I am fired up. Furious, even. But beneath the fire, I feel an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
The nonprofit sector is in crisis. We are being squeezed from every direction – harmful federal policies that dismantle progress, shrinking budgets that stretch us to the breaking point, and a deafening silence from donors who have seemingly disappeared when we need them most. Funders, this is not the time to retreat. This is your moment to rise, to lead, and to demonstrate the courage we know you possess.
Yesterday, I sat on a call with nonprofit advocacy professionals – warriors who fight every day for their communities. Funders were present, too. I asked them directly: “What are you hearing? What is holding you back?” One response knocked the wind out of me: “We want to speak up, but some of our donors don’t want us to.”
Are you serious?
This is not a time for silence or complacency. If you allow a handful of hesitant donors to dictate your voice, you abandon the very organizations you pledged to support – especially those serving LGBTQ communities, trans folks, immigrants, refugees, and countless others on the frontlines. These nonprofits have shown up, fought fiercely, and stood tall through adversity. Now they need YOU.
As usual, Vu Le captures this urgency perfectly in his latest blog, warning that if current trends continue, endowments will be worthless in a fascist state.
What will it take for you to break the silence, to demonstrate bold leadership, and to be BRAVE? The nonprofits you support have risked everything for years. Now is the time for you to match their bravery with your own.
My disappointment runs deep. My anger is giving way to a profound sadness. Funders, you have the chance to make history. This is your defining moment.
We are waiting. And we are watching.
During the same call, nonprofit leaders made their needs clear: they requested a public education campaign to highlight the vital role of the nonprofit sector in our state. Funders don’t even need to fund this campaign – they have the influence, connections, and platforms to lead it themselves. So why the hesitation?
The time for action is now. Nonprofits are not asking for the impossible – they are asking for solidarity, courage, and leadership. Funders, history will remember those who stood up in times of crisis. Will you be remembered as a champion of justice and equity, or as a bystander who stayed silent? The choice is yours.
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