
Episode 290: When Nonprofits Can't Count on Washington
From Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon by The Scholars Strategy Network
December 16, 2025 · 31 min · Episode 290
About this episode
Professor Dyana Mason discusses the impact of government funding uncertainty on nonprofits during the holiday season.
As we head into the holiday season, many nonprofits are entering their busiest time of year while uncertainty around government funding continues to loom. Professor Dyana Mason explains how President Trump's executive actions and funding freezes have disrupted essential services — from food programs to international aid — and what that means for the people who rely on them. She breaks down why so many nonprofits depend on federal dollars, what happens when that money suddenly disappears, and how political pressures are putting new strain on these organizations. For more on this topic: Read Mason's op-ed in The Conversation : Nonprofits that provide shelter for homeless people, disaster recovery help, and food for low-income Americans rely heavily on federal funding – they would be reeling if Trump froze that money , coauthored with Mirae Kim.
People in this episode
Host: The Scholars Strategy Network
Guest: Dyana Mason
Topics covered
- nonprofits
- government funding
- essential services
- political pressures
- holiday season
Keywords
- nonprofits
- government funding
- essential services
- Trump
- political pressures
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Scholars Strategy Network, The Conversation
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