Defiant, Private, Silent: Philanthropies React to Trump’s DEI Order

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February 26, 2025

From: Philanthropy Today

Subject: Defiant, Private, Silent: Philanthropies React to Trump’s DEI Order

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Silent, Defiant, Private: Big Philanthropies React to Trump’s DEI Order

By Alex Daniels

Except for Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan’s CZI Initiative, most big grant makers have not closed their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Fundraising

Build a Smart Outreach Plan to Keep Donors Close — and Meet Revenue Goals

By Lisa Schohl

A thoughtful and flexible plan for donor communications is needed more than ever. Here are some creative ideas and key steps to take.
Foundation Giving

Grants for Science and Health Research Tend to Stay Local

By Louis Shekhtman

Foundations and individuals provide $30 billion annually, largely to research efforts in their own states.

WEBINARS

Today: Thursday, February 27 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now

December 19, 2024

Crafting donor thank-yous that deepen ties with supporters requires more than strong writing skills; it takes an understanding of donor motivations. Join us for The Psychology of Thanking Donors Well to learn about new research into what makes donors feel valued. Our speakers will explain how to analyze your donor communications, use language that resonates with donors, and increase giving to your cause by taking your thank-yous to the next level.
Today: March 20 at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now

January 24, 2025

Donors funneled nearly $55 billion to nonprofits through donor-advised funds in 2023. To gain a better understanding of the people who hold these accounts, join us for Actionable Insights Into DAF Donors. We’ll share key findings from new research on DAF donors and proven tactics for attracting gifts from them, making it easy to give this way, and recognizing their support — so they’ll give more.

ONLINE FORUMS

March 11, at 2 p.m. ET | Register Now

February 10, 2025

Join us for the free online forum, Ultrawealthy Donors: How They Give and What’s Next, as we dig into exclusive data from the Philanthropy 50 — our annual ranking of the 50 most generous U.S. donors — and explore forces shaping big giving, such as the impact of MacKenzie Scott’s unrestricted giving, the advocacy philanthropy of Melinda French Gates, recent donor revolts, and growing dissatisfaction over wealth accumulation.

Nonprofit News From Elsewhere Online

Federal judges on Tuesday dealt President Trump’s attempts to gut foreign aid and impose ideological restrictions on government grants a temporary setback in two separate cases. In one case, a judge granted a request made by nonprofit and business groups to extend a halt on the White House’s January freeze on federal grants and loans. In the other, a judge ordered the administration to disburse payments to nonprofit contractors with the U.S. Agency for International Development within two days. (Associated Press)

Background from the Chronicle: Nonprofits Dependent on Federal Grants Scramble Amid Mixed Signals From White House and Federal Judge

A conservative legal nonprofit has sued Chicago public schools for dedicating more support to Black students. Parents Defending Education, the group that filed the Chicago complaint, argues that the schools are violating civil-rights laws as well as the Trump administration’s orders to end diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. At issue is the Chicago Public Schools’ Black Student Success Program, an effort to boost test scores and graduation rates among Black students, which were lower than their peers. (Wall Street Journal— subscription)

More on Nonprofits and the Trump Administration

‘Donations Can’t Fill the Gap’: Nonprofits Support Local Partners Through USAID Upheaval (Axios)
Afghans Helping Afghans: Case Workers in Burlington Outline Their Struggle to Respond to Federal Funding Freeze (VT Digger)
Colorado Nonprofits Continue to Feel Effects of Federal Funding Pause (Colorado Public Radio)

More News

$14.3 Million in Fire Relief Grants Roll Out to Artists Thanks to Getty-Led Museum Fund (L.A. Times)
ProPublica Updates Its Database of Museums’ and Universities’ Compliance With Federal Repatriation Law (ProPublica)
Manhattan Nonprofit Sues City to Halt Destruction of ‘Social Sculpture’ Garden (ARTNews)

Note: In the links in this section, we flag articles that only subscribers can access. But because some journalism outlets offer a limited number of free articles, readers may encounter barriers with other articles we highlight in this roundup.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Interview

‘Don’t Tell Your Strategy': Bernice King Has Advice for Nonprofit Leaders

By Stephanie Beasley February 25, 2025

“I think everybody has to start looking at language,” says the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. “It doesn’t mean you have to go do away with your core mission, but you’re going to have to wordsmith to get through this season.”
Careers

Smart Ways to Show You’re Ready for a Promotion — and a Few Things to Avoid

By Lisa Schohl February 25, 2025

Nonprofit leaders share advice on how to demonstrate leadership potential, impress your boss, and advance your career.
Giving

Philanthropy Advising Is a ‘Wild West’ — and Increasingly Influential

By Eden Stiffman February 24, 2025

As wealth concentrates and more donors look for help starting or expanding their giving, they’re turning to advisors for guidance. One network of advisors helped ultra-wealthy clients give $60 billion in 2024, or about 9 percent of all philanthropy.