Necessity of Nonprofits

Quinn’s story starts like many others. 

She moved to the States when she was young, living with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend, Tony. Due to financial struggles, Quinn could not afford to pay for college, nor could she pay for rent at home. Her mom told her to leave, so she did, couch-surfing at friends’ homes while working weekends at a convenience store.  

Soon, Quinn ran out of couches to sleep on. She found herself sleeping near a foundation—a dangerous option that she knew could not be permanent. Desperate, Quinn returned to her mom and agreed to pay rent from the little income she made. Fortunately, Tony offered her what seemed like a promising job: a position at a housekeeping business with good pay. Things finally looked up. 

First, Quinn’s paycheck would be delivered to her mom, and her mom would give her a portion. The amount was small, but Quinn was grateful. Then she started working more but receiving less. Her mom claimed it was for bills, but the numbers didn’t add up.  

Quinn’s confrontation with her mother and Tony resulted in her being kicked out. Left with no other choice, she moved into a house that other girls in the housekeeping business stayed in. Tony was the landlord. Again, the same thing happened: Quinn worked more but earned less money. She was trapped, working morning until night with barely any pay. “Special” jobs were offered to some of the girls, and Quinn knew it was only a matter of time before she’d be forced into that too.  

She confided in Jordan, a coworker from a previous job. Jordan offered her to live with him and his friends, which she happily but nervously accepted.  

When Tony discovered Quinn’s plans, he was furious. He threatened her, demanding more money for the phone and rent. He refused to let her leave. When Quinn told Jordan, he told her to pack a bag and meet him. She soon left with nothing but her purse, fearful that anything larger would tip off Tony or the other girls.  

Soon, Quinn was at Jordan’s home. By waitressing and being able to save her money, she slowly but safely rebuilt her life. She dreams of finding her own place, but she still fears that her mom, Tony, or the other girls will find her—even though years have passed.  

Once she started sharing her story, Quinn realized the reality of what her situation had become: labor trafficking.  She reached out to a nonprofit, Because Organization, that specialized in supporting survivors of human trafficking. Together, Quinn and Because, helped her regain stability by working on life skills, including basic financial planning.

Eventually, Quinn opened and began contributing to her own savings account, and she received career coaching to explore options beyond food service. They discussed education and trade programs that fit her interests and budget, and she expressed a desire to apply to a nursing program when she had saved enough money. Additionally, Because supported her initial housing search and walked her through the steps to take when renting a room or sharing an apartment. It was last reported that she moved in with a coworker, has her own room, and is saving up for a car while continuing to waitress and bartend.  

Tragically, the ability of nonprofits to continue supporting individuals such as Quinn is in peril. When focusing on the United States, the danger is evident in the current administration’s attitude toward nonprofits.  

Supporters of cutting federal funding claim that nonprofits contribute to government waste and are corrupted by left-wing causes (Bryant, 2025). Recent actions taken by the Trump administration include issuing an executive order asserting direct political control over grant funding and proposing base non-defense discretionary budget at 22.6% below current-year spending (Ruhnke, 2025). For more information on executive orders affecting nonprofits, click here. 

Diane Yentel, the president of the National Council of Nonprofits, addressed these concerns and controversies in a letter dated June 4, 2025. As Alice Ruhnke, the President of Education and Outreach at GrantStation, Inc. summarizes:  

Her letter argues that the subcommittee misrepresents the essential role of nonprofits. It emphasizes that America’s 1.5 million charitable nonprofits are trusted, transparent, and accountable partners that deliver crucial services (from disaster relief to daily community support) often in areas underserved by government. Nonprofits undergo rigorous competitive grant selection processes and are subject to strict federal oversight, transparency laws, and audits to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds. Contrary to partisan criticisms, these organizations are legally nonpartisan, comply with federal and state laws, and provide measurable returns on public investments by filling vital gaps in the nation’s social safety net. 

Yes, illegitimate nonprofits exist. Sometimes, an organization does not deliver what is promised, and public distrust is understandable. However, there are steps you can take to verify a nonprofit’s legitimacy. Some ways to start include using the search tool on the

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)’s website (available here), or reading the organization’s own website for financial transparences, impact reports, and contact information.  

Because Organization, for example, takes careful measures to report accurate statistics of their impact, ranging from reported forms of trafficking, services provided and referred, contact methods, and demographics of survivors. Regardless of where a case may fall in these categories, Because makes every effort to ensure that every need is met.  

Almost anyone, anywhere, can help further the good work nonprofits are proven to pursue. One upcoming and easily accessible example is a virtual Walk/Run event, organized by Because, to advocate for the protection of victims of human trafficking.  

By donating $35, $45, or $55 and walking or running a 5K, 10K, or 15K, participants can help Because raise funds for survivor safe housing and support. The event lasts from October 26 to November 9, 2025. To register and learn more, click here.  

Walk or run with us—because survivors deserve more.  

References 

Bryant, E. (2025, June 10). Trump’s war on nonprofits will make us all less safe. Vera Institute of Justice. https://www.vera.org/news/trumps-war-on-nonprofits-will-make-us-all-less-safe 

Ruhnke, A. (2025, August 26). Tracking federal actions impacting the nonprofit sector. GrantStation. https://grantstation.com/gs-insights/tracking-federal-actions-impacting-nonprofit-sector