The Trump Administration is hellbent on "deconstructing the administrative state" and consolidating power. This is blowing up the strategies of many big grant makers. How should they respond?
Brilliant piece, Dan. Especially: “ let civil society leaders representing bona fide and broad constituencies come to the fore. These leaders and their followers can do so with even more resolve if they are confident funders will have their backs.”… And I agree with you about the need to reduce federal spending and reform the byzantine nature of the government – – but, as you say, this is not the way to do it!
Important, insightful piece for anyone who cares about philanthropy or civil society. Thank you, Daniel.
I do agree that foundations will be wise to choose winners and losers, as hard as that will be. The nonprofit sector's contraction never materialized as some projected in 2008 or 2020, but it's time for civil society leaders to reimagine the landscape.
Nonprofits who want to push back on this attack on our country are encouraged to reach out to RWB Resist (RWBResist@gmail.com) to discuss the free use of all image, name, social media, music and website assets. See www.RWBResist.com RWB Resist's array of marketing assets could help both DOGE victims and the broader anti-Trump movement to espouse 1) a simple, two-word idea: patriotic resistance, and 2) a symbol, the Patriotic Fist or Nails. RWB Resist would help make a Red, White and Blue raised fist or painted nails a widely used and imitated symbol of peaceful, patriotic resistance by all Trump resistance groups, regardless of other differences. RWB Resist wants to sell patriotic fist merch with 100% of profits going to great resistance nonprofit groups.
Imagine half the crowd at a movie theater or an audience at the Kennedy Center standing up before the beginning of a performance and raising a red, white and blue fist. Who will be the first American to punk our President by sneakily shaking his tiny little hand with nails painted Red, White and Blue? All it takes is a few Americans to make this a movement that shames and irritates this President--while uniting behind a common theme of patriotic, peaceful unity.
Brilliant piece, Dan. Especially: “ let civil society leaders representing bona fide and broad constituencies come to the fore. These leaders and their followers can do so with even more resolve if they are confident funders will have their backs.”… And I agree with you about the need to reduce federal spending and reform the byzantine nature of the government – – but, as you say, this is not the way to do it!
Thanks Nick, really appreciate your reading and the feedback!
Very insightful! Shared with my foundation colleagues. Thanks
You bet Denise, thanks for reading and the encouragement, always good to hear from you.
Important, insightful piece for anyone who cares about philanthropy or civil society. Thank you, Daniel.
I do agree that foundations will be wise to choose winners and losers, as hard as that will be. The nonprofit sector's contraction never materialized as some projected in 2008 or 2020, but it's time for civil society leaders to reimagine the landscape.
Thanks for reading and the affirmation Susan, and I concur with you that "it's time for civil society leaders to reimagine the landscape."
Nonprofits who want to push back on this attack on our country are encouraged to reach out to RWB Resist (RWBResist@gmail.com) to discuss the free use of all image, name, social media, music and website assets. See www.RWBResist.com RWB Resist's array of marketing assets could help both DOGE victims and the broader anti-Trump movement to espouse 1) a simple, two-word idea: patriotic resistance, and 2) a symbol, the Patriotic Fist or Nails. RWB Resist would help make a Red, White and Blue raised fist or painted nails a widely used and imitated symbol of peaceful, patriotic resistance by all Trump resistance groups, regardless of other differences. RWB Resist wants to sell patriotic fist merch with 100% of profits going to great resistance nonprofit groups.
Imagine half the crowd at a movie theater or an audience at the Kennedy Center standing up before the beginning of a performance and raising a red, white and blue fist. Who will be the first American to punk our President by sneakily shaking his tiny little hand with nails painted Red, White and Blue? All it takes is a few Americans to make this a movement that shames and irritates this President--while uniting behind a common theme of patriotic, peaceful unity.