Every night at Nest, volunteers and staff unlock the door, greet each guest by name, and stay awake to watch over the shelter so others can rest. Those individuals might help a guest fill out a housing application in the evening, calm a tense moment just after midnight, or brew the first pot of coffee before the sun comes up. None of it happens without trained, caring staff, and yet staffing is one of the hardest costs for any shelter to fund through grants.
Why grants and staffing don’t always fit together
Grants are vital to how Nest serves our community, and we are deeply grateful for each one. Most grants, though, are written for a specific program or purchase. They most often fund a project with a beginning and an end, which works beautifully for a new initiative but leaves a gap for the steady, everyday work of keeping a shelter staffed and safe.
This is not unique to Nest. Research from Fund the People, highlighted by Nonprofit Quarterly, found that over a decade, 1 percent or less of foundation grants were aimed at investing in nonprofit staff. Furthermore, Nonprofit Finance Fund’s 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey found that 81 percent of nonprofits said raising money that covers their full costs is a challenge, while only 41 percent said they could pay all full-time staff a living wage.
What staff actually make possible
A safe bed is important, but the people around it make a night of shelter truly meaningful. Staff foster trust by helping guests reconnect with their community. They observe when someone is having a hard time, link guests to resources, and maintain a calm, clean, and secure environment for all. Training is also essential, as the role requires patience, de-escalation skills, and a deep understanding of the challenges people experiencing homelessness face.
Consistency is vital to our guests’ care. When guests see the same familiar faces night after night, they feel more secure and are more open to taking the next step, such as a job interview, a medical appointment, or a housing discussion. This stable presence relies on retaining good staff, which in turn depends on having funding that isn’t confined to a specific program or grant cycle.
Where community giving comes in
Gifts from neighbors, local businesses, churches, and friends of Nest are often unrestricted, which means they can go exactly where the need is greatest. Often, that means the people who show up every night to staff our shelters. Community support helps cover the wages, training, and coverage that keep the doors open and the lights on, especially in the months between grants.
This month, Nest is sharing what grants don’t cover and why that matters. Staffing is where that story begins, because every other part of the work depends on it. If Nest has ever mattered to you, a gift of any size helps make sure someone is there when a guest walks through the door tonight.
