GCN is committed to providing updates on federal policies and actions that impact Georgia’s nonprofit sector. To that end, we are providing the following update on Grants.gov and current reported actions of DOGE related to certain nonprofits receiving federal funding.
Recent media reports suggest that the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is expanding its scrutiny of and potential administrative actions targeting nonprofits that receive federal funds. These include taking on the management of Grants.gov and specific demands to embed DOGE staff in nonprofits currently receiving federal funds. Nonprofits currently receiving federal funds and those relying on Grants.gov should be aware of these developments.
Here is what we know:
- According to The Washington Post, DOGE staff have assumed an expanded role in managing Grants.gov – the centralized online portal for federal grant opportunities. According to reports, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees Grants.gov, has already granted DOGE administrative access to the grants payment management service, although changes have not been formally announced by HHS.
- The AP reports that DOGE reached out to the Vera Institute for Justice, which focuses on immigration and criminal legal reform, to install a team of DOGE staffers within the organization. Though the request was subsequently withdrawn (citing the fact that Vera’s federal funding had already been terminated), DOGE indicated to Vera that they plan to do the same at all nonprofits which receive federal funding.
- These actions come on the heels of demands for a number of universities (Columbia and Harvard among them) to abandon DEI programs and other initiatives that conflict with spending priorities laid out in the administration’s previous executive orders.
Why it matters to nonprofits
While the full scope and intent of the changes at Grants.gov remain unclear, nonprofits that rely on federal grants should be aware of potential:
- Delays or disruptions in the grant posting and review process
- Increased administrative requirements for applying
- Reduced visibility into available opportunities
In addition, nonprofits should be aware of the government’s intention to more closely monitor nonprofits that they perceive to be working against their stated spending priorities, particularly with regard to DEI issues, immigration, and justice.
What nonprofits can do now
- Monitor Grants.gov for real-time updates on available grant opportunities.
- Bookmark GCN’s Policy Resource Hub for ongoing analysis and alerts.
- Contact your congressional representatives to advocate for consistent and transparent federal funding processes and for the value of your work – in terms of economic benefits as well as the well-being of communities, families, and individuals across Georgia.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more details become available. Be sure to follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn and subscribe to our communications.
