If we truly value our working Americans, veterans, families, seniors and children, we must stand up for the nonprofits that serve them. Standing up for nonprofits means telling our elected leaders that people should always come before politics.
Nonprofits are the quiet heroes of our communities. They feed hungry families, shelter survivors of violence, support veterans in crisis, and care for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In Utah alone, more than 11,000 nonprofits provide essential services every day — often where no one else will.
But now, their work is at risk.
Recent budget proposals are slashing funding for mental health care, environmental protections, and arts programs. Social service grants have been eliminated, while new regulations drain time and resources. Even more alarming, sweeping executive actions allow the president to label nonprofits as threats and shut them down — without evidence or due process.
The consequences are devastating. Veterans lose suicide prevention support. Seniors go without meals. Domestic violence shelters turn families away. Kids are left without after-school care, and rural clinics shut their doors.
Nonprofits aren’t political tools — they are lifelines rooted in compassion and service. They honor the dignity of every person, regardless of where they live, how they worship, or whom they love.
Budgets are moral documents. And right now, we must decide whether we invest in compassion, justice, and community — or allow politics to tear these supports away.
Stand with nonprofits: donate, volunteer, and call your elected officials. Because when these organizations are under attack, so is the well-being of us all.
Jill Bennett, CEO of Utah Nonprofits Association, Salt Lake City
