In part one of this conversation, our panel of experts discussed legal, regulatory, and financial concerns during transitions in the nonprofit sector. Today, on part two, the discussion shifts towards organizational culture and communication.

Michealle Gady, Founder, President & CEO of Atrómitos, LLC, has more than 20 years of experience helping health and human service providers, government agencies, advocates, and philanthropies create lasting community change.
Jacob Ferrari is a partner at The Apex Law Group, PLLC, and works with nonprofits at every growth stage including formation, application for tax exemption, board governance, and corporate exit plans.
Michaela Kay is a CPA who serves as the practice leader for BDO's Seattle office, focusing on single audits, program specific audits, and financial statements audits for those in the life sciences, social services and housing industries.
Julie Morris currently serves as Interim Executive Director at Wellspring Family Services in Seattle. As a professional interim leader, she specializes in helping organizations navigate periods of change and transition.

Key Takeaways

• Without for-profit shareholders, the traditional metrics for valuation don’t necessarily apply in the nonprofit sector. How should a nonprofit, and its assets, be valued during a merger or acquisition?
• When it comes to finding complementary organizations, what does the “dating process” look like for nonprofits, and what can be expected during and after the “honeymoon” phase? Where do organizations stumble once the ink is dry?
• What is the best way to navigate staff concerns during a transition? When should the conversation expand beyond board members to include staff—especially leadership—without kicking the rumor mill into high gear?

Whether your organization is considering a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer, keep in mind that these decisions involve legal, financial, and operational complexity that most organizations don't navigate every day. Leaders striving for a smooth transition need to know when to bring in outside expertise, act from a position of strength rather than crisis, and recognize the human element of organizational change.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your board, leadership team, or a colleague who might be wrestling with these questions.

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

With many nonprofits facing existential threats due to revenue loss, federal funding freezes, and policy shifts, organizations are forced to operate on reserves while waiting for clarity that may never come. Now more than ever, it is crucial that nonprofits reframe their views on mergers and acquisitions—as well as the many alternatives.

On today’s episode, Atrómitos president, founder, and CEO Michealle Gady is joined once more by Michaela Kay of BDO and Jacob Ferrari of Apex Law Group. Julie Morris, interim executive director of Wellspring Family Services, rounds out our panel of experts to discuss the complexities of nonprofit mergers and structural changes in the current challenging landscape.

Want a refresher on Michealle, Jacob, and Michaela and their conversation detailing the report on the sustainability of human services contracting in Washington state? Listen (and read) here.

Julie Morris is the Interim Executive Director at Wellspring Family Services in Seattle, WA. As a professional interim leader, she specializes in helping organizations navigate periods of change and transition. Julie has practical experience leading a nonprofit through a program and asset transfer and is deeply committed to solutions that prioritize community impact and long-term sustainability over organizational ego.

Key Takeaways

• What are our experts seeing right now in terms of organizational stability and financial health in the nonprofit sector, and when should a nonprofit leader start considering structural changes rather than weathering the storm?
• What's the difference between a merger, an acquisition, and an asset transfer in the nonprofit context? When do the alternatives—such as fiscal sponsorship, management services agreements, collaborative partnerships—make the most sense?
• What does financial due diligence look like for nonprofit transactions? How do restricted funds and grant obligations complicate these transactions?

This episode is part one of a two part deep-dive, so be sure to tune in next month to hear the rest of this conversation. If you’re an executive director listening to this episode and thinking, “This might be us,” you won’t want to miss it.

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

In 2024, the Department of Commerce contracted with Atrómitos to answer a critical question: are the contracting structures in Washington state sustainable for human service providers? The findings of that nine-month study are sobering, and today’s episode of the Atrómitos Way is a deep dive into not just the contents of the report, but the wider implications for communities and a potential path forward for human service providers of Washington state.

Michealle Gady, Founder, President & CEO of Atrómitos, LLC, is a policy strategist with over 20 years of experience driving systemic change in health equity, social justice, and community empowerment.

Michaela Kay is a CPA who serves as the practice leader for the BDO Seattle office, focusing on single audits, program specific audits, and financial statements audits for those in the life sciences, social services and housing industries. Her two years working for World Vision as a lead senior accountant provide her with the ability to understand and relate to her clients on a practical level.

Jacob Ferrari is a partner at The Apex Law Group, PLLC. His primary practice works with nonprofits at every growth stage including formation, application for tax exemption, board governance, and corporate exit plans. He regularly speaks and serves on committees effecting the nonprofit community and works to better the nonprofit regulatory environment. Jacob’s goal is to care for his clients as much as his clients care for the community around them.

Key Takeaways

Financial crisis: Cost-based reimbursement, inadequate indirect cost rates, and delayed payments create a "starvation cycle" that prevents providers from investing in staff, infrastructure, or building financial reserves.

Structural barriers: Complex applications, inconsistent requirements across agencies, limited negotiation opportunities, and extensive compliance burdens disproportionately impact smaller, community-based organizations.

Human impact: These systemic issues result in high staff turnover, barriers for "by-and-for" organizations serving marginalized communities, and the risk that qualified providers cannot afford to contract with the state despite clear community need.

The full report is available on the Washington State Department of Commerce w

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

Today’s episode is the second in a two-part conversation with Atrómitos president, founder, and CEO Michealle Gady and legal intern Devon Cavaliere. Together with Communications Director Monette Goodrich, they delve into strategic responses nonprofit organizations can enact in the current political and funding landscape. They discuss the importance of financial independence, the urgency of diversifying funding sources, effective advocacy strategies, and the necessity of documentation and legal preparedness.

The convergence of executive branch funding freezes, judicial limitations on protective relief, and congressional rescissions represents an unprecedented threat to the nonprofit sector. But it's also a call to action. Organizations that adapt to this new reality can not only survive but potentially emerge stronger. The organizations that don't adapt are putting their missions, their staff,and the communities they serve at serious risk.

Key Takeaways

Financial Independence: Nonprofits should limit federal funding to 30-50% of their budget, and a multi-year diversification plan is essential for sustainability. The organizations that survive this transition are the ones that started planning yesterday, not tomorrow.

Political Engagement: Effective advocacy should focus on more than just issue education—nonprofits need to strengthen congressional relationships by establishing themselves as a valuable resource for policymakers. Start local, and build a clear, compelling narrative using personal success stories.

Documentation and Legal Preparedness: Documentation of impact is essential for survival in a volatile environment, but organizations must think strategically about what resonates with different audiences. Numbers matter for budget justifications, but stories are key for political communications.

-

These changes to the nonprofit funding landscape aren't going away after the next election—they represent a fundamental shift in how all three branches of government approach federal funding decisions. The traditional playbook of relying on successful lawsuits to provide sector-wide protection no longer works. The question for every nonprofit leader is not whether these changes will affect their organization, but whether they're prepared when they do.

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

Between the federal funding freeze initiated by the Trump administration in January, the Supreme Court’s ruling in the CASA case in June, and the 119th Congress passing the Rescissions Act in July, 2025 has been a chaotic year for nonprofits—especially those who depend largely on federal funding.

Today’s episode is the first in a two-part conversation with Atrómitos president, founder, and CEO Michealle Gady and legal intern Devon Cavaliere. Together with Communications Director Monette Goodrich, they talk through these legal challenges, and how they have fundamentally altered the landscape for nonprofit funding, requiring organizations to adapt their strategies for financial sustainability and advocacy in a politically charged environment.

Key Takeaways

Executive: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo in January caused confusion and chaos among federal agencies, revealing significant vulnerabilities in nonprofit funding. Swift legal actions were taken against the funding freeze, and the memo was rescinded less than 48 hours later—yet even eight months later, some organizations are still waiting for funding decisions.

Judicial: The Supreme Court's ruling in the Trump v. CASA case restricts the ability of courts to issue universal nationwide injunctions. This decision fundamentally alters the legal landscape by restricting the ability of lower federal courts to issue sweeping orders that protect non-parties.

Legislative: In passing the Rescissions Act, the 119th Congress has shown a willingness to use every procedural tool available to advance ideological priorities. Even if nonprofits successfully challenge executive actions in court, they could still lose their funding through congressional action.

Nonprofits now face threats from all three branches of government, and must fundamentally rethink their legal advocacy, political engagement, and financial sustainability strategies.

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

Major policy shifts at the federal and state levels will affect every nonprofit, including health and human service providers across the country. Today, Atrómitos Founder, President & CEO Michealle Gady is joined by Ivan Canada, President & CEO of the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits. Together, they discuss the importance of strategic planning, collaboration, and innovation in order to navigate the federal and state policy changes which have created the new nonprofit landscape.

During their conversation, Ivan and Michealle explore the numerous new challenges surrounding sustainable funding, and address some of the misconceptions about nonprofit funding and advocacy. They emphasize the need for strategic planning, advocacy, and collaboration among nonprofit leaders to navigate these changes effectively. Their discussion also highlights the importance of board engagement and the role of philanthropy in supporting nonprofits during uncertain times.

Michealle Gady is a policy strategist with over 20 years of experience driving systemic change in health equity, social justice, and community empowerment. As Founder, President & CEO of Atrómitos, LLC since 2016, she has built and scaled a national boutique consulting firm specializing in health and human services policy and strategic operations for mission-driven organizations.

Ivan Canada is passionate about leadership, social change, and service to community, and has been involved with nonprofits and foundations as a staff member, volunteer, consultant, and board member. Before joining the Center as President & CEO, Ivan was executive director of North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ), where he began as a board member before joining its staff.

Key Takeaways

Current policy landscape. How do state policies interact with federal changes to create unique challenges for nonprofits? What are some of the common misconceptions about these policy changes?

Impact assessment & strategic adaptation. How are policy changes forcing nonprofits to modify their programs or internal operations? What are the top 3 actions nonprofit leaders should take now to reduce adverse effects from these policy changes?

Long- and short-term outlook. Advocacy and collaboration will continue to be essential for nonprofits to survive and thrive. What should nonprofit leaders do today to prepare for the n

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

As food assistance programs see their federal funding slashed, food banks across the country struggle to meet rising demands. These cuts, in tandem with rising costs, have occurred as food insecurity reaches its highest point in almost a decade. Navigating this shifting landscape in order to serve their communities, nonprofits like the Sumner Community Food Bank in Washington state have had to develop creative strategies in order to build resilient funding models.

Atrómitos Principal Kate McNulty joins Sumner Community Food Bank Communications Manager Katie Garling to discuss the importance of diversifying funding sources, and discuss the role of community engagement in supporting food distribution efforts.

Katie Garling brings previous experience with a grantmaking application software to her current role at Sumner Community Food Bank, where she has been writing, fundraising, and writing grants since 2021, raising almost 1.5 million in grants to date. Those funds have helped the Sumner Community Food Bank fulfill its mission to provide families with nutritious food, and to partner with other food banks and charitable nonprofits to meet the overall needs of the community.

Kate McNulty spent more than a decade helping nonprofit organizations learn the intricacies of the federal funding process to increase their chances of success in what continues to be a highly competitive market. She has a strong background in grant writing as well as an uncanny ability to identify growth opportunities.

Key Takeaways

What has changed? With food insecurity at a decade high and a record number of Americans affected by federal funding cuts, nonprofits have had to think creatively in order to secure the funding necessary to meet the needs of their communities. Diversifying funding sources is crucial for sustainability.

What has worked? Along with community engagement and building partnerships with other local organizations to enhance outreach, Katie stresses the importance of storytelling in fundraising efforts. Donors enjoy knowing who their donations have helped, and how — even if it’s just “keeping the lights on.”

What’s next? While it may sting, learning from rejection can only improve future fundraising efforts. Katie emphasizes the importance of delegation, research, and preparation in grant writing as well as staff and volunteer engageme

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/

Trump administration officials have been removing public health information from federal agency web pages causing concern among public health professionals who rely on this data for public health policy development and program planning and evaluation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) websites, among others, have erased or significantly altered data sets about adolescent health, racial and ethnic health disparities, HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ+ health.

While a court order has since restored some of the missing data, public health experts wonder about the broader implications of data erasure or alteration. What happens when the federal government not only omits public health data, but also no longer collects it for the foreseeable future?

Atrómitos Principal Amanda Rodgers joins Katy Rodgers, a data analyst for population health and quality at a health system, in a conversation about what missing federal data means for public health, health and human service providers, community-based organizations and advocates.

Katy Rodgers has used her diverse academic background in public health, medical anthropology, religious and women’s studies to lead public health
and rural health workforce programs in Idaho and transform emergency room responses to human trafficking and intimate partner violence in California health systems.

Amanda Rodgers is a public health professional with over a decade of experience in program evaluation, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. She leads data collection, stakeholder facilitation, and research development for government contracting and capital funding readiness initiatives for the firm.

Key Takeaways

Zoom in: Katy and Amanda discuss their prior work together on the CDC’s Rape Prevention and Education Program grant as an example of how federal-level data sets helped create a comprehensive approach to sexual violence prevention. Without federal data, developing an evidence-based intervention like this would be difficult, if not impossible.

Zoom out: When the federal government no longer collects public health data about specific populations, how can local and state level agencies fill in data gaps that affect not only program evaluation and grant funding opportunities, but also exacerbate health disparities and compromise public account

Atrómitos Knowledge Hub Promo

--

This podcast is a production of Atrómitos, a woman-owned boutique consulting firm creating a better way for our health and human services provider clients to achieve their goals by strengthening internal operations, enhancing financial stability and evaluating public policies.

Want to know more about the firm behind the podcast?

• Atrómitos, LLC Website: https://atromitosconsulting.com
• Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atromitos-llc/
• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@atromitosllc
• Get Emails: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/#subscriber

In addition to our podcast, we've developed additional resources to improve your understanding of both long-standing and emerging issues important to leaders in the health and human service provider, government and philanthropic sectors.

Our articles, policy briefs and infographics provide you with information you can use to reach your organization’s goals.

• Atrómitos Way Podcast Website: www.atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way
• Follow us on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/showcase/the-atrómitos-way
• Articles: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/progress/
• White Papers: https://atromitosconsulting.com/atromitos-way/unlocking/