Insights & Ideas

As Delaware approaches the start of the 2026 legislative session, several political and federal policy developments are emerging that could directly affect nonprofits and the communities they serve. State fiscal uncertainty, new budget projections, uncertainty surrounding federal housing policy, and ongoing disputes over food assistance all underscore the importance of nonprofit engagement in the months ahead.  DEFAC Projections for December and Delaware’s Financial […]

WILMINGTON – DANA, the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, has received grant funding to bolster southern Delaware nonprofits by strengthening their boards of directors.  The Mid-Del Charitable Foundation has awarded DANA a $1,000 grant to recruit and match community-based leaders from Kent and Sussex counties with local nonprofits through DANA’s Board Connections program.   Board Connections matches community professionals with DANA nonprofit members seeking board members based on skills, interests and values, […]

WILMINGTON – DANA, the Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement, is proud to announce the promotion of one of its longest-tenured staff members.  This month, DANA promoted Melissa Hopkins to Executive Vice President & Chief External Affairs Officer. Previously, Hopkins served as Executive Vice President of Sector Advancement.  In her new role, Hopkins will continue to lead DANA’s government affairs and […]

Delaware’s fiscal 2027 operating budget won’t be voted on for more than seven months, but the process to craft the spending plan is well underway. The Delaware Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is completing its round of agency budget hearings this week, and DANA was there to advocate for Delaware’s nonprofit sector.  DANA testified at […]

After 43 days, the federal government shutdown has officially come to an end. Congress passed a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) to reopen the government, and President Trump signed it into law on Wednesday, November 12. This action immediately restarts normal federal operations and restores access to critical programs that millions of people rely on.  Below […]

By James Bush and Melissa Hopkins   Governor Matt Meyer has called a special session for November 13, 2025, to address a fiscal issue that could significantly affect Delaware’s budget, and by extension, the nonprofit sector. At the heart of this session is a single question:  Should Delaware “decouple” its state tax code from recent federal […]

WILMINGTON – The recent revelation that online fundraising platform GoFundMe created donation pages for 1.4 million charitable nonprofits without their approval or consent has sparked confusion and turmoil throughout the nonprofit community.  News reports indicated that GoFundMe mined public data of 1.4 million 501(c)(3) organizations, along with information collected from “trusted partners” such as Candid […]

As of October 22, 2025 Delaware nonprofit leaders, your resilience is unmatched. You continue showing up for communities, keeping programs running, supporting staff, and adapting through uncertainty. Please know that DANA is here to support you. If your organization is experiencing challenges because of the shutdown, reach out, because we are in this together.  The federal […]

As part of DANA’s Strategic Priority to “Shape Public Policy to Strengthen the Nonprofit Sector” (DANA Strategic Plan Goal), we are activating nonprofit voices early in the fiscal 2027 state budget development process to ensure that the needs of Delaware’s nonprofit sector are heard before funding decisions are finalized.  DANA is mobilizing nonprofit leaders to […]