philanthropy stepping up.Since February, nonprofits across the country have been sharing their stories about the impacts on their organizations, clients, and communities from the Trump administration’s executive orders, statements, and actions. After what seemed like a long wait for a concerted response from the philanthropic community, we are seeing some encouraging signs as foundations begin to speak up.
In a show of solidarity with nonprofits, A Public Statement From Philanthropy from the Council on Foundations has more than 555 signatories (to date) affirming that they are united behind the First Amendment right to carry out their vital missions of giving, “when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most.” Their statement continues: “Especially in this time of great need, we must have the freedom to direct our resources to a wide variety of important services, issues, and places, to improve lives today and build a stronger future for our country. The health and safety of the American people, our nation’s economic stability, and the vibrancy of our democracy depend on it.” Another statement of commitment, a “Meet the Moment” call to action led by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project with Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and the National Center for Family Philanthropy, uplifts a collective voice from more than 135 foundations (to date) pledging to nurture nonprofits and mobilize funding. An accompanying article, authored by three presidents of foundations in Nonprofit Quarterly, provides additional insights and urges their foundation peers to respond to their call “to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities.” We are also encouraged to see that a number of foundations have pledged increased financial support for nonprofits. The Marguerite Casey Foundation announced a new $130 million investment “to ensure that nonprofits in the movement for racial and economic justice have the resources they need to continue providing critical community organizing, education, and services across the country.” The MacArthur Foundation has committed to increasing its giving in 2025 and 2026 and to using flexible, trust-based charitable giving models where possible. The San Francisco Foundation announced they will allocate an additional $15 million from their endowment and reserves “to strengthen our community and grantee partners, enabling them to continue fighting for and serving our communities with resilience and determination.” The Mellon Foundation announced $15 million in emergency funding for the Federation of State Humanities Councils to provide lifeline support to all 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils to help address the impact of the recent federal funding cuts. A growing number of foundations are joining in and committing to increased funding for nonprofits. As we applaud these funders — and urge others in the philanthropic community to step up and join their voices to these efforts — I’d like to reiterate my team’s recommendations to our clients: Take this moment to strengthen your relationships with your funders and ask for what you need to sustain and adapt your work. Staying connected keeps all of us stronger. To stay informed and to ensure your voices are heard, please take a look at the list of resources we’ve collected at: www.skwallis.com/ideas.html. We will continue to update this page periodically with new resources. resources to TURN TO during challenging times.Good communication with your funders is always important. Today, it is imperative.
While foundations are analyzing current conditions and determining their responses, you may wish to reach out to your funders (on a case-by-case basis) to provide a candid view of what's happening at your level. Be honest about the pressures you’re experiencing, what you're hearing from your constituency, and how your work on the ground may have shifted. Let them know about the actions you are taking to support your clients and community members. Your funders are your allies. Take this moment to strengthen your relationships with them and ask for what you need to sustain and adapt your work. To stay informed and to ensure your voices are heard, the National Council of Nonprofits recommends the following actions nonprofits can take today:
National Council of Nonprofits – Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits (Monitoring Actions & Impacts) – Stay informed! This detailed chart, organized by topic area, tracks the impacts of Executive Orders on the nonprofit sector. The chart is frequently updated. https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/files/media/documents/2025/chart-executive-orders.pdf Minnesota Council of Nonprofits – Resources to Navigate Uncertainty This comprehensive list includes resources to support legal and HR compliance, scenario planning, financial modeling, nonprofit advocacy, and more. https://minnesotanonprofits.org/resources-to-navigate-uncertainty Democracy Forward – Democracy 2024 Response Center (Actions & Legal Responses) This tracker, updated daily, provides real-time analysis of the administration's actions and legal responses. https://www.democracy2025.org/response-center Courtwatch – Lawsuits Related to Trump Admin Executive Orders https://www.courtwatch.news/p/lawsuits-related-to-trump-admin-executive-orders Center for Effective Philanthropy Blog Calling on Funders to Step Up! CEP posts frequently on issues of effective philanthropic practice. https://cep.org/blog/ Examples of posts examining challenges and recommendations: https://cep.org/blog/now-is-the-time-to-lay-the-foundation-for-long-term-civic-resilience/ https://cep.org/blog/standing-strong-for-dei/ https://cep.org/blog/funders-i-want-to-tell-you-about-my-donkeys/ Statement by the CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation https://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/2025/01/rwjf-statement-condemning-executive-order-backsliding-on-dei-and-health.html Alliance for Justice – Recommendations for Nonprofit Response & Advocacy https://afj.org/article/how-nonprofits-can-fight-back-against-trumps-harmful-executive-orders/ Creating Healthier Communities (CHC): Navigating DEI Changes https://chcimpact.org/navigating-dei-changes-under-the-new-administration-what-nonprofits-need-to-know/ Common Good Data https://www.commongooddata.com/blog/how-new-executive-orders-may-impact-nonprofits-what-you-need-to-know Train Your Board – Three Survival Strategies for 2025 Advocacy, mutual aid (informal & formal networks; cross-support among peer organizations), and self-care (individual, organizational, & movement-wide) as essential for social change https://trainyourboard.com/three-survival-strategies-for-2025/ Resources for Immigrant Communities (Know Your Rights) https://www.asianlawcaucus.org/news-resources/guides-reports/know-your-rights-guide-for-immigrant-communities-in-2025 https://caasf.org/2025/01/community-resources-for-immigrants-in-2025/ Foundations are Listening.
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