The Funders Network is proud to sign on to the Unite in Advance campaign supporting philanthropy’s “freedom to give” in the face of increased threats from governmental attacks.
The campaign launched Wednesday with a piece in Nonprofit Quarterly authored by McKnight Foundation President Tonya Allen, MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey, and Freedom Together Foundation President Deepak Bhargava.
“It’s no secret: Foundations could be the next American institutions under attack,” they write. “Why does this matter? Because millions of people across the nation depend on nonprofits to meet their basic needs — and those nonprofits depend on resources from foundations to deliver important services, support their communities, and pay their workers.”
Their piece outlines three steps foundations can take right now to stand with each other and the people and communities we serve:
- Prepare for what’s coming, but don’t obey in advance.
- Stand in solidarity with each other.
- Step up to provide more support to communities who need us.
➡️ You can read the full piece here.
A Public Statement from Philanthropy
Dozens of foundations and philanthropy serving organizations have already signed on to the Unite in Advance solidarity statement below, including a number of TFN members:
Everyone—wherever we’re from or whatever our point of view—wants to live in a nation that upholds the fundamental rights and liberties we all deserve and need to thrive.
As charitable giving organizations – private and family foundations, community foundations, corporate foundations, and more – we contribute to communities in every corner of America. Together, we support new parents and elders, veterans and school children, hospitals and libraries, churches and food kitchens, artists and researchers, throughout rural, suburban, and urban communities in every state and territory. Yet in this moment, we face the threat of governmental attacks on our ability to carry out this vital mission, when the communities, organizations, and individuals we support need it most.
We don’t all share the same beliefs or priorities. Neither do our donors or the communities we serve. But as charitable giving institutions, we are united behind our First Amendment right to give as an expression of our own distinct values. Especially in this time of great need, we must have the freedom to direct our resources to a wide variety of important services, issues, and places, to improve lives today and build a stronger future for our country. The health and safety of the American people, our nation’s economic stability, and the vibrancy of our democracy depend on it.
➡️ To read the full list of signatories, or to submit our own organization to the list, please visit the solidarity statement webpage coordinated by the Council on Foundations.