Federal Action, Local Impact
CONNECTING OUR SHARED COMMUNITY WITH INFORMATION
As decisions about federal cuts, funding freezes, and a new budget continue to be made at the national level, they are beginning to have local impact.
Philanthropy is an essential partner in strengthening our community, but it is not designed to replace the scale or stability of smart federal investment. Without federal dollars — investments that support affordable housing, education, workforce development, arts and culture, and health care—we risk unraveling decades of progress in Lancaster County built by cross-sector collaboration and local ingenuity.
When it comes to our shared success, federal funding, local philanthropy, and the work of our nonprofit sector are deeply interconnected. A stable, well-resourced community is good for business, good for families, and good for our community. We believe we should work together to find a thoughtful, strategic way to reduce federal spending and fix the deficit while continuing to support the programs that care for each other.
So, what can YOU do?
- Talk to members of the community who may be directly impacted by funding cuts. Be curious and learn from each other; we may have more in common than we think.
- Ask the people on the front lines. Nonprofit employees and local leaders aren’t political operatives. They’re problem-solvers. Learn their perspective about what’s working, what’s wasteful, and what’s at risk.
- Share your informed opinion with your elected representatives. It is their job to hear from, and advocate for, their constituents.
Our unique role as a community foundation allows us to hear directly from organizations on the front lines to learn first hand how federal initiatives are impacting us here in Lancaster County. To help connect our shared community with accurate information, we’ve compiled stories and data from a variety of sources.
How Federal Funding, Nonprofits, and Economic Development are Connected By Tim Stuhldreher for The Lancaster County Community Foundation. June 9, 2025
Nonprofits and small businesses are the lifeblood of Lancaster County’s local economy. Losing federal funding would put jobs at risk and stifle economic growth.
How Federal Funding Impacts Environmental and Agricultural Stewardship in Lancaster County By Tim Stuhldreher for The Lancaster County Community Foundation. June 3, 2025
Numerous organizations — local governments, state and local agencies, nonprofits, private companies — collaborate on environmental initiatives in various ways. Much of their work is undergirded by federal funding, funding that is now at risk. Were it to be curtailed, it would have a significant impact, local nonprofit leaders say.
Federal Funds and The Factory Ministries: A Closer Look at Local Impact By Tim Stuhldreher for The Lancaster County Community Foundation. May 27, 2025
About 10% of The Factory Ministries’ budget comes from the federal government. This allows the organization to serve more people and be more effective. Losing this funding would strain their resources and donors, putting their services at risk.
How Cuts to Federal Food Support are Impacting Lancaster County Residents By Tim Stuhldreher for The Lancaster County Community Foundation. April 29, 2025
Lancaster County has a growing a hunger problem, and federal funding cuts for food programs put our shared community at risk. Hear directly from local organizations, neighbors, and farmers about how federal initiatives are having local impact.
Philanthropy Alone Can't Fill the Void By Sam Bressi, President & CEO
Not all government spending is waste. People throughout our county benefit from many federally supported programs, like school lunches, low-cost child care for working parents struggling to make ends meet, affordable housing development, research for new cancer treatments, museums, libraries and education, state-of-the-art farming practices, economic development and job creation for thousands of our neighbors, and providing care and shelter to people in need.
