One year after a cross-section of nonprofit and community leaders gathered with Quad Cities residents to discuss the potential impact of federal budget cuts, OneTable QC is hosting a follow-up conversation.
The public is invited to the discussion entitled “Community Conversation: The State of Nonprofits after the Federal Budget Cuts.” The virtual event will be from noon to 1 p.m., Thursday, June 25, 2026. The free event will provide updated data, frontline perspectives, and opportunities for community dialogue around the current state of the nonprofit sector and the challenges facing local organizations. To register for the Zoom event, visit here.
Since last year’s legislative roundtable, nonprofits across the QC region have faced increasing pressure from federal budget reductions, rising demand for services, workforce shortages, and growing community needs. The impacts are being felt across healthcare, food access, housing, homelessness, and other critical services that support individuals and families.
These four community leaders will provide updates on their sectors:
- Tom Bowman, Community Health Care — Medicaid and healthcare access.
- Chris Ford, River Bend Food Bank — SNAP and food insecurity.
- Ashley Velez Hagler, Humility Homes & Services — Homelessness.
- Rev. Dwight Ford, Project NOW — Poverty and housing.
In addition, attendees will hear results from an updated community survey, participate in facilitated breakout discussions, and help identify key themes and next steps for regional collaboration, advocacy, and community action.
“This conversation is about more than nonprofit organizations,” said Linda Wastyn, co-director of OneTable QC, a regional, nonpartisan campaign created by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Quad Cities Chapter and her nonprofit consulting firm, Wastyn & Associates, Davenport.
“The challenges nonprofits face directly impact the health, stability, and well-being of our entire community,” she added. “We hope this conversation helps people better understand what’s happening, what local organizations are experiencing, and how we can work together to move forward.”
The event is open to nonprofit leaders, development professionals, board members, funders, businesses, community advocates, and residents as well as policymakers, elected officials and government staff. Attendees will learn: Updated local data and nonprofit sector insights; information to support fundraising, advocacy, and strategic planning efforts; context for conversations with donors, funders, boards, and elected officials; opportunities to connect with community leaders and identify areas for collaboration.
“As policy decisions continue to shape local services and community outcomes, it is important that decision-makers and those who tell our community’s stories hear directly from the organizations on the front lines,” said Jenny Colvin, co-director of OneTable QC. “This event provides an opportunity to better understand local impacts, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about what comes next.”
For more information about the event or OneTable QC, visit the AFP Quad Cities website here.
OneTable QC’s mission is to build a shared, data-backed narrative that cements nonprofits as critical to the Quad Cities’ economy and social fabric. Through Awareness, Alliance, and Action, the campaign equips nonprofits and residents alike to advocate for policies and resources that protect essential services and strengthen families across Iowa and Illinois.
Wastyn & Associates helps nonprofit organizations turn their ideas into reality by providing high quality, personalized consulting and services in grant research and writing, strategic planning, fundraising, board development and leadership education. Through AFP Quad Cities, fundraising leaders will find a network of fundraising professionals who understand the challenges and celebrate the wins that come with working in development.
