GEO is thrilled to be partnering with Trust-Based Philanthropy Project and the National Center for Family Philanthropy on a call to action for philanthropy. The strength of the social sector depends on our collective response. Now is the time for funders to come together in solidarity with nonprofits—partnering, listening, and mobilizing resources in ways that sustain and uplift communities. No single foundation or donor can address these challenges alone, but through collaborative action, trust-based giving, and shared commitment, we can reinforce the resilience of the sector. We urge our peers to sign the commitment, align efforts, and work side by side with nonprofits to reimagine a more just and sustainable future.
As federal funding rollbacks and executive actions cause chaos across the U.S. and abroad, the fate of the social sector hangs in the balance. Decades of our collective efforts — across education, healthcare, science, the arts, public media, climate, immigration, gender and racial justice, and countless other issue areas — are at risk of massive upheaval.
While private philanthropy cannot possibly fill all the federal funding gaps, it can play a key role in supporting the stability, resilience, and reimagination of the social sector. We invite funders to commit to courageous, trust-based action in support of our nonprofit partners — without whom our work would not be possible.
Funders, now is the time to do everything within your power to move in solidarity with nonprofits, mobilize money, and nurture possibility. Sign the commitment, share this with peers, and join the growing community of grantmakers and donors taking trust-based, courageous action on behalf of our sector.
SIGN THE COMMITMENT
Move in Solidarity with Nonprofits
- Check in on your nonprofit partners. Acknowledge that the purpose of your philanthropy is to support their work and success. Offer them a safe space to share what they are going through, listen deeply, and extend empathy and moral support.
- Offer support beyond the check, including access to legal services, digital security, audit preparation, and risk assessment. Share resources to help them understand the impacts of federal actions.
- Be transparent and responsive about how you and your foundation are navigating this moment and be attentive to grantees’ needs and questions.
- Advocate for the social sector by using your platform, organizing peers, and engaging elected officials and other decision makers about what is at stake and what we can do about it.
- Collaborate with other funders in your region or issue area to pool funds, align on efforts to eliminate administrative burdens, and be responsive to grantees in a coordinated way. Invite nonprofits to the table to inform your plans for coordinated action.
Mobilize Money in a Trust-Based Way
- Commit to multi-year, unrestricted funding for at least four years. If you already provide multi-year funding, be proactive about offering early renewal notices so grantees can plan ahead.
- Increase your grantmaking budget for the next four years. Whatever your current payout rate is, consider how you can increase it, even temporarily. For some, this may mean eliminating administrative costs from your 5%, or making stock grants in addition to your core grants. For others, it could mean giving at the level that your endowment is growing, which could be up to 6%, 10%, or more. If you are already giving more than the required 5%, consider if you can commit to a higher percentage for the next four years.
- Offer rapid response funding with clear criteria and streamlined application processes, and set up systems to swiftly review and approve applications.
- Simplify and streamline processes to disburse funding quickly (in under a month) so that nonprofits can move more nimbly.
- When possible, give gifts instead of grants, in order to make your funding as flexible and unburdensome as possible.
- Be flexible on the timing of grant disbursements, as many of our nonprofit colleagues are experiencing cash shortages due to federal funding freezes and reticent funders. If you’ve already committed grants, ask them if it would be helpful to disburse them sooner than anticipated.
Nurture Possibility & Innovation
- Listen for, and fund, big bets. Many nonprofit leaders are already thinking about how to reimagine their work in a dramatically different environment. Listen for these ideas and innovations, and offer trust-based funding to help nonprofits develop and experiment with new ideas on rebuilding civic and social infrastructures.
- Support connection and convening. Fund and nurture opportunities for nonprofits to be in community with one another, to explore opportunities for collaboration, to exchange ideas, and to reimagine their work together. Offer trust-based grants for travel and conference attendance and/or provide optional, non-mandated retreats for restoration and connection.
- Explore funding beyond the conventional 501c3 structures, such as LLCs, 501c4s, fiscally sponsored organizations, mutual aid networks, and donor circles. If you have partners that are particularly vulnerable to targeting, support them in identifying fiscal sponsorship or other alternative structures that can provide them with greater protection from potential threats.
SIGN THE COMMITMENT
