Bellwether is 15 this year. We’re using this moment to look back on some of the work we’re most proud of — work that we plan on scaling as new trends and challenges emerge.
Private philanthropic organizations have their work cut out for them this year. With the Trump administration’s dramatic cuts to federal funding, foundations are scrambling to fill the gaps and provide social services to the communities that need them. While federal philanthropic agencies like the U.S. Agency for International Development and AmeriCorps have been decimated, private nonprofits are also feeling the ripple effects of grant cancellations, with nearly one-third of them relying on federal grants to complete their essential work. Virtually every sector, from disaster relief to workforce development to education, has been affected, and foundations across the country are stretching to adapt.
Since 2010, philanthropic foundations have played a crucial role in enabling Bellwether to advance independent research and emerge with clear, objective insights on educational issues. We also serve as a trusted thought partner to foundations in need of a critical friend, especially during uncertain times like these. Given this demanding moment for private foundations, we asked leaders from four regional foundations how they’re faring right now.
How is your foundation adapting its grantmaking and strategy in light of recent federal policy shifts or uncertainty? What types of collaboration or partnerships have been helpful — or do you see as needed — to support that adaptation?
Here’s what they said. (Note: answers have been edited for clarity and concision, and one leader spoke on condition of anonymity.)
John D. Denning
Senior Adviser, John M. Belk Endowment
In the midst of today’s ever-evolving political and economic climate, our grantee partners have experienced a large amount of uncertainty. Nowhere is that more evident than with the experiences of our partners in western North Carolina, who still continue to recover and rebuild from the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene.
Our approach to grantmaking during these challenging times has led us to even more intentionally “show up” as colleagues, professionals, and humans. We don’t pretend to have all of the answers — but we do aim to authentically listen and engage in ways that are genuine and relational. Platitudes and press releases that share facts and attempt to demystify uncertainty can be helpful. But more than that, we’ve done things like choosing to personally attend events or moved check-in calls to in-person visits. Even bringing and sharing a meal has been an example of how we are trying very hard to more fully listen to our partners in the midst of these challenging times. Indeed, in order for us to accomplish big outcomes together, showing up on the hard days as well as the good days can make all the difference.
Leader
Philanthropic Foundation, Large Rural Region
Funding cuts make it harder for all communities, especially those in rural areas, to access resources. Our goal is to understand what rural nonprofits in our region are experiencing and how we can support them in a time of uncertainty.
After members of our staff received calls from grantees experiencing or concerned about funding cuts, we launched a survey that we sent to nonprofits across the region to learn more about what’s happening on the ground. We plan to study the data and identify trends at the state or regional levels to determine if there are tools we can create to benefit the sector. We also hope to collect anecdotes, learn about creative solutions or partnerships, and find ways to share those stories and models more broadly.
We anticipate that these results will help our partners develop strategic responses. Already, some of them are offering technical assistance on topics like organizational infrastructure and finance, and we may learn that more trainings like these could benefit nonprofits across the whole region. We also anticipate that our partners may shift funding requirements or timelines in response to the data or work more closely with nonprofits in any high-need areas that come to the surface.
Russell Ramsey
Vice President for Education, Gates Family Foundation
As a state-level funder, the recent federal uncertainty has us spending even more time with our state agency leaders on contingency planning and finding ways to support adaptation as “education returns to the states.” To that end, we are shortening our strategic planning and refresh cycles at the foundation to be more responsive to this moment and more nimble in the coming years.
I think the field would benefit from more structured conversations between national funders and place-based funders. With more transparent communication between national and local organizations, new opportunities for collaboration might emerge, ultimately leading to improved educational outcomes for students.
Stuart Comstock-Gay
President and CEO, Delaware Community Foundation
These times are disruptive, confusing, and even frightening. For those of us focused on the civic sector — community needs, the arts, education, and the foundation of our democracy — the fear can be overwhelming. We didn’t ask for this moment, which is upending many things we cherish. But we cannot simply wait for changes to happen. We need to seize this chance to develop new models and envision a better future.
There are a lot of questions we can ask. For instance: What does a stronger democracy look like? How can we improve it — not merely revert to old roles and power structures, but create something better, more inclusive, and adaptable in difficult times? What do effective mental health service programs look like, and how do we fund them to ensure that quality services are accessible to everyone? How do we best help kids become successful adults?
The answers will not come from one source. The federal government, state government, academia, and philanthropy all have a role to play. But it’s local communities and community organizations that can lead the way, with new ideas, new models, and new approaches.
That’s why the Delaware Community Foundation started a new grant program to support nonprofits by providing the necessary flexibility and breathing room for innovative thinking. As funding structures begin to stabilize, these organizations will be stronger than ever and better equipped to support their communities.
The choices we make now will shape the future we leave behind. It’s our responsibility to advocate for a society that not only survives these challenges but emerges stronger, more democratic, more equitable, and more compassionate than ever before.
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While this is a uniquely uncertain time for philanthropies, these foundations and many of Bellwether’s partners are rising to the challenge by listening to what their communities need and remaining flexible about how to approach their work. This has always been true of the strong foundations we work with, and it will endure after this political moment passes.
To learn more about Bellwether’s philanthropic foundation advisory support, contact Mark Baxter at mark.baxter@bellwether.org.
