Idaho must dream big for its nonprofits

They say the only things certain in life are death and taxes. For Idaho’s nonprofits, government funding doesn’t make that list.

A new national analysis by the Urban Institute paints a stark picture: thousands of nonprofits across the country could not survive more than three months without government grants. According to Candid’s data about 501(c)(3) public charities and their latest filing, here in Idaho, 60 organizations representing every sector of our state’s nonprofit community are at risk of running out of money within that same short window if government support disappears.

That’s not an abstract statistic; it’s the food bank in your county, the domestic violence shelter in your town, the early learning center, the community clinic, the arts organization that keeps your main street vibrant. Each plays a role in the fabric of Idaho life, and many are now facing an uncertain future.

The Urban Institute’s 2025 report underscores that funding disruptions hit smaller and rural nonprofits hardest, exactly the kind of organizations Idaho depends on most. When national or state policies shift, those nonprofits don’t have deep reserves or endowments to fall back on. They tighten belts, cut programs, and, too often, close doors.

But Idahoans have never been ones to wait for someone else to fix what’s broken. Across our history, we’ve cared for one another through generosity, grit, and community. The Transfer of Wealth Analysis, recently completed by The Idaho Community Foundation and the University of Minnesota Extension, shows that over the next decade, $30.6 billion will pass from one generation of Idahoans to the next. If just 5% of that stays local through charitable giving, it could create $1.8 billion in new, permanent endowments — a safety net for the safety net.

That’s the heart of the Dream Big for Idaho movement. It’s about ensuring that when the next funding crisis hits, Idaho’s nonprofits don’t have to hold their breath waiting for Washington or Boise to act. It’s about taking care of our future, together.

Because when the safety net frays, it’s neighbors who catch one another. And in Idaho, that’s exactly what we do best.

Kevin Bailey is the vice president of the Impact and Idaho Nonprofit Center in The Idaho Community Foundation.