How Trump Administration Cuts Are Impacting Nonprofit Events

As many nonprofits that rely on federal government funding know — these are very uncertain and frustrating times. There’s been a loss or freeze on funding and grants that are tied up in the courts, affecting so many organizations.

Most U.S. nonprofits rely on private sources of funding, but about a third — more than 35,000 — of nonprofits get more than half of their funding from government grants, according to Candid.

Here are a few examples of ways new federal policies have affected recent nonprofit events.

No Event Spaces

In some cases, a nonprofit may find itself looking for a new event space after being canceled.

For years, the Gay Man’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., had performed at The Kennedy Center. However, the location abruptly and without explanation canceled a May 21 concert featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with the Gay Man’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., as the guest chorus, according to the Washingtonian.

Meanwhile, the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce had to find a new venue just 30 hours before its annual THRIVE Small Business Summit’s start due to the Trump administration’s new policies against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), according to The Leader News. 

Related story: From Paper to Production: How to Bring Your Event Ideas to Life

“With DEI efforts now being defunded and rescinded, organizations that rely on federal partnerships face new challenges in securing institutional support,” according to the article.

Missing Speakers

Your nonprofit may also lose speakers or panel guests. Employees from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice backed out of sessions covering air quality and environmental justice, respectively, at Loyola Marymount University, according to NCR Online.

"There's a great deal of fear in the federal workforce now about speaking out on anything," Peter Jenkins, senior counsel with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, told the publication.

Sponsor Exits

Perhaps your nonprofit may find itself losing a large sponsor. Federal contractor Booz Allen Hamilton — commonly a supporter of LGBTQ+ causes — withdrew as a sponsor of WorldPride 2025 last month, according to Politco.

Meeting and Travel Cancellations

Government cancellation of travel and meetings can have a cascading effect on other organizations, including medical nonprofits. 

The National Institutes of Health canceled meetings earlier this year with very little explanation, according to NPR, though separate messaging noted a travel suspension and hold on external communications. 

Dr. Chrystal Starbird, a cancer structural biologist and professor at The University of North Carolina at  Chapel Hill, received the cancellation notice days before she was supposed to meet with the government agency. The delay, she said, could have a negative impact on important cancer research.

"I also don't think the people who just made that decision fully understand what that may mean in terms of implications for really important and critical research," she told NPR.

3 Tips for Planning Nonprofit Events in 2025

Nonprofits need to be proactive, especially when planning their upcoming events. Here are my three tips for successful planning: 

1. Reconsider revenue streams. Make increasing privately funded grants, sponsorships and non-government sources of funding a goal for 2025 and beyond to limit your organization’s risk.
2. Rethink where your event is held. If it is scheduled to be held at a government-funded venue, such as a college or a very well-known federally funded arts space (like the Kennedy Center), create a backup plan. 
3. Check your force majeure clauses in venue contracts. Negotiate to make sure the venue is responsible for paying any added costs your nonprofit incurs due to the venue canceling your event. 

The preceding post was provided by an individual unaffiliated with NonProfit PRO. The views expressed within do not directly reflect the thoughts or opinions of NonProfit PRO.