Like many funders in the nonprofit space, our team has been closely watching the rapid deployment of executive orders issued by President Trump.* We recognize that the sudden shifts in policy and funding have significant impact across the nonprofit sector. It is our goal to support those serving the common good as best we can, which can be uniquely challenging in times of great uncertainty.
Today we wanted to take a moment to affirm the Murdock Trust’s commitment and attention to this conversation and its impact regionally and nationally. As a team, we are actively listening to nonprofit partners on the front lines and learning as the impacts of the orders become clearer.
We are also having conversations with nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, seeking legal counsel, and engaging in national dialogue about what the shifting landscape of support might look like and how we can thoughtfully continue our capacity-building investments to drive positive impact.
As these changes unfold, we know many are grappling with how these orders might impact operations, funding, and programs. While discussions on possible next steps are ongoing, we wanted to pass along some websites and potential productive steps as resources.
Resources
One of the hardest aspects of this process has been understanding what’s really happening and what the impact might be. Here are a few resources our team has used to stay informed:
- National Council of Nonprofits has a comprehensive, regularly updated list describing each executive order and any related actions.
- Nonprofit Association of Oregon has an excellent webpage about the details and impacts of the executive orders for Oregon nonprofits.
- The Oregon Department of Justice has multi-state guidance on understanding the importance and legality of DEI initiatives under the new executive orders.
- The Federal Readiness & Leverage Fund has resources and an FAQ page for those navigating unexpected federal funding changes.
Learnings From the Field
In the face of so much uncertainty, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. In addition to staying informed, here are a few steps that some are already taking and may be helpful to take now:
- Engage in scenario planning. Consider a range of scenarios that could occur and determine the steps you would take if they did. Montana Nonprofit Association shares a helpful spreadsheet here.
- Communicate needs with your donors to unleash generosity at the individual level. People are eager to support life-saving work right now.
- Take action based on verified data. Things are changing every day and are at times fraught with misinformation. Seek data from verified sources such as some of the sources listed earlier.
- Share how your nonprofit has been affected with the National Council of Nonprofits; they have set up a form to collect stories of impact and better understand the scope of these orders on the nonprofit sector.
Finally, we are aware that many in the philanthropic space are increasing their grantmaking and charitable contribution levels this year to address the immediate financial needs in the nonprofit space resulting from these changes. Over the last few years, the Murdock Trust has intentionally increased our grantmaking budget** above the common 5% threshold to address the unique challenges facing our region. This was our plan for this year as well and we will continue along that trajectory throughout 2025.
On behalf of the Murdock Trust team and our colleagues, I want to close by saying thank you for your ongoing, critical work in our community. Please know that we stand in support of your continued efforts in the midst of the shifting nonprofit landscape, and that we are seeking to understand the most productive path forward for getting nonprofits the resources they need in this critical time.
-Pauline Fong, Chief Program & Impact Officer
*The Murdock Trust is a nonpartisan organization. Comments here are not intended to endorse or denounce political activity, but instead to acknowledge the real impact of policy changes and help support nonprofits as they adjust.
**Budget determined based on organizational assets.