How to help during the government shutdown

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publishing; the topics covered are continuously evolving.

Millions of Americans face economic uncertainty amid the ongoing government shutdown. The pause in federal funding affects a variety of critical services, from housing to health care, putting children and families, furloughed federal workers, and those in need of mental health support at risk.

Many donors have asked how they can help; nonprofit leaders and sector experts say the most urgent need is food access, with existing shortages at food banks and partial funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps about 42 million Americans buy food each year.

Fidelity Charitable developed the following guidance for helping those who are vulnerable to losing access to food and to address other critical needs.*

Give to food banks.

• Find your local food bank (opens in new tab or window) in the Feeding America network. For example, Capital Area Food Bank (opens in new tab or window) (Tax ID: 52-1167581), the leading food security organization in the Washington, D.C., metro area, coordinates with 400 local food pantries and food assistance partners.
• You can also support Feeding America (opens in new tab or window) (Tax ID: 36-3673599), a nationwide network of food banks, pantries, and meal programs serving communities across the United States. Contributions go to programs and services helping millions of people facing hunger.

Support emergency responses helping children and families.

• For example, Save the Children (opens in new tab or window) (Tax ID: 06-0726487) has launched a crisis response to protect vulnerable children and families in rural communities where there are fewer food banks. It is accepting contributions through its U.S. Children's Emergency Fund (opens in new tab or window).
• You can also support local United Ways, which are knowledgeable about the specific needs in their communities. Each United Way partners with other local nonprofits to provide families with access to food, housing, education, financial stability, and health services. Many have established emergency assistance funds in response to the government shutdown. Find your local United Way (opens in new tab or window).

Support federal workers.

• The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (opens in new tab or window) (FEEA; Tax ID: 52-1465583) helps federal public servants in need and is providing grants and assistance to employees currently not receiving a paycheck. At the time of this publishing, all general donations to FEEA are currently being directed to shutdown-related support.
• Through its Community Resilience Initiative (opens in new tab or window), the Greater Washington Community Foundation (opens in new tab or window) (Tax ID: 23-7343119) is currently directing funding and support to nonprofits meeting critical needs in the Washington, D.C., region. Donors can designate their grant recommendations to the “Community Resilience Fund.”

Help make mental health support accessible.

• People who are feeling the impacts of the government shutdown may need mental health support. Donors can consider giving to organizations such as Crisis Text Line (opens in new tab or window) (Tax ID: 46-5039599), which offers 24/7 emotional support and information to those in crisis situations.

Donors seeking ways to help are encouraged to ensure that any organization they wish to support is legitimate, as there can be an increased risk of fraud when there is a disaster or heightened time of need. Fidelity Charitable makes grants only to IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) public charities, such as the organizations above.

Updated November 7, 2025

*The organizations highlighted have an established presence in the affected sectors, but they do not represent the full scope of organizations addressing these issues.