Nonprofits are under threat from an increasingly hostile political environment, argue the authors of Sounding the Alarm: Nonprofits on the Frontlines of a Polarized Political Climate, a new report from Building Movement Project (BMP), released just before the 2024 election.
Among the report’s most striking findings is that 73 percent of surveyed organizations have reported facing negative consequences for their work.
As the report states, “Almost half of the organizations expressing Public Support for Current Issues such as Palestinian rights (48%), DEI (47%), Immigrant Rights (47%), and LGBTQIA+ Rights (41%) anticipate a loss of funding” (6).
Seventy-three percent of surveyed organizations have reported facing negative consequences.
These anticipated funding losses “send a message to other groups about what may happen if they are working with similar populations or on similar issues.”
By examining the experiences of over 500 nonprofit organizations through surveys, interviews, and focus groups, the report highlights the multifaceted challenges nonprofits face when their work intersects with issues deemed controversial—and issues a call to action for funders.
This climate of polarization is not just a momentary crisis.
“Philanthropic institutions and donors must double down on their funding of groups on the frontlines, rather than pulling back at this vital moment,” the report states (7). “Funders must frequently and consistently reassure organizations that their existing programs and activities do not need to shift in light of the political climate, and offer their trust, partnership, and multi-year general operating resources to build capacity.”
A Coordinated Attack
The consequences of the surveyed nonprofits’ work include social media attacks, “doxxing,” physical threats, and funding losses. Groups expressing solidarity with Palestinian rights, for instance, reported significant pushback, with nearly half anticipating further funding losses due to their stance.
This climate of polarization is not just a momentary crisis; it represents a growing and sustained effort to delegitimize and destabilize organizations serving marginalized and vulnerable communities, the report argues.
The report cites one survey respondent noting, “The attacks in the media and from far-right members of Congress are particularly challenging—we are facing outright lies and smear campaigns meant to undermine our good reputation, and we’ve had to defend ourselves in the press, to tell our own story in the halls of power” (7).
The BMP’s report underscores that the attacks on nonprofits working on controversial and equity-focused issues are not random incidents but part of a broader, coordinated effort. The report details how targeted legislative and judicial actions, along with public and political backlash, have systematically challenged groups focusing on DEI, LGBTQIA+ rights, reproductive rights, immigrant rights, and advocacy for Palestinian solidarity.
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Adaptation, Resilience, and Hard Choices
In response to these mounting pressures, many organizations have already adapted their strategies to insulate their programs and staff. From boosting physical and cybersecurity measures to making legal adjustments, nonprofits are striving to protect themselves and continue their mission-driven work.
The prospect of losing funding is at the heart of the report’s findings.
Alarmingly, the report reveals that several organizations are also making difficult programmatic changes. These include shifting language, rebranding programs, or even reconsidering partnerships to avoid becoming targets of political and public ire.
This trend is troubling. The report argues that the hard-won progress many groups made toward race-explicit and equity-focused language following the social uprisings of 2020 is now under threat. Approximately 18 percent of organizations that faced consequences for their DEI efforts have changed or considered changing their language to reduce public scrutiny.
Funding at Risk
The prospect of losing funding is at the heart of the report’s findings. The sources of such losses vary, the report notes, including state-level legislation, judicial rulings, and shifts in donor behavior.
According to the data, individual donors and foundations—historically among the most reliable sources of support—are increasingly distancing themselves from groups deemed “too controversial.” This reality leaves many organizations at a difficult juncture—one that demands a concerted response from the philanthropic community.
BMP’s recommendations urge funders to “double down” on their support, emphasizing the need for multiyear, general operating resources and consistent reassurance for nonprofits on the frontlines. The stakes are high, as anticipated funding losses threaten the impacted groups and deter others from similar advocacy.
Moving Forward: Collective Defense and Strategy
As nonprofits face unprecedented challenges, collective solidarity and community resilience are more crucial than ever. The report highlights a call to action for nonprofits, funders, and community leaders to form coalitions, share resources, and push back against the hostile narratives that seek to stifle progress.
This is not just about survival, the report argues, but also about identifying and transforming the adversarial dynamics at play by collectively calling out and standing up to political backlash stifling nonprofits’ work for a more just world.
