STATEMENT ENCOURAGING INCREASED
GIVING IN THIS TIME OF CRISIS
As leaders of philanthropy-serving organizations in this
unprecedented moment of challenge for our country and globally,
we applaud the efforts by foundations to be responsive to
the needs of nonprofits and the communities and causes they
serve. We strongly endorse the pledge signed by more than 460
foundations to loosen restrictions on grantees during this time and
generally to be as flexible as possible.
Yet what nonprofits need most right now is more money. Without
rapid and meaningful infusions of additional resources, many
organizations will have to dramatically pare back programs and
services or fold their operations entirely – and the results for the
economy, vulnerable populations, communities, and progress on
crucial issues will be devastating.

ORIGINATORS

Ana Marie Argilagos, President & CEO

David Biemesderfer, President & CEO

Phil Buchanan, President

The CARES Act and other stimulus packages passed recently by
Congress include wide-ranging supports for nonprofits and low
income people. And yet these funds may be difficult to access and still
will not meet the needs.

Dan Cardinali, President & CEO

We’ve been heartened that some foundations and corporate giving
programs are increasing their grants at this crucial time. We call on all
funders to consider joining them by significantly increasing their grant
spending during this crisis. Organizations helping and empowering
the most vulnerable, those closest to the financial precipice with
limited operating capital or reserves, and those with significant
earned revenue streams or that rely small gifts from individual donors
are facing significant challenges. Organizations serving communities
of color are also going to need extra resources as they deal with
skyrocketing unemployment for all racial groups and particularly for
black, indigenous and Latinx communities, and with Asians and Pacific
Islanders facing xenophobia.

Aaron Dorfman, President & CEO

Deploying philanthropic assets to strengthen vital organizations
doing crucial work in extremely challenging circumstances is more
important right now than preserving endowment capital. The
strength of a funder’s grantees at the end of this crisis will be a much
better measure of the significance of a foundation than the size of
its endowment. Unprecedented challenges require unprecedented
responses – and a casting aside of traditional norms and approaches.

Kathleen Enright, President & CEO

Nicholas A. Tedesco, President & CEO

Anne Wallestad, President & CEO

Marcus Walton, President & CEO