Statement on Protecting Philanthropic Freedom and Independence

Philanthropy California, the statewide alliance of Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties, Northern California Grantmakers, and SoCal Grantmakers, stands ready to defend philanthropy’s freedom of expression and its right to give without fear of retaliation. We believe an independent nonprofit and philanthropic sector — free from government overreach — is essential in maintaining a robust civil society, thriving communities, and a strong democracy.

Since January, the federal administration has rolled back and withheld funds from organizations not in alignment with its priorities. It has threatened to investigate and revoke the tax status of institutions across civil society that do not comply with its demands. In April, credible sources warned of a wave of executive orders targeting the tax-exempt status of organizations engaged in climate-related work. Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee released a tax package with provisions that would impose a tiered tax structure on foundation investment income and grant the Treasury Secretary unprecedented authority to revoke nonprofit tax-exempt status.

While some of these threats have not materialized, and many of those that have now face litigation, the impact on our sector has already been devastating. Tens of thousands of nonprofit jobs and hundreds of federal grants have been eliminated nationally, cutting off vital services and support that communities rely on. Many of our own members and their grantees have been impacted and are navigating economic uncertainty and impossible decisions related to reductions in staff, programs, and community support.

These actions set a dangerous precedent for our sector’s freedoms and pose substantial risks to philanthropy’s ability to serve our communities.

Philanthropy California remains committed to defending our sector’s independence and right to provide critical resources to nonprofits and communities nationwide.

Regardless of what comes next, Philanthropy California pledges to stand alongside our members. Our statewide alliance will continue to serve as a convener and resource for grantmakers working to serve their grantees and California’s communities. At the bottom of this statement, you will find several immediate action items, resources, and events funders can take to get involved in this moment. As we move forward, our team will continue to support California’s funder community in the following ways:

Monitor and respond to attacks on civil society
Serve as a liaison between our national partners and our California membership
Convene and coordinate California funders on public policy strategies
Partner with nonprofits to build a resilient sector

Philanthropy California collectively serves more than 700 funders working to create a better future for our state’s communities. Together, we can be a powerful voice for our grantees and the future of California. Alongside our national partners, we can become a collective force to defend the fundamental freedoms guaranteed to everyone in this country.

In Partnership,

Christine Essel | President & CEO, SoCal Grantmakers

Dwayne S. Marsh | President & CEO, Northern California Grantmakers

Megan Thomas | President & CEO, Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties

Protecting Civil Society

Updates on Tax Legislation

This week, members of Congress removed section 112209 from the tax bill, which would have granted unprecedented authority to the Executive Branch to revoke nonprofit status from organizations without due process. While this is good news, this is not the final version of the bill and our sector must continue to be vigilant. We are also tracking updates to the tiered tax structure on foundation investment income.

We encourage funders to review the Council on Foundations’ resources related to this legislation and to continue monitoring the bill as it moves through the House Rules Committee. Funders can also access the United Philanthropy Forum’s comprehensive Advocacy, Awareness, & Action webpage for additional advocacy tools, including messaging frameworks and letter templates.

Serving as a Liaison with National Partners

Sign on to A Public Statement from Philanthropy

Philanthropy California is proud to join the 600+ charitable giving organizations nationwide mobilizing to protect our freedom to express ourselves, to give, and to invest in our communities. We encourage you to read the full statement and to sign on below.

Meet the Moment: A Call to Action for Philanthropy in 2025 (and Beyond)

Northern California Grantmakers and SoCal Grantmakers are proud to sign on to Meet the Moment, a call to action presented by the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Grantmakers for Effective Organizations and the National Center for Family Philanthropy urging our sector to move in solidarity with nonprofits.