Background

Executive Orders (EOs) are issued by the president to provide guidance and directives to federal agencies on their operations and policies, and they have the force of law. Since taking office, the Trump Administration has issued numerous executive orders and memorandums that have raised significant concerns about potentially catastrophic impacts on the nonprofit community and their missions.

Why It Matters

Delaware’s nonprofit organizations provide vital services to residents across our state, ranging from childcare and meals for seniors, to counseling and assistance for the unhoused and people dealing with addiction and mental health issues. Many of these groups rely on federal funds, either through direct grants and contracts or pass-through funding from state and local governments, to operate.

The recent executive orders and directives from the White House have sowed confusion and concern among Delaware nonprofits about the future of their funding and their ability to carry out their mission. Below are information and resources to help nonprofits navigate this rapidly evolving landscape.

Tracking Federal Actions

National Council of Nonprofits – Summary of Executive Orders

White House Memo: “Advancing United States Interests When Funding Nongovernmental Organizations” (February 6, 2025)

• Summary: Directs agencies to review all funding provided to nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure future funding decisions align with the goals and priorities of the current administration.
• National Council on Nonprofits response
• Impact: Nonprofits partnering with federal government agencies or receiving federal funding, especially through government grants and contracts, may experience longer wait times and slower processing, loss of points of contact or difficulty reaching them, and increased strain on relationships.
• Action Item: Nonprofits should advocate for and talk to government partners about government grants and contracting reform and provide specific examples of how processes and reporting requirements could be streamlined.

Executive Order: “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” (January 21, 2025)

• Summary: Requires every federal grant or contract to certify it is compliant with “anti-discrimination” laws and does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate “antidiscrimination” laws. The Office of Management and Budget issued a memo on January 27 that called for the pause of all federal funding to NGOs, which immediately was challenged in U.S. District Court.
• Update (February 10): A U.S. District Court judge in Rhode Island ruled that the administration has not complied with an earlier order that blocked its freeze on federal assistance and ordered agencies to immediately restore any paused or withheld dollars during continuing legal proceedings.
• Update (February 3): On February 3, a U.S. District Court judge in Washington, D.C. issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), blocking this order and effectively prohibiting the federal government from stopping the disbursement of these federal funds. Had that not happened, trillions of dollars in federal financial assistance would have been frozen.

Executive Order: “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship” (January 20, 2025)

• Summary: Claims that combatting “misinformation,” “disinformation,” and “malinformation” are infringements on First Amendment freedom of speech.
• Impact: Nonprofits working on specific issues and from various subsectors seen as and providing information contrary to the Administration may be targeted.

Executive Order: “Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions” (January 20, 2025)

• Summary: Rescinds previous Order promoting the arts, humanities, and museum and library services.
• Impact: Arts and culture nonprofits, museums, and libraries will no longer be “integrated into strategies, policies, and programs that advance the economic development, well-being, and resilience of all communities”, among other things, by the Trump Administration.

Executive Order: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” (January 20, 2025)

• Summary: Directs federal agencies to remove undocumented immigrants from the country. Requires review of all federal funding to nongovernmental organizations supporting or providing services to undocumented immigrants for conformity, waste, fraud, abuse, and compliance with immigration laws and pauses funding.
• Update (February 5): The U.S. Department of Justice issued a memo on February 5 requiring all departments to “identify all contracts, grants, or other agreements with organizations that support or provide services to removable or illegal aliens.”

Official Statements, Op-Eds and Press Releases

Press Release: Survey Reveals Delaware Nonprofits at Risk Due to Federal Funding Issues (February 20, 2025)

DANA Survey of Delaware Nonprofits on Impact of Executive Orders and Federal Policy Changes (February 20, 2025)

Press Release: DANA Calls Attention to Urgent Challenges Nonprofits Face Amid Federal Funding Disbursement Pause (January 28, 2025)

Resources

Employer Rights Related to Immigration

• A Guide for Employers: What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace (NILC, 2024)
• Advice for Non Profits if ICE comes (New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Lawyers Alliance for New York)
• Protecting Immigrants from ICE Enforcement(California Primary Care Association)
• WARRANTS AND SUBPOENAS What to Look Out For and How to Respond (NILC, 2020)
• Delaware ACLU Resources on “Know Your Rights” in multiple languages

Delaware 211

We are hearing from many nonprofits that their clients have questions or seeking resources based on the Executive Orders and changes in federal government policy. The United Way’s 211 service can help to direct individuals to the right resource, offering assistance in multiple languages. Nonprofits can also use 211 to direct their clients to the correct resources.

Additional Information

• Guidance for Business on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Employment Initiatives in the Workplace
• Understanding Trump Administration Executive Orders on DEI

Background

Following this most recent election, Delaware’s state and local governments have seen new leaders at all levels. With these changes in leadership come new administrative policies and proposals.

Blog Posts

Building Bridges: Opportunities for Nonprofits in Wilmington’s New Government

Navigating Change: Considerations for Nonprofits During Government Transitions

Standards for Excellence of Program Evaluation 

• Advancing the Mission through Public Policy – Members only
• Stand for Your Mission – Nonprofit Board Advocacy Playbook – Members only

Government Sites

• State of Delaware General Assembly
• Delaware Public Meeting Calendar
• Delaware State Budget Development

• Legislative Advocacy in a Virtual World
• Staying Nonpartisan: Permissible Election Activities Checklist for 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organizations

Each year, each administration brings new opportunities for DANA to advance nonprofit interests. The past two years have been a focus on aiding Delaware nonprofits navigate and survive during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Through its advocacy, DANA partnered with philanthropy to send over $5 million in private donations to Delaware nonprofits and secured an allocation of $25 million in Federal CARES act funds to reimburse nonprofits for Covid-related expenses.  Today DANA is educating government officials on the opportunity to invest in nonprofits through Federal ARPA funding.

• 2024 Public Policy One Pager