A new University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa study shows that while some health and social service local nonprofits had not yet seen federal funding losses in the first six months of 2025, the stress and uncertainty caused by policy shifts in 2025 are weighing heavily on leaders, staff and the communities they serve.
The community report, We Are All Interconnected: Hawaiʻi Nonprofits Navigating Federal Shifts in Early 2025 , was conducted by Wendy Lum, Rebecca Stotzer and Kristl Nakamura of UH Mānoa's Department of Social Work in the Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health . Between May and June 2025, Social Work faculty interviewed 24 nonprofit leaders from across the state to capture an early look at how organizations are being affected.
Pressure beyond funding cuts
At the time of the interviews, only a few health and social service agencies had lost direct funding since the administration's changes took effect in January. However, the study found that the psychological toll has been widespread. Leaders described strain across their organizations, even as they remained committed to serving their communities.
"The responses of the nonprofit leaders make it clear that they remain committed to their communities and grounded in their agency's mission and values to guide critical decisions for how to move forward in a changing federal landscape," said Stotzer.
Many leaders also pointed to collaboration as key to surviving future challenges and uncertainty, especially as potential cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP threaten to strain services.
Community response
The study's findings were presented on August 28, during a webinar hosted by the Department of Social Work's Workforce Development Hub . More than 40 representatives from nonprofits, state agencies, and community partners joined to share strategies and discuss ways to support one another.
"It is not surprising to those who attended the presentation that our findings showed the deep commitment of nonprofit leaders to their mission and values," said Lum, director of the Social Work Workforce Development Hub. "But the study also confirmed and validated that all are experiencing the impact of the federal changes together-and that together will be the key to moving forward and finding actionable solutions."
The post Hawaiʻi nonprofits bracing for federal shifts first appeared on University of Hawaiʻi System News .
