May 20, 2025

Roger Colinvaux- The Chronicle of Philanthropy

The first months of the second Trump administration have been a whirlwind of policy disruption. By executive order, the White House has announced vast changes to public policy on civil rights, health care, the environment, immigration, the arts, and federal contracting, all while canceling billions of dollars of grants to nonprofits and proposing a sweeping revision to federal tax law. Profound policy changes that impact nonprofits of all stripes are happening at a breakneck pace.

Amid the storm, many nonprofits want to speak out but are concerned about violating the law, unsure of their rights. Can tax-exempt nonprofits lobby Congress or the executive branch about administration policy? Can you write editorials, engage with and inform the public about issues of concern, support litigation, or organize peaceful, law-abiding protests?

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By Alexandra Ross, Marketing & Communications Coordinator

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic is a nonprofit law agency on a mission to make justice accessible for everyone, especially those who can’t afford it. Based in Indianapolis, we offer free legal services, education, and support to individuals and families across Indiana.

Rooted in faith and driven by compassion, we walk alongside people from all backgrounds to defend dignity and fight for what’s right.

In 2024 alone, we served 4,130 clients facing legal challenges.

What We Do

Our services are focused on five core areas, all designed to help clients break through legal barriers and build brighter futures:

• Housing & Consumer Justice. Help with evictions, debt collection, and sealing past eviction records
• Tax & Economic Justice. Support for those facing IRS tax controversies
• Immigrant & Survivor Justice. Legal aid for humanitarian immigration cases and survivors of trauma
• Veterans Justice. Assistance for veterans who are currently homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Re-entry Justice. Expungements and driver’s license reinstatement for those with justice involvement

Volunteering Opportunities

Imagine losing your home or drowning in debt with no one to help. That’s the reality for 96% low-income Hoosiers facing legal battles alone. At the heart of our mission is the simple yet powerful idea of neighbors supporting neighbors. When one of us is struggling, we all have a role to play in lifting each other up. 

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Aspire Indiana Health has appointed David E. Jose as its inaugural chief legal counsel. Jose is a distinguished attorney in healthcare law with over 30 years of experience practicing in Indiana.

Aspire Indiana Health named Dr. James Meacham as director of addiction services. Dr. Meacham previously worked as a regional medical director for a national addiction treatment company.

The Foellinger Foundation awarded $908,500 in grants to support youth development and strengthen nonprofit capacity in Allen County. The funding includes $877,500 for eight organizations focused on programs that promote the well-being and growth of local children and families. Read more

Indy Reads raised more than $150,000 in support of their third annual fundraising breakfast, Unlocking Our Potential, with over 400 attendees, as well as the many remote supporters and sponsors who helped meet the $25,000 match. Proceeds advance their critical work towards 100% literacy for all. Read more  

At United Way of Central Indiana’s fourth annual Propel pitch competition, Family Promise of Greater Indianapolis was awarded the $40,000 grand prize to support its Apartment Shelter Program, which provides temporary housing for families experiencing homelessness. Mirror Indy and P30 each received $20,000 from event sponsor audiochuck. Mirror Indy also won nearly $20,000 as the People's Choice Award for its community journalism initiative. Read more

Indiana has established a 21-member panel to propose cost-control measures for Medicaid-funded Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. The panel, formed in response to a federal audit revealing over $56 million in improper payments, is tasked with delivering three actionable recommendations by December to address financial and accountability concerns while maintaining quality care for children with autism. Read more  

Indianapolis has launched the Thriving Nonprofits program, offering up to $10,000 in matching grants to help local nonprofits reduce energy costs through projects like HVAC upgrades and insulation improvements. Funded by the McKinney Family Foundation and administered by IFF and the Office of Sustainability, the program aims to lower overhead, improve sustainability, and free up resources for nonprofits to focus on their missions. Apply  

kNot Today is now accepting applications for funding opportunities aimed at bolstering child sexual abuse prevention education across Indiana. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 to support local nonprofits enhancing existing initiatives in schools for the 2025–2026 school year. Apply by June 16

Integrating AI Governance into Normal Operations webinar on May 27 at 2 p.m. Learn to mitigate risk and outline an in-depth approach to integrating AI governance within your organization. Presented by Forvis Mazars. Cost: Free. Register 

Strategic Planning in Times of Uncertainty webinar on May 29 at 4 p.m. Whether you're building a brand-new plan or refreshing an outdated one, having a clear strategy is essential to achieving your mission – even when the world around you is uncertain and changing. Presented by The Bridgespan Group. Cost: Free. Register

Know Your Why online workshop on June 2 at noon. Reflect on the impact you want to make in the community and begin developing a plan for putting your “Why” into action. Presented by Leadership Indianapolis. Cost: Free. Register  

Accelerating Multi-Dimensional Reporting in Finance webinar on June 5 at 3 p.m. Learn how to streamline your chart of accounts, define and manage multiple dimensions, and gain deeper insights into operational performance. Presented by Forvis Mazars. Cost: Free. Register 

Association of Fundraising Professionals- Indiana Chapter & Charitable Gift Planners Indiana annual conference on June 9 from 1-5 p.m. at the Ritz Charles in Carmel. Reimagine donor engagement through radical connection. Cost: $125 AFP-IC and CGPI Members/ $175 Non-members. Register

Seeds of Caring needs youth volunteers (ages 6–12) for their Anywhere Projects. Projects include assembling care packages, writing caring messages, etc. With onsite and virtual options, a single-day project or ongoing over the summer, the volunteer projects offer a flexible schedule and are great for groups. Register 

Gleaners needs hospitality volunteers to answer questions, collect intake forms, and assist neighbors with getting to their service of choice in the Resource Center. A commitment of 2 or more shifts per month is required with opportunities offered Monday-Saturday. Contact Christina Basey cbasey@gleaners.org 

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SPONSORS' INSIGHTS

Forvis Mazers   Strategic Planning of Federal Grant Funds