Opinion | In A Climate Of Cuts And Broken Trust, Nonprofits (119K To Zero Collective) Stand Firm For Our Young People

by Hector Rivera, OPP, Mike Duggan, DOMUS, Marc Donald, Catalyst CT, Ben Debow, Forge City Works and Sunindiya Bhalla, Roca Inc.

As we navigate the beginning of 2026, the non-profit sector faces a perfect storm. On the national stage, we are weathering a harsh federal climate defined by significant reductions in funding. Closer to home, the trust that binds our community has been shaken by the recent State of Connecticut commissioned audit findings regarding the potential misappropriation of funds within the Hartford community.

As this forensic audit hits the news, we understand there will be legitimate questions about typical policies and procedures in non-profit governance and management. While it is not the place of the “119K to Zero Collective” to comment on any ongoing investigation or other organization’s practices, we know we speak for many non-profit leaders across Connecticut when we say this: The fiscal shortfalls of one organization do not reflect the hundreds of us who wake up every day dedicated to compliance, transparency, and the service of young people.

It is critical that effective, ethical organizations in Connecticut’s nonprofit sector are not judged and penalized for the shortcomings of a few. In the same way that one doesn’t assume all businesses are dishonest because one has broken consumer trust, we must recognize that the vast majority of non-profits in Connecticut operate with integrity.

The organizations represented in the “119K To Zero Collective” follow strict non-profit industry standards. Like many of our peers leading organizations across the state, we maintain stringent financial controls, annual audits, audit committees, and board finance committees. Our staffing includes both finance and grants management teams. While our funders’ reporting schedules may vary, our staff management processes include monthly, quarterly, and annual reviews of all grant spending to ensure absolute compliance with funder requirements.

It is true that the costs associated with these financial and accounting functions are often classified as “overhead.” While there is immense pressure to keep overhead low, many of these costs are essential to operating a healthy non-profit organization. It is important to have these policies and procedures in place and to vigorously follow them.

To our funders, policy makers, and partners: We implore you not to be swayed by the current climate to restrict the resources available for us to meet our mission. At a time when the federal administration is withdrawing support, it is critically important that nonprofits continue to receive your support, resources, and partnership.

The true measure of our necessity is found in our responsiveness. Last spring and summer, when it was apparent that there would be a service gap for some of the affected youth in the Hartford community, some members of the Collective recognized that youth and families were going to be negatively affected. Because all of our missions are aligned with serving young people first, we decided to step in. Working with municipal government, the state, and other partners, we helped meet the needs of the affected youth by absorbing them into Youth Summer Employment Programming. Many of these young people have since become active in our year-round programs as well.

The needs of these young people did not go away during this time period; it is vital that we all step up and continue to find ways to support those affected by these circumstances. We cannot let skepticism paralyze our community’s ability to help those in need. Working together, we can help young people navigate their barriers as they create a path to a brighter future. We ask that you continue to support the non-profit sector, understanding that we are operating with ethics, accountability, and our young people as our primary responsibility.

A Commitment to the Future

The “119K To Zero Collective” seeks to help decision-makers understand the economic, human, and social benefits of building the capacity of nonprofits serving disengaged and disconnected youth. As experts in the field, we stand ready not just to serve, but to train other motivated nonprofits in the evidence-supported interventions and activities that are proven to help this population. Our goal is to ensure the state has skilled practitioners in any community, ready and willing to act with the same level of integrity and skill.