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Philanthropy Alone Can’t Fill the Void — And It Is Not Designed To

This Op-Ed was published in LNP on Sunday, April 13 2025

You can read the original here. 

 

The idea of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse from the federal budget is one most Americans—including the people of Lancaster County—firmly support. We should expect our government, as the stewards of our tax dollars, to strive for efficiency, accountability, and maximum return on investment. If there’s a better way to invest our collective resources—or a way to keep more in taxpayers’ pockets—we’re all ears.

But let’s not confuse prudent spending cuts with eliminating core supports that help our community flourish.

As announcements of federal cuts and funding freezes roll in, we’ve heard some imply that philanthropy and local generosity will step in to fill the gaps. The truth is, even our collective generosity cannot replace critical federal investments.

The Lancaster County Community Foundation uses the power of community-based philanthropy to help care for our neighbors and to shape a Lancaster County where everyone can thrive. We have seen firsthand how our community donates time and resources to support hundreds of causes across our community. We have witnessed Lancaster’s enduring spirit of generosity and volunteerism for generations, and it is something we celebrate.

Philanthropy is an essential partner in strengthening our community, but it is not designed to replace the scale or stability of smart federal investment. Without federal dollars  — investments that support affordable housing, education, workforce development, arts and culture, and health care—we risk unraveling decades of progress in Lancaster built by cross-sector collaboration and local ingenuity. When it comes to our success now and into the future, federal funding, local philanthropy, and the work of our nonprofit sector are deeply interconnected.

The federal budget needs discipline. We hope that discipline will come with discernment. A significant portion of federal spending is an investment that strengthens communities—thoughtfully deployed through local agencies and organizations, including right here in Lancaster County.  

In fact, people throughout our county benefit from many federally supported programs. These provide funds for school lunches, for low-cost child care for working parents struggling to make ends meet, for affordable housing development, for developing new cancer treatments, for museums, for libraries and education, for state-of-the-art farming practices, for economic development and job creation for thousands of our neighbors, and for providing care and shelter to people in need. Not all government spending is waste.

Let’s put the numbers in perspective: across the nation in 2023, Americans gave an incredible total of $557 billion in charitable donations (source: Giving USA). Meanwhile, federal spending totaled $6.1 trillion—roughly 11 times the giving of every foundation, donor, church, and corporation combined. (source: USA Facts)

Local charitable giving cannot “step in” for the federal government. It’s a math problem. It doesn’t add up.  

In Lancaster County alone, nonprofit organizations received over $180 million in federal grants in 2024, according to the Urban Institute. Without these resources, more than half of those nonprofits would be forced to cut vital services. That would mean fewer job training programs, fewer options for struggling parents, and reduced support for our food banks and safety net programs. 

Local giving and philanthropy will always have a role to play in supporting a vibrant community. But if the federal government withdraws needed support, decades of this community’s hard work to build a thriving Lancaster County will be at risk of grinding to a halt or being reversed. Let’s root out real waste, not gut the programs that have built stronger families, better access to care, cleaner air and water, and a more resilient local economy. We need to be smart, not shortsighted.

So, what can we do?

  • First, please look beyond the headlines and get out of the Facebook comments. Instead, talk to your neighbors, your family, members of the community who may be directly impacted by funding cuts. Be curious and learn from each other; we may have more in common than we think.
  • Next, ask the people on the front lines. Nonprofit employees and local leaders aren’t political operatives. They’re problem-solvers. Talk to them about what’s working, what’s wasteful, and what’s at risk.
  • Finally, share your informed opinion with your elected representatives. Let them know you support efficient government, but not reckless cuts that harm our families and small businesses. It is their job to hear from, and advocate for, their constituents. It is our job to remind them. If you don’t call them, they won’t know you care.

Lancaster County doesn’t wait around for someone else to fix things. We roll up our sleeves. We give. We work hard. But we also understand that a stable, well-resourced community is good for business, good for families, and good for our community.

Sam Bressi, President & CEO
Lancaster County Community Foundation