In this second installment of our "Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy" series, host Rusty Stahl shares insights from his recent experience at the 22nd annual Foundations on the Hill event in Washington, DC. Drawing from meetings with congressional staff and discussions with philanthropic colleagues, Rusty offers reflections and actionable ideas for addressing the political and policy threats to our sector.

Emphasizing the importance of maintaining hope and agency in the face of significant challenges, Rusty highlights the unique role of nonprofits in driving social change. He calls for greater solidarity among nonprofit infrastructure groups, funders, and government leaders, and provides practical advice for listeners on how to support and strengthen the sector. From educating policymakers about the nonprofit workforce to leveraging voter support and supporting key legislative initiatives, Rusty offers a roadmap for nonprofit professionals to actively defend and advance their critical work. The episode serves as a call to action for nonprofit leaders to engage in advocacy, share their stories, and support organizations fighting for the sector's interests.

Resources:

Foundations on the Hill

United Philanthropy Forum

Council on Foundations

Independent Sector

Philanthropy New York

New York Funders Alliance

National Council on Nonprofits (and donation page)

Charitable Act 2025

Senator James Lankford, Republican of Oklahoma

Nonprofit Finance Fund's 2025 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey

Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (and donation page)

The National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) is collecting information about how the executive orders have impacted U.S. nonprofits so far. Share your org's story directly with NCN via this form.

You can find NCN's summary of the Executive Orders and their impact on nonprofits here (updated Feb. 7).
NCN's overview page about what's happening with the administration, background info, its impact on nonprofits, and more.

After collecting the pressing concerns of nonprofits across the country in their recent webinar, and through their survey on the observed impact of the recent executive orders and actions, NCN created a new document with the latest answers to frequently asked questions. Check back often as they will be updating this link as new information surfaces.

Visit www.fundthepeople.org for more!