Navigating the Post-Election Landscape: A Pulse Check for SoCal Philanthropy
Trends from SCG's December 2024 Post-Election Funders Briefing.
SCG is a nonpartisan organization. As a 501(c)3 organization, we do not endorse or oppose political candidates or parties. Opinions expressed in this piece reflect the trends that emerged in our members’ conversations during our December post-election funders convening. For more information on how 501(c)3 organizations can engage in advocacy before and after elections, please review these resources from our friends at Alliance for Justice.
Earlier this month, SCG hosted a regional post-election funder briefing at the Weingart Foundation Shared Space. We welcomed fifty funders representing a diverse range of organization types, geographic regions, funding profiles, and mission areas to digest the new political landscape and begin planning for our work ahead.
Some attendees had known each other for decades, some met for the first time that day, and others were completely new to public policy programming. The common thread, however, was a desire to unpack the complex range of emotions and responses sparked by the 2024 election and to connect with others who are gearing up to face the changing landscape ahead.
Through an expertly facilitated conversation with Nike Irvin, former SCG Board Member and Founder of ZWN, Inc. Consultancy and Coaching, and a data-packed presentation from Eric McGhee, Policy Director of Understanding California's Future, we began to explore what the results mean for Southern California philanthropy, the communities we serve, and the opportunities and challenges that California faces in the years to come.
The Emotional Pulse
Funders are navigating a nuanced set of emotions as they assess the election's implications for their work and strategies. The general reaction to the result of the federal election was disappointment, with many attendees feeling guarded and discouraged and some expressing a sense of denial.
However, the group was reminded of the importance of local government and of the exciting wins achieved at the city and county levels. As a sense of déjà vu loomed over, attendees shifted to an optimistic approach as members stated, "We've been here before, and we'll get through it again." Despite the challenges, many are trying to identify windows of opportunity and learn from what the election results tell us about what the American people need.
Strategic Recalibration
It is too early to fully discern how the election results will impact the philanthropic sector and our work. However, a major discussion point was the push and pull between rapid response actions and long-term strategy. Attendees articulated the difficulty of balancing the desire to act quickly to protect the groups we fund and serve versus the reality that we cannot respond to everything at the risk of burnout and diluting the impact of our sector's voice. As funders began strategizing for next year, they recognized that hesitation can be particularly stressful for communities that do not feel they have the luxury to wait.
Another need expressed throughout the day was a way to discern the leaders in each issue area who could guide others in the funder community. No organization can be a subject matter expert and respond to every proposed change. Moreover, our sector does not need to agree on one single approach; it is important for different organizations to tackle issues from different perspectives. Our attendees expressed a need for a network of "point people" that can facilitate collaboration and help with a triage approach to responses in order to expand opportunities for funders to become educated advocates.
Risks and Opportunities
With legislation threatening the sustainability of nonprofits and foundations already moving through Congress, the reality of the risks of our work was palpable in the room. Some foundations with a history of bold advocacy and messaging recognized that due to the nature of their work and even their organization's name, they're at a high risk of being targeted if and when that happens. Others mentioned the fear of a "chilling" effect on funding, especially for marginalized communities, because of the risk of potential lawsuits against organizations. Even more than the worries about proposed legislation, members are concerned about expanded executive power, the influence of the courts, and other legal ramifications. Broadly, our members are grappling with the need to be responsive while also protecting their staff and their ability to continue functioning.
At the same time, some members hope these results will kickstart foundations to transform mild responses into bold actions and narratives, explore alternative funding pathways, and elevate grassroots work. Members asked: How can we respond more strategically and differently? Can we examine the funding distribution within our grantmaking and figure out if we are disproportionately funding one specific role in systems change? Even if we are not ready or able to participate in advocacy, can we fund anchor organizations to speak up on these important issues? There was a broad recognition that maintaining boldness is crucial, even if it increases the risk of being targeted for their efforts.
Building Resilience and Collaboration
The need for collaboration, networks, and partnership is clear in this uncertain moment. Funders are leaning on organizations like SCG and Philanthropy California to provide leadership, skills-building, and resources to help them utilize their voices and uplift their grantees' voices. From direct opportunities for advocacy like Sacramento Day and training on what 501(c)3s can do in policy to spaces to come together after conferences and continue the conversation, funders are ready to innovate and work to protect existing hard-fought policies and the communities they serve.
Ultimately, the path forward looks different for every organization, but coordination within the sector will be crucial to creating meaningful change. Now is the time to lean into our mission areas, try a new approach to funding and advocacy, and not let fear push us away from our important work. As one funder said, "You can't lay down before the fight has even begun."
Inspiration & Upcoming Events
We ended our facilitated conversation with another collaborative exercise – making a playlist! Participants were asked to think of songs that are helping them get through election season and motivating them to continue doing their work. We welcome you to submit your suggestions to emily@socalgrantmakers.org, and we will share the growing playlist as it takes shape!
As a whole, funders are evaluating their strategies to make sure they can listen to communities and be responsive to their needs, figuring out the level of "boldness" with which they're comfortable, and engaging in scenario planning to think through potential impacts to their grantees.
As we close out 2024, we invite you to register for our 2025 policy programs below. And, as ever, if you are interested in getting involved in policy and advocacy efforts, contact me at emily@socalgrantmakers.org.