Florida’s nonprofit sector is more and more entering into coverage conversations that form its capacity to serve communities — not simply via advocacy on particular payments, however by ensuring lawmakers perceive the scope, scale, and monetary realities of the work nonprofits do daily.
Forward of this 12 months’s Nonprofit Day on the Capitol, leaders are centered on increasing engagement throughout the sector, bringing first-time individuals into the method, and flagging how broader debates, together with proposed modifications to property taxes, might ripple via native providers and contracts.
The next Q&A explores what’s driving that effort, who’s on the desk, and what nonprofits need elected officers to know as Session unfolds.
What’s the Florida Nonprofit Alliance and the way do you serve nonprofits all through Florida?
FNA: The Florida Nonprofit Alliance is the state affiliation for Florida’s nonprofit sector. We strengthen the nonprofit sector via analysis, coverage advocacy, and sensible capability assist—to allow them to ship leads to each county. We exist to strengthen the organizations that strengthen Florida communities.
How do nonprofits contribute to Florida’s high quality of life and economic system, and the place is their impression most clear?
FNA: Nonprofits are on a regular basis infrastructure—housing, well being and behavioral well being, workforce helps, catastrophe restoration, libraries, arts, and extra. They’re additionally a significant financial engine: Florida nonprofits make use of 456,016 individuals—on par with development and manufacturing industries. When nonprofits are sturdy, communities are more healthy, safer, and extra resilient.
What are the largest capability challenges nonprofits face proper now, and what does it take to stay efficient and sustainable?
FNA: Demand is up whereas prices rise. Three in 5 nonprofits report greater prices, and one in three—about half in 2025—served extra purchasers, compounded by federal modifications and the 2024 hurricanes. To remain efficient, nonprofits want predictable, multi‑12 months funding; immediate reimbursements; truthful oblique price protection; and easier state grants and contracts that scale back administrative burden. Resilience alone doesn’t maintain service supply—predictable funding does.
What else is FNA watching through the 2026 Session and wish to remind legislators and people within the course of?
FNA: Proposed homestead modifications danger a 14% drop in metropolis basic funds. That forces service cuts or a close to‑doubling of millage and creates dangers to bond rankings and debt capability. Even when nonprofits are tax‑exempt, they really feel the shock shortly: 22% of nonprofits obtain native contracts and grants, so when native income shrinks, nonprofits lose capability simply as demand spikes—particularly for housing, well being, workforce, and catastrophe restoration. Our ask is straightforward: as you think about homestead modifications, and we perceive many Floridians have skilled important will increase in property tax payments, it’s essential to guard native income stability so communities don’t lose important providers, and pair any change with safeguards that maintain native providers and nonprofit supply sturdy. Property tax coverage isn’t only a authorities problem—it’s a group providers problem.
Wanting forward, what are a very powerful alternatives to strengthen Florida’s nonprofit ecosystem and its capacity to serve Floridians?
FNA: Florida can lead by modernizing grants and contracts—simplify reporting and pace reimbursements—and by together with nonprofits early in coverage design as implementation companions. Making these modifications additionally permits for extra transparency, one thing FNA prioritizes. Small course of fixes will return huge dividends to Florida households, shortly. Constructing in immediate‑pay and truthful oblique prices protects service continuity and worth for taxpayers.
