BROOKINGS Brookings Area United Way lost about $83,000 in funding $23,860.51 for this year and roughly $60,000 for next year due to recent DOGE cuts.
We were notified the end of March that one of the current contracts we had a grant with the state had been terminated, Heidi Gullickson, Brookings Area United Way executive director, said. It was also supposed to be a two-year grant, so then the next fiscal year as well had been terminated. That was because the state had theirs terminated from the federal government.
She said the grant involved federal money channeled through the South Dakota Department of Health, and it was the federal government that eliminated the funding.
I would say probably 10% of our budget was through state grants for different programs that we administer, Gullickson said. Going to state grants was our attempt at diversifying because 89% (of Brookings Area United Ways budget) is local donations.
The canceled grant had been funding Communities That Care a prevention program to help identify and reduce youth problem behaviors in local communities.
A lot of times, its either substance use disorders or mental health and then where are those risk factors that our kids are doing, and what are some of the protective factors, Gullickson said. Our school district has always done the Search Institute survey. Were able to use that data and then work with a coalition of local stakeholders to go through that data and see what it tells us. Then we bring that back and say, OK as a community, heres where we fill in some of those gaps or boost up this area.
She said the funding cut came as a surprise.
Its unfortunate, and we definitely are not the only ones in the community that have seen things happen, Gullickson said. I do have some other grant applications that Ive put in with the state, and so far they seem to be still going through their processes. But the state sometimes finds out at the last minute.
She said United Way will not appeal the cut and will instead look for alternative funding sources to keep the program running.
Its just the facts of whats happening. This is just where were at, and were adjusting to go forward, Gullickson said. We feel like we were making good progress with these funds and using them appropriately. So we will just continue to work this program that we were in-progress with to continue to be able to provide it to the community. Well just find some other funding to keep it going.
She said this is the only DOGE cut to directly impact Brookings Area United Way thus far.
We are just looking for other funding sources at this point, Gullickson said. The nonprofit sector is experiencing a time of uncertainty and disruption, but Brookings Area United Way will continue to work diligently to mitigate the effects of these cuts and to seek alternative funding sources to sustain vital community programs.
Gullickson said now more than ever Brookings Area United Way needs and appreciates local financial support.
We are committed to still providing services to the Brookings community, she said. Its really about not just us but about all the nonprofits and how does our community continue to support them so they can do the important work theyre doing during this time of uncertainty.
Donations to the local United Way can be made at https://brookingsunitedway.org.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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