Meeting the Moment: Finding Opportunity in Uncertain Times

 

If you’re feeling unsettled right now, you’re not alone. Across the country—and especially here in Maryland—people doing important work are staring down a moment of real uncertainty. Researchers counting on federal grants, local governments trying to balance their budgets, businesses navigating shifting regulations, nonprofits wondering if their funding is about to dry up. It’s a tough time to plan when so much seems up in the air.

Recent events have only heightened the tension. A White House executive order temporarily freezing federal funds sent organizations scrambling, unsure if the money they’d been counting on would still come through. Maryland’s $3 billion budget deficit is already sparking debates about cuts and tax increases, with the impacts likely to ripple through state contracts and programs. And in the energy world, the explosion of AI-driven data centers has been driving major infrastructure decisions—until new research (most recently the release of DeepSeek) threw a wrench into assumptions about just how much power they’ll need, leaving utilities and policymakers recalibrating.

These shifts bring real risks, but they also create opportunities. For organizations that can adapt, rethink their approach, and protect what they’ve already built, this is a moment to take strategic action—not just wait and see.

Adapting to the Landscape

For nonprofits, businesses, and local governments, one of the biggest challenges is financial uncertainty. Federal and state funding that seemed reliable may now be up for debate. That’s leading some to look at diversifying their revenue streams—whether that means tapping into private philanthropy, developing new service models, or restructuring to take advantage of emerging funding opportunities. The organizations that survive and thrive in moments like this are the ones that get creative.

Shifting Regulatory Priorities

For businesses—especially those in the environmental and outdoor recreation sectors—shifting regulatory priorities can create as many openings as obstacles. It may be harder to rely on government incentives, but major investments in infrastructure and energy transition are still coming, even if they look a little different than expected. The key is figuring out how to position yourself for what’s next.

Protecting What’s Already in Motion

If your organization was promised funding, approved for a project, or relying on a policy framework that’s suddenly in flux, now is the time to assess where you stand. What legal protections do you have? What actions should you take now to ensure your interests are safeguarded?

A Time to Get Proactive

Uncertainty doesn’t have to mean paralysis. Now is the time to take stock, get clarity, and take action where you can. That might mean:

• Diversifying funding sources. If you rely heavily on government grants or contracts, now is the time to explore private funding, partnerships, or alternative revenue streams.
• Reevaluating your structure. Some nonprofits and businesses are restructuring to take advantage of new funding opportunities or to better weather potential disruptions.
• Protecting your commitments. If you were promised funding, approved for a project, or relying on policies that now seem shaky, review your contracts, grant agreements, and legal options to make sure you’re not left unprotected.
• Revisiting your messaging. In times of upheaval, how your organization is perceived—by funders, policymakers, and the public—can matter more than ever. Are you communicating your value in a way that resonates right now?
• Positioning for what’s next. Even if the road ahead looks bumpy, those who anticipate change and adjust accordingly will be in the best position when the dust settles.

This is not an easy moment. People are worried, and for good reason. But for organizations that take the right steps now, there’s an opportunity not just to survive uncertainty, but to come through it stronger.

If you need help sorting through the legal questions this moment is raising—whether it’s about funding, contracts, regulatory issues, or organizational strategy—we’re here to help.

Change is coming. The best thing you can do is be ready for it.

Find out how we can help you.

--Jennifer Wazenski

Watershed Legal Counsel advises private clients and government instrumentalities in environmental and natural resources matters, serves as outside general counsel for mission-driven enterprises in the environmental sector, and provides strategic legal services that help organizations manage change. Founder Jennifer Wazenski is a Maryland attorney who has practiced environmental and natural resources law since 1991. She served as Principal Counsel to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources from 2010 through 2021, and, prior to that, Deputy Counsel to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Disclaimer: Attorney advertising. The information provided at this site is for general purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.

© 2025 Watershed Legal Counsel. All rights reserved.