me for the Start

Grant Writing webinar series. Whether you’re new to grant writing, looking to refine your

approach, or trying to navigate shifting funding priorities, this series will give you the

strategies you need to understand the funding process and the importance of building

collaborative community relationships. Let’s make sure you and your organizations are

prepared for what’s next. You gotta know how to know…

Please take advantage of this opportunity and share with your networks!

Weekly wisdom, in their own words:

“At this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, I don't think you can help but be involved....”

— Nina Simone (February 21, 1933 - April 21, 2003)