While it may feel clichéd to acknowledge “these unprecedented times,” that doesn’t make them any less alarming. To those of you working on the frontlines to support communities and mitigate harm—thank you. And to those advocating upstream for a better future—thank you as well.
We have been heartened by countless stories of people standing in solidarity with friends and strangers, of businesses and institutions recommitting to their communities, and of acts of bravery and creativity that disrupt hate and underscore the defining features of our democracy.
Still, we know our partner organizations are facing intense pressures: threats to the people you serve, surging demand for services, policy and advocacy headwinds, deep funding cuts, and ongoing economic uncertainty. Other funders recognize this, too, and the philanthropic sector is beginning to come together in new ways to support nonprofit partners through this period and beyond.
We are small, but we are working to do our part. This year, we have granted well above 10% of our corpus: please check out our list of amazing spring and fall partners here.
We have also increased discretionary grants to meet emerging needs and reinforce shared values, and continued removing hurdles in our grant processes while refocusing our funding to prioritize the hundreds of organizations already in our partner network. We have also eagerly joined in coalition with remarkable nonprofits, funders, and experts whose knowledge and resources exceed our own: we are deeply grateful for the chance to learn, strategize, and build community together.
As we move into the holiday season after a year that has felt like a century, we hope that you all can take some time to rest, breathe, get outside, and be with those you love. Rest is mission-aligned, too.
In a season of giving thanks, we give thanks to you.