Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal funding policies.

According to the Alabama Association of Nonprofits, the sector generates more than $10 billion a year, holds more than $20 billion in assets and employs about 5% of the Alabama workforce. But as financial uncertainty looms, nonprofit leaders say now is the time to strategize.

Danielle Dunbar, the association's executive director, said a summit coming up next week aims to help these organizations navigate the challenges ahead.

"When something comes down like a federal grant freeze," she said, "obviously nonprofits are going to be very concerned about how they're even going to make payroll to keep people in place to do the work, to serve the people."

Dunbar said many Alabama nonprofits rely on federal grants to fund such critical services as emergency food, housing and education for the most vulnerable populations, making policy shifts a significant concern.

The summit will be held Feb. 13-14 in Montgomery. More information is on the Alabama Association of Nonprofits' website.

Dunbar said the summit will also tackle broader challenges beyond funding, emphasizing advocacy and community engagement. She noted that nonprofits must amplify their voices to influence policy and secure resources to sustain their work.

"We are so often at the bottom of the list," she said, "and if we can advocate for ways to change the systems and structures that are holding some of our society back, then that will be such a fantastic thing for the Alabama Association of Nonprofits to be able to help with."

She said people at the summit will also tackle topics such as how to leverage social media, enhance fundraising efforts and foster bipartisan collaboration. She added that it will be about more than discussing challenges; it's about driving meaningful change to ensure Alabama's nonprofits can remain pillars of support in their communities.


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The latest trade war under the Trump administration is stirring debate about whether tariffs are effective, and a South Dakota business is arguing a 1936 antitrust law should be embraced to boost the fortunes of smaller domestic companies.

The White House has said its aggressive approach with tariffs could lead to more American manufacturing and production. Still, skeptics countered it would take too long, forcing businesses and financial markets to grapple with uncertainty for now.

RF Buche runs six grocery stores in South Dakota and feels the long-standing Robinson-Patman Act is not getting enough attention. The little-used law prohibits charging lower prices when companies buy products in bulk.

"When my wholesaler's truck backs up to General Mills and Walmart backs up to General Mills and both are getting a truckload of 18-ounce Cheerios, the price is not the same," Buche pointed out.

He suggested larger retailers often get a bigger price break, while he has to charge his customers more money for the same item. During the final days of the Biden administration, the Federal Trade Commission moved to revive the law in some cases. But the FTC's ideological balance has shifted to a Republican majority, leaving questions about whether this law will sit dormant again.

Some think tanks feel the law is redundant in the current regulatory landscape and could actually harm small businesses and their customers if widely enforced. But Buche emphasized businesses like his have little advantage, noting some of his stores are situated near the poorest Native American communities in the country.

"My customers, they don't have the transportation to get to a Walmart, so why are my customers forced to pay 20% to 50% more for their groceries? It's not fair," Buche stressed.

Policy experts have said the Robinson-Patman Act became weaker around the 1970s when lobbyists convinced lawmakers it was hurting competition. But backers of reviving it consistently said there have been too many corporate mergers since then and fairer prices for smaller chains could give customers more choices.


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Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, celebrating the thousands of service members since 1861 who have been awarded the country's highest military honor.

Of more than 40 million Americans who have served in the armed forces, fewer than 4,000 have received the Medal of Honor. Maryland is credited with more than 60 recipients. Alumni of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis account for more than 70 medal holders.

Chris Cassidy, CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum, said it is common for a recipient to receive the honor decades after their service.

"Over time, they get relooked and it's called a medal upgrade from, say, a Navy Cross to a Medal of Honor," Cassidy explained. "That happens frequently. It's not rare that you might see they're reviewing a Vietnam award and the person's still living and they get an award decades after their action happened."

In January, the House of Representatives unanimously passed the National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act. The bill would put a national monument for Medal of Honor recipients near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Today also is set for the grand opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Texas.

Cassidy pointed out given limited real estate on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., it made sense for the museum to be built outside the nation's capital. He added the museum will be a place where people can hear stories of ordinary people going above and beyond.

"Our museum is going to be a repository of amazing stories," Cassidy emphasized. "Stories of courage and sacrifice of normal people, just like you and I, who did something extraordinary when the nation needed them to do it."

Among the recipients of the honor, 19 service members have received it twice and 14 of those were awarded for two separate actions. In 1917, laws were changed, ending the award of multiple Medals of Honor.


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As New Yorkers protest the Trump administration, some groups are advising best practices for protesting. State and national protests are occurring against GOP budget cuts and mass firings of federal employees. These have mostly been peaceful actions, but with emotions running high, there can be some incidents of violence.

Kalaya'an Mendoza, head of U.S. programs with Nonviolent Peaceforce, says having a safety plan is the best way to stay safe at a protest.

"What that looks like could be everything from making sure you have a buddy to doing some research about where the protest is happening to find your primary and secondary exit points, to also knowing who the organizers are and even doing a capacity check for yourself," she said.

Mendoza noted that risks vary based on where a person is, but they should first determine if it's safe for them to even be at a protest. Beyond outside factors, another challenge to staying safe is seeing how state security forces act at the protest. He added to remain alert since they could use tear gas or pepper spray as things change. Sometimes, people might attend protests simply to agitate the crowd or incite violence.

If a protest gets violent or someone gets aggressive, knowing your survival response can help keep things calm. Mendoza noted as much as people can try, they can't de-escalate an aggressor, law enforcement officers, or someone intent on harming you. But, he says people don't consider certain things when preparing to attend a protest, although they always should.

"Having a buddy, that's a very important thing; just like having someone watch your back or even having a remote buddy, someone that can check on you before, during, and after the protest. That you would let them know, like, 'I'm going to be here. I plan to be here,' especially for folks that may be more vulnerable or at risk for arrest or deportation," Mendoza said.

Protests regarding the Trump administration have been nonviolent, but Mendoza says this is also due to them being organized by communities which could be targeted. In his 30 years of activism, the violence Mendoza's seen at protests came from state security forces or agitators.