ACB - American City Bureau, Inc.

Today we celebrate our 112th Anniversary! Our company was founded in 1913. Since then, the world has seen its share of confusion and uncertainty. What we've learned is that your mission matters more than the noise around you. Stay grounded, stay committed. The work you do today shapes the future. You are the hands and feet of compassion, providing food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless, hope for the weary, and spiritual nourishment for those in need. Your work matters. It reflects love, bringing healing, justice, and support to communities nationwide. When challenges arise, it is imperative that your mission remain steadfast. By upholding best practices—integrity, donor stewardship, and good communication—you strengthen your impact and ensure your mission thrives. By staying calm and focused, together, we can move mountains! Stay the course, and trust in your mission and your donors. --American City Bureau, Inc.

𝗔 𝗪𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝗨𝗽 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 Last week, nonprofits across the country faced a moment of uncertainty when the President and the Office of Management and Budget temporarily halted all federal financial aid, including critical grants that support housing for the homeless, food assistance, and other essential services. While the funding was ultimately restored, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲-𝘂𝗽 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. For many nonprofits, federal grants and public funding are lifelines in their efforts to serve their communities.  𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘁? The reality is that financial disruptions—whether from government decisions, economic downturns, the death of a major donor, or unexpected crises—can happen at any time. 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁. Nonprofits must be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to financial resilience. Here are a few key steps every nonprofit should take to prepare for funding disruptions: • 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 – Aim for at least three to six months’ worth of expenses in unrestricted reserves to weather short-term funding gaps. • 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 – Relying too heavily on one funding source (like government grants) is risky. Strengthen fundraising efforts, explore corporate partnerships, and seek individual donor support.  I͟n͟v͟e͟s͟t͟i͟n͟g͟ ͟i͟n͟ ͟f͟u͟n͟d͟ ͟d͟e͟v͟e͟l͟o͟p͟m͟e͟n͟t͟ ͟i͟s͟ ͟i͟n͟v͟e͟s͟t͟i͟n͟g͟ ͟i͟n͟ ͟y͟o͟u͟r͟ ͟m͟i͟s͟s͟i͟o͟n͟.͟ • 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 – Identify potential risks and create a plan outlining how your organization would respond to a sudden funding shortfall. • 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 – Open, transparent communication with grantors and donors can help secure emergency funding if needed. • 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 – Maintain strong financial oversight to anticipate and address potential shortfalls before they become crises. This recent federal funding halt was a stark reminder that nonprofits must plan for the unexpected.  𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘂𝘀 𝘂𝗽. We need to be prepared for unexpected financial crisis—no matter its source. Our communities and those whom we serve need for us to do so. #NonprofitLeadership #FinancialResilience #ContingencyPlanning #NonprofitFinance