Supporting Minnesota
We stand with our colleagues at the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN), and the people of the Twin Cities, and we wanted to share a message from MCN’s President & CEO, Nonoko Sato:
Minnesota is being asked to do the impossible once again: to hold unbearable grief at the same time we are holding our communities together.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, federal immigration officials shot and killed Alex Pretti in south Minneapolis. On January 14, in a case of mistaken identity, federal immigration officials shot Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in the leg and Victor Manuel Díaz died while in ICE custody. U.S. citizens, including ChongLy Thao, a Hmong elder and Minnesotan, have been detained. Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was detained by ICE, and his blue bunny hat became a symbol of the cruelty inflicted upon our Black and Brown communities by federal agents. These are only a handful of the most egregious actions by federal immigration officials in Minnesota in the last three weeks alone.
The data and lived experiences are clear: federal immigration officials through Operation Metro Surge are terrorizing our communities, violating constitutional rights, and so far have seen very little accountability.
In a campaign DHS claims targets only “the worst of the worst,” only an estimated eight percent of the 3,000 ICE arrests through Operation Metro Surge fall in that category; an estimated 73.6 percent of current ICE detainees are Minnesotans who have no prior or current criminal record.
Multiple local law enforcement agencies, school districts, and physicians have released public statements condemning ICE agents’ tactics: racially profiling individuals, physically harassing and unlawfully searching and arresting individuals, creating unsafe environments in vulnerable settings (such as schools and clinics), obstructing care, threatening and retaliating against citizens peacefully exercising first amendment rights.
We grieve, we are afraid, and we are angry. Yet we persist, because Minnesotans refuse to back down.
As an estimated 50,000 peaceful protesters demonstrated on January 23, 2026 (the first general strike in the United States in 80 years, and the state’s second largest march in history, also held on the coldest day of the year), Minnesotans will help our neighbors in need no matter what.
Neighbors are putting their bodies in the line of harm to protect strangers, children, and our most vulnerable people. Everyday people are overwhelmingly responding to calls for food, supplies, security, and shelter. Nonprofits are stepping up and leading in this moment despite funding cuts. We see community flexing their muscle memory, because Minnesota is strong and we do not forget.
For our non-Minnesotan friends, thank you for your outreach and outpouring of support, and here are some tangible ways you can be in solidarity with the people of Minnesota.
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Support local organizations and mutual aid. Many groups are scrambling to support innocent detainees released with their phones and IDs confiscated, are trying to get food to families who are too afraid to leave their homes, and are providing rent assistance as the first of the month approaches and people are unable to work. MCN has curated a list of organizations seeking donations to meet immediate needs.
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Defend our democracy. The U.S. Senate is voting this week on a funding bill that would authorize an additional $10 billion dollars for ICE. We know that H.R. 1, which cut core basic needs programs, also significantly increased funding for immigration enforcement. We have an opportunity to tell Congress not to spend a dollar more on Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Call your Congressional Representatives and demand that the actions occurring here in Minnesota and across the country stop at (202) 224-3121.
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Share our stories. Please amplify what you are hearing and seeing about Minnesota across social media, but also to your networks, friends, and family offline. Here is a list of testimonials from Minnesotans you can share.
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Be grounded in truth. While lack of transparency makes accountability difficult, get your information from trusted news sources and independent journalists. Local Minnesota journalists, community leaders, and elected leaders are the best source of real-time information. Here is a curated list of local news (many that are nonprofits) as well as independent journalists. The Minnesota Department of Corrections has set up a DHS Misinformation webpage to combat false narratives about lack of cooperation.
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Know that this could be you; prepare. Funders must fund rapid response, operational needs, and long-term movement work of nonprofits. Nonprofits must be ready to shift operations, support their workers, learn how to legally lobby to advocate and share community stories. MCN has compile a list of nonprofit resources to navigate uncertainty that are applicable to organizations in any state.
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Join our movement. This is not just a Minnesota issue. This is an American issue. These escalatory, brutal, violent tactics have no place, not just in Minnesota, but anywhere. We must all be organizing and raising our collective voices.
Download these Actions of Solidarity as a 1-pager >>
Nonprofit Specific Guidance
Resources for Nonprofits on
Immigration, Protest and Engagement with Law Enforcement
If you, your staff or participants/clients have questions about immigration issues, safety and security during protests, or engagement with law enforcement, there are many resources available.
Know Your Rights Training
The RI Immigrant Coalition has trainers available who can come to your workplace to train staff and/or clients about their rights, as well as how to engage if you come into contact with immigration enforcement personnel. You can request a training by emailing immigrantcoalitionri@gmail.com.
What to Do If ICE Shows Up
Resources for Immigrants
Protest Resources
Nonprofit Champion Updates
This is a bi-weekly newsletter on public policy issues affecting nonprofits provided by the National Council of Nonprofits.
Partial Government Shutdown Updates
After the tragic killing of a second protestor in Minnesota, there was a partial federal government shutdown, as Senate Democrats threatened to withhold their votes for any spending package that includes funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Congress and the White House had to either extend the current Continuing Resolution (CR) or enact full-year spending bills, or risk a partial government shutdown.
On Tuesday, February 3, President Donald Trump signed the approximately $1.2 trillion spending package after the House passed the bill.
Congress now has two weeks to contend with demands by Democrats to make changes to ICE operations. If Congress and the White House cannot reach a deal over ICE policy, we could see DHS shut down starting on February 14 (though ICE and CBP operations would continue due to supplemental funding enacted in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year).
Congressional Hearings Impacting Nonprofits
The House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a hearing on Tuesday, February 10 on “Foreign Influence in American Non-profits: Unmasking Threats from Beijing and Beyond.” In its announcement, the committee noted that the focus of the hearing will be “on the ways foreign actors have funneled millions of dollars through networks of tax-exempt organizations to create, support, and fuel disruption and illegal activity across the country.” The committee has previously urged the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service to investigate nonprofits which they allege have ties to the Chinese Communist Party, Hamas, or foreign terrorist organizations.
The House Judiciary Committee is planning a hearing on February 11 with U.S. Attorney General Bondi. While the hearing will cover many issues, members of Congress may ask questions about U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations into nonprofits and foundations. President Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to submit to DOJ lists of nonprofits and other entities for possible investigation into alleged “illegal” diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and practices. The president also issued a September 2025 national security presidential memorandum directing DOJ to “investigate, prosecute, and disrupt entities and individuals engaged in acts of political violence” or that the Administration claims is supporting or financing domestic terrorism. Read more about attempts to weaponize the power of government to target nonprofits that oppose the Administration’s priorities or ideology.
Federal Fastview
Federal Government Reopens After Partial Shutdown. Congress and the White House enacted bipartisan legislation on February 3 to reopen and fund key federal agencies, ending a four-day partial federal government shutdown. The legislative package included full-year funding for five federal spending bills. As a result, Congress has now enacted 11 of the 12 spending bills needed. Funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was temporarily extended to February 13, giving lawmakers only a few days to negotiate proposed changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations following the killing of two people by federal agents in Minnesota. If Congress cannot reach an agreement, it risks another partial shutdown that will affect the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies within DHS.
- Federal Election Legislation Advances. To garner enough support for legislation to reopen the federal government, Speaker Johnson (R-LA) and the White House agreed to hold votes in the House and Senate on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act (H.R. 22). If enacted, the bill would require proof of citizenship to register for federal elections or update voter registration, and it would eliminate automatic, same-day, online, and mail-in voter registration, among other changes. In turn, this could impact nonprofits operating nonpartisan voter registration drives. The House is slated to vote on the measure this week.
- Legislation Reintroduced to Streamline Federal Grants. Senators Lankford (R-OK) and Peters (D-MI) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the administration of grant programs across the federal government. If enacted, the Streamlining Federal Grants Act would simplify the application process to improve access to federal grants, especially for nonprofits that are smaller, serving rural areas, or have limited resources. Reps. Foxx (R-NC) and Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) introduced the House companion in the last congressional term. NCN endorsed the legislation.
Program Updates
Executive Director Network
The Alliance launched its new Executive Director Network on Tuesday. If you are an executive director or CEO of a Rhode Island nonprofit, we’d love to have you get involved. Learn more about the Executive Director Network
Alliance 101
February 9 | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Whether you're a member of the Alliance and wondering what membership entails, how to make the most of it, or are debating whether to apply, this session is for you. This lunch session will cover Alliance member benefits, upcoming programs, and our new member website, as well as time for Q&A.
Grant Writing Cohort (Virtual)
February 10, February 24, March 3, March 10 | 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Securing funding through grants can be a vital part of sustaining your nonprofit’s programs and services. This four-session training course led by Sarah DeCataldo of Charis, LLC is designed to help you understand the fundamentals of grant writing and equip you with the skills to craft compelling proposals. Registration is required, and Alliance members will be given first preference. If you are not yet a member, you can join by clicking here.
Alliance Monthly Policy Briefing
February 11 | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Join Nancy Wolanski, Director of the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact, to hear about the latest federal, state, and local updates affecting nonprofits and our communities. You can view January’s briefing document and recording here (Passcode: !8P.Nngk).
2025 State of the Sector Survey Results
February 26 | 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Join us to learn about the findings from the 2025 RI Nonprofit Survey. The data will also be shared with members of the General Assembly and funders to help educate them about the challenges facing Rhode Island nonprofits.
Mindfully Hiring a Consultant
February 26 | 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 50 Valley Street, Providence, RI 02909
This in-person workshop, led by Ellie Brown of Brown Catalyst Consulting, will equip nonprofit leaders with practical frameworks for strategically selecting, managing, and maximizing value from consultant relationships.
Fundraising Fridays with Sarah DeCataldo
February 27 | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Join Sarah DeCataldo of Charis, LLC for this monthly lunchtime learning series on all things fundraising, with each month's subject handpicked in advance by you.
Choose February’s Fundraising Friday topic
2026 Nonprofit Finance Summit
March 26 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, 42 Century Drive, Bristol, CT 06010
A Day for Nonprofit CFOs, Business Managers, Finance Leaders and Their Teams
The Connecticut Nonprofit Alliance is holding their first-ever statewide summit created exclusively for nonprofit finance professionals across the region. Nonprofit CFOs, business managers, controllers, and finance teams are invited to join for a full day of connection, learning, and professional development.
What to Expect
For the first time, nonprofit finance leaders will have a dedicated space to:
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Tackle the sector’s toughest financial challenges
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Network with peers to share solutions, swap ideas, and build partnerships
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Attend workshops created specifically for nonprofit finance professionals and learn from expert speakers addressing unique challenges
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Strengthen the financial leadership that powers nonprofit missions
Register
Funding Opportunities
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute’s “Local Data for Equitable Communities” - Due 3/3/2026
This program offers up to $50,000 in funding to 30 community-based organizations to leverage data to address urgent local challenges. These projects will address pressing local needs from housing to environmental pollution, breaking down barriers that stand in the way of good health.
Transform RI Scholarship - Due 3/31/2026
Papitto Opportunity Connection will be hosting a 30-minute virtual information session on February 4th at 7 p.m. where they will answer questions and hear from previous winners who will share how easy it is to apply! Plus, there will be giveaways!
The Transform RI Scholarship offers a unique chance for Rhode Island high school students to win big while making a difference in communities that need it most in our state.
Students answer one question: If you had $1 million to improve the lives of those who need it most in Rhode Island, how would you do it? Students can submit an essay, video or multimedia presentation.
The winning idea receives $1 million to make it a reality, plus a $25,000 scholarship! Nine finalists win scholarships between $5,000 and $15,000.
Message from Project Weber Renew:
Office Space for Lease – $1,650 /month
Available three days a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays)
- Includes all utilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, printer/projector access, and a professional mailing address
- Access to a welcoming lobby, open co-working/meeting space, a private meeting room with workstations, and a fully equipped kitchen that doubles as a meeting area (seats up to 25)
- Onsite parking
- Flexible terms and the option for multiple nonprofits to share the space
Warehouse Storage Space – $500/month
- 240 sq. ft. of heated storage space (fits approximately 18 pallets)
- Two large overhead garage doors for easy loading and unloading
- Video surveillance
If you’re interested in learning more or want to book a tour, please reach out to Liz Duggan at liz@amenityaid.org or 401-889-2435 (please leave a message).
Job Opportunities
Rhode Island Abortion Fund
$75,000 - $90,000
Register for Everyday Equity
