Franklin County nonprofits face a widening gap between the help residents need and the resources they have to provide it, according to a report released Tuesday, Oct. 20, by the Human Service Chamber of Franklin County. The chamber’s 2026 State of the Sector report, based on a survey of members conducted over the summer, describes a growing county where demand keeps rising while many organizations struggle to keep up.
Of the 104 nonprofits that responded, 81 percent reported increased demand, but 61 percent said they are unable to meet those needs. Even more, 85 percent, said they have been forced to limit access through waitlists, reduced services, longer waits or by turning away people eligible for help. Chamber leaders said the findings show strain across the whole sector.
Deputy Director Bhumika Patel said recent changes to programs such as SNAP and Medicaid, along with resources for organizations serving immigrants, refugees and other marginalized groups, have affected providers across the board. Rising operational costs, federal funding cuts and unsustainable demand were listed as the top concerns for organizations serving residents who need child care, senior care, legal help and other basic supports.
The financial cushion for many agencies is thin. The chamber reported that 40 percent of responding agencies hold only three months’ worth of cash reserves or less. Board Chair Kate McGarvey, who also leads Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio, warned that a lost grant or a funding delay could quickly put such organizations at risk. Midsize nonprofits, in the $2 million to $10 million range, reported the most difficulty, with only 17 percent saying they can meet current demand.
The report warns that projected population growth will likely make the shortage worse if funding and capacity do not grow with it. Only 18 percent of midsize nonprofits expect to be in a stronger position in 12 months, and fewer than half, at 44 percent, said they could forecast the next year. For residents, that uncertainty can mean longer waits for food, housing, health and family services across Franklin County.
Alongside the warning, the report outlines proposed solutions from the Funding Review Advisory Committee aimed at supporting human services, cultural arts and tourism. The ideas include a $2 per-day Columbus car rental surcharge, applying the county’s 8 percent sales tax to rideshare trips, raising property transfer fees from $2 to $3 per $1,000 of value, increasing the Columbus income tax and proposing a new county property tax levy. Together, the report estimates, the changes could generate more than $200 million annually.
McGarvey said the moment offers a chance for the county to come together around a solution that serves the whole community, including its most vulnerable residents. Patel said companies across the community benefit from the support nonprofits provide, from child care to senior care, and she would like to see that support returned to the sector. No decisions on the funding proposals were announced with the report, leaving leaders to weigh the recommendations in the months ahead.
Photo: Rick Obst, CC BY