November 2024 – by Melissa Hopkins, Executive VP of Sector advancement

The election is behind us. The Delaware Senate and House caucuses have selected their leadership, and now it’s time to think about the future and the crucial role nonprofits play in shaping future policy—both in Delaware and across the nation. Engaging in advocacy and collaboration is essential to addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector.

The Challenges We Face

Nonprofits continue to encounter critical systemic issues, including:

• Inequitable contract rates for service providers.
• Inconsistent contract management practices, such as delayed payments and lack of cost escalators in multi-year contracts.
• The absence of a dedicated point of contact in state government to address sector-specific concerns often results in months of unproductive back-and-forth without resolution.

These barriers are unsustainable, but through coordinated advocacy and proactive dialogue, we can help shape better partnerships between government and nonprofits.

Why Now Is the Time to Act

With Delaware welcoming a new Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the transition period offers unique opportunities to:

• Share your nonprofit’s story.
• Highlight how current policies affect your organization.
• Advocate for meaningful change.

Engaging now ensures that nonprofit concerns are front and center as the new administration sets its priorities.

How to Get Involved

Here are three actionable steps to participate in this critical moment:

1. Congratulate Legislators and Request Meetings – Send a note to newly elected or re-elected legislators. Express your congratulations and request a meeting to discuss the issues impacting your organization.
2. Host Policymakers at Your Nonprofit – Invite policymakers to visit your nonprofit. Showcase your work and share your needs for more equitable and effective partnerships with the government.
3. Participate in the Transition Process – Engage directly with Governor-Elect Meyer and Lieutenant Governor-Elect Gay’s transition efforts.

Transition Policy Committee meetings are underway and open to the public. Visit transition.delaware.gov to learn more and submit written comments or ideas.

Transition Policy Committees

Here are the committees shaping the transition, along with their leadership:

• Education & Livelihoods Committee
  Co-Chairs: Senator Jack Walsh and Professor Dana Davisson (Relay Delaware)
• Sustainable Systems and Resilient Communities Committee
  Co-Chairs: Sussex County Administrator Todd Lawson, Jen Cohan (Leadership Delaware), Tony DePrima (Retired, Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility)
• Governance, Innovation and Operational Excellence Committee
  Co-Chairs: Senator Laura Sturgeon and Anas Ben Addi (Delaware State University)
• Care and Community Actions Committee
  Co-Chairs: Lt. Governor-elect Kyle Evans Gay and Aaron Goldstein (Court of Chancery)

Meetings are open to the public, and you can also submit comments online.

Join the Movement

DANA is already actively participating in committee sessions and advocating for improved government-nonprofit partnerships. But we can’t do it alone. To make a lasting impact, we need your voice.

If you’d like guidance on how to engage, contact me, Melissa Hopkins, at [email protected] or J.L. Haynes at [email protected]. Together, we can influence the policy direction for the next four years (possibly eight years) and ensure nonprofits are central to decision-making.

Let’s lead the charge for a fairer, more equitable partnership between government and the nonprofit sector.