Nonprofit & Community Resilience

The Philanthropy California team is coordinating with our members, partners, and state agencies to track and respond to changes in our political landscape and their implications on the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve. In this Nonprofit & Community Resilience page, our team will vet and publish rapid response and long-term funds focused on sustaining and strengthening the vital work of our nonprofit partners. We will also provide resources, events, and recommendations to help our sector navigate public policy developments at the federal and state levels.

If you have questions about Philanthropy California’s Nonprofit & Community Resilience page or want to partner with us, please contact Emily Michels, emily@socalgrantmakers.org.

Northern California Grantmakers, SoCal Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties are nonpartisan organizations. As 501(c)3 organizations, we do not endorse or oppose political candidates or parties. Political stances or opinions articulated in the vetted funds or other external links belong to the publishers and do not represent the views of our alliance.

The Philanthropy California team has vetted the response funds below to help grantmakers direct resources to organizations providing urgent support and services to nonprofits and communities affected by the latest public policy developments. In addition to response funds, our team is also vetting funds that provide long-term support to nonprofits and communities facing structural inequities and that are most at risk at this time.

Interested in submitting a fund to this page? Please complete our Nonprofit Response Fund - Intake Form below. Our team will review, vet, and list the funds that meet our criteria.

Complete Fund Intake Form

Issue Areas

California Donor Table Fund

The California Donor Table Fund is a community of donors who pool and align nonpartisan investments to advance the state’s progressive movement spanning issues and constituencies. Because of our strategic vision, long-term commitment, and agility across tax statuses, we provide opportunities for foundations and institutional investors to fill gaps in our civil ecosystem. We partner with a variety of institutional funders to support intersectional issues by investing in organizations advocating for women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, racial and economic justice, immigrant and workers’ rights, and environmental protection, for the purpose of civic engagement and power building. We shift key levers of power to reinforce long-lasting change by developing leadership pipelines for candidates of color, advocating for community-centered policy and budget decisions, and researching messages that resonate with voters. We believe that all of us—those who advocate for women’s or LGBTQ issues; racial, economic justice or criminal justice; immigrant or workers’ rights; or environmental protection—are only able to win big when we work together. Join us as we focus on building a network that connects all these efforts, making us stronger and more effective.

Region(s) Served: Central California, Northern California, San Diego & Imperial Counties, Southern California, Statewide
Targeted Communities: Community-Based Organizations
Target Focus/Issue Area(s): Democracy & Civic Engagement, Equity & Racial Justice, Justice Reform, Public & Policy & Government Relations
Type of Support: Grants
Funding Accessibility: Invite only
Scale of Funding Offered: $25k - $50k
Timeline of Grant Period: 6 months - 1 year

San Francisco Foundation - Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building

The Rapid Response Fund for Movement Building provides small, one-time grants to frontline grassroots organizations for new projects. These projects should address an unexpected, urgent event or external challenge while strengthening the voice and power of low-income residents and people of color. Between November 15, 2024, and January 31, 2025. the Fund will only accept applications for projects that are:

related to the outcome of the 2024 general election, such as protest and actions in solidarity with targeted communities (e.g., immigrants, LGBTQIA+, and Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and supporting community and organizer safety (e.g., trainings, wellness, and legal defense needs).
administered by a 501(c)(3) organization for non-lobbying purposes.
support efforts within the five Bay Area counties.

These funds are typically available within 30 days of receiving a funding request. Given that November through January are very busy months for several key SFF departments that support grantmaking, we ask for more flexibility than usual in processing RRF grants.

Additionally, applications should address the following criteria:

Timely and urgent: Your organization must be responding to an unanticipated catalyzing event or urgent external challenge.
Opportunity for immediate impact: The project is strategic with a clear timeline and goals, with the desired outcomes having the potential to positively affect the community right away.
Clear focus on racial and/or economic equity: Your project specifically addresses racial and/or economic inequities. It should demonstrate a clear equity framework, explicitly responding to the unique needs, challenges, and strengths of marginalized communities.
Movement- and power-building: The project must aim to build the voice and power of people of color or other marginalized communities.
Representative leadership and staff: The project must be led by those who are most impacted by the racial and economic inequities that the effort aims to address (e.g. communities of color, immigrants, refugees, formerly incarcerated residents, youth, low-wage workers, people with disabilities, low-income residents, LGBTQ community members, etc.)

Region(s) Served: Northern California
Targeted Communities: Community-Based Organizations, 501(c)3 status
Target Focus/Issue Area(s): Democracy & Civic Engagement, Equity & Racial Justice, Justice Reform, Public & Policy & Government Relations
Type of Support: Grants
Funding Accessibility: Open for submissions
Scale of Funding Offered: $0 - $25k
Timeline of Grant Period: 6 months - 1 year

The Philanthropy California team will continue to monitor federal and state public policy developments to help funders stay informed, take action, and support their grantees and local communities. This page will be updated regularly with legislation we’re tracking, in-depth analyses, actions we are taking, and other resources from our network. If you have a resource to share with our community or have questions about our advocacy work, please email it to Emily Michels, emily@socalgrantmakers.org.

Policy Resources

Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits Chart

The National Council of Nonprofits Executive order Chart documents potential impacts of the Trump Administration’s Executive Orders on the work of charitable nonprofits, including issue areas that are affected like: DEI, Federal Government, Immigration, LGBTQ+, Environment, Census and Community Engagement, and more.

Democracy 2025 Policy Tracker

This live policy tracker has real-time analysis of Trump-Vance administration actions, to support legal challenges and provide resources for the pro-democracy community.

Issue Area Specific Funders

Funders for LGBTQ Issues

Funders for LGBTQ Issues is a network of more than 100 foundations, corporations, and funding institutions that collectively award more than $1 billion annually, including approximately $200 million specifically devoted to LGBTQ issues. For more direct information about grantmaking for trans communities, visit this link to their Grantmakers United for Change program: https://lgbtfunders.org/programs/gutc/

Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR)

GCIR represents over 130 foundations addressing immigrant-specific issues and advancing justice, equity, and inclusion for all. Read their recommendations for Philanthropy in 2025 here: https://www.gcir.org/fighting-our-future-immigrant-rights-and-our-multiracial-democracy-recommendations-philanthropy-2025

Funders Together to End Homelessness

Funders Together to End Homelessness mobilizes its members to use philanthropy’s voice, influence, and financial capital to end homelessness by creating and advancing lasting solutions that are grounded in racial and housing justice, driven by love and disruption, and centering people with lived expertise.

Northern California Grantmakers, SoCal Grantmakers, and Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties will continue to host regional policy-related programs, as well as statewide programs as Philanthropy California. Our programs aim to provide nonpartisan information regarding the new federal administration’s policies and their impacts on the nonprofit sector and the communities we serve. Our programs will also support members interested in starting or scaling up their public policy and advocacy efforts. Philanthropy California programs are open to members of our regional organizations and will include, but are not limited to, regional funder briefings and webinars on local, state, and federal impacts on the sector.

Upcoming Programs

100 Days Funder Briefing

Tuesday, March 25th, 2025

Register

Sacramento Advocacy Day 2025

Tuesday, April 1st, 2025 - Wednesday, April 2nd, 2024

Learn More

In order for a fund to be listed on our Nonprofit & Community Resilience page, it must meet the following vetting criteria:

Must be an experienced grantmaking organization
Must have an anti-discrimination clause in its grantmaking process (this can be on the website, mission statement, or in annual reporting language, etc.)
Must have: (a) experience working in the affected community; (b) have pre-existing relationships with organizations with experience working in the affected community; or is planning to transfer all funds to a grantmaker with either (a) or (b)
If community foundation, must be accredited with National Standard or be recommended by a trusted partner.
If the fund does not meet above guidelines, it must meet an otherwise unmet need.

If you are interested in submitting a fund, please complete our Nonprofit Response Fund - Intake Form below. Our team will review, vet, and list the funds that meet our criteria.