In the past few weeks, we have seen a sharp escalation in attacks on the nonprofit sector, deep federal staff and funding cuts, and serious threats to the programs that help build strong, thriving communities.

Now more than ever, your voice is needed.

Stand with us to defend the people, organizations, and values that hold our society together. We’ve outlined simple, concrete actions you can take right now to make a difference.

Thank you for standing up and speaking out.

Nonprofit Sector

Last week, President Trump called to revoke Harvard University’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

This move isn’t about security—it’s about punishing organizations that don’t align with the Trump administration’s ideology. Unilateral attempts to strip a nonprofit of its status without due process is not only harmful, it’s likely illegal. Any such action is a blatant example of egregious overreach and a direct threat to the rule of law.

If this attempt succeeds, it will set a precedent that can applied to any nonprofit organization. The real-world impact in Illinois could be severe: organizations could be forced to eliminate critical services or cease operations completely.

This is an attack on the entire nonprofit sector and the people who work everyday to serve our communities.

📣 TAKE ACTION:

Sign the Open Letter Rejecting Presidential Attacks on Nonprofit Organizations »

This letter is coordinated and co-hosted by the ACLU, Public Citizen, State Democracy Defenders Fund, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and Americans Against Government Censorship. (See current signatories here.)

AmeriCorps

Housing Action Illinois runs an AmeriCorps VISTA program that helps places members with local organizations to build stronger communities and fight poverty. Right now, our program is still operating—but recent federal actions put its future at serious risk.

On April 16, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officials abruptly shut down two AmeriCorps programs—NCCC and FEMA Corps—and placed most AmeriCorps staff on leave, effective immediately. As of April 23 at 9 am CT, there have not been reports of impacts to AmeriCorps programs beyond NCCC/FEMA Corps. However, DOGE is still at the AmeriCorps agency, and these sudden moves raise real concerns that more cuts are coming, threatening the entire AmeriCorps system and the communities it serves.

We need to speak up now to protect AmeriCorps and ensure funding and support stay in place.

📣 TAKE ACTION:

Call your elected officials using this script and instructions »

Please make these calls as soon as possible; our partners at Voices for National Service have created this action with the goal of flooding offices with calls in support of AmeriCorps in the next few days—time is of the essence. After you’ve called your representatives, please take one more minute to send a letter to your lawmakers using this form.

 

Stay Tuned for More

As noted in our 2025 Policy Agenda, our federal government, economy, and social infrastructure rely on nonprofits to deliver programs and funding to those who need it most.

So far this year, Housing Action Illinois has been mobilizing a core base of organizational supporters—including homeless service providers, housing counseling agencies, other community-based organizations, and individuals across the state—to let federal elected officials know we need to increase, not cut, federal investments in affordable housing and to speak out against reducing the workforce at HUD.

We’ve also been sharing those messages through press releases and media interviews. With our allies from around the country, we’ve also gone to the Capitol in DC to meet with our members of Congress and their staff people.

We’ll soon have another important opportunity to educate and mobilize. The Trump Administration is expected to release its proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 by mid-May, with an outline expected later in April. Early reports suggest it will propose massive spending cuts to HUD’s vital affordable housing and homelessness assistance programs.

Please keep an eye out for updates and action alerts from us in the coming days. Your voice will be crucial.