We will continue to update this story as we find out about more emergency funds. For a detailed list of updates, please scroll to the bottom of the article.
With the future of federal funding for the nonprofit sector uncertain and layoffs mounting, foundations and other grant makers are stepping up efforts to deliver emergency funds to civil society organizations, especially those serving women, people of color, and LGBTQ communities.
Among the major grant makers pledging to spend more is the Skoll Foundation, which launched a $25 million emergency fund to help existing awardees and grantees impacted by the near elimination of U.S. international aid this year. Founder Jeffrey Skoll, a billionaire whose philanthropic organizations hold more than $1.7 billion in assets, has acknowledged the fear among donors to oppose President Donald Trump. However, the Trump administration’s actions, specifically the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, “threaten to erode decades of humanitarian progress,” he said on stage at the Skoll World Forum last week. That is why the foundation is increasing its payout by more than 30 percent this year to “signal to other funders to consider this an emergency and increase their grant making,” Skoll said.
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“We know that this fund and philanthropy more broadly cannot make up for the global reductions in foreign assistance,” a Skoll spokesperson told the Chronicle of Philanthropy. “As such, the funding is not meant to be a bridge or a replacement but instead is designed to serve as support while partners adjust and revise strategies given the new context.”
In addition to foundations like Skoll and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that have pledged to increase payouts this year, intermediary groups like Borealis Philanthropy have been urging funders to support their efforts to create rapid response funds. Below is a list of emergency response funds compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy. To let us know about more funds, contact us at editormail@philanthropy.com.
National Funds
Borealis Philanthropy’s SAFE initiative
The SAFE Initiative is expected to launch soon and will provide grants of $5,000 to $50,000 to help social justice organizations maintain operations and take measures to protect themselves from digital and physical threats, according to Borealis Philanthropy.
Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation Emergency Grant Cycle
This competitive grant cycle will provide support to organizations with HIV treatment and prevention programs, specifically those focused on transgender people, women, young people, and LGBT youth. Grants are for one year only and shall not exceed $25,000. Eligibility is restricted to organizations with at least three years of experience in delivering HIV/AIDS programs. The application process for these grants opens on April 16 and closes on May 31.
Emergent Fund grants
Emergent Fund is a participatory grant-making group that provides rolling, no-strings-attached rapid response grants to organizations for urgent and unanticipated crises, particularly for grassroots groups led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Late last year, the group joined with the Transgender Law Center to launch a separate Action for Transformation Fund with the goal of providing $1 million in rapid response grants to trans-led organizations amid a growing backlash to efforts to advance transgender rights. The Action for Transformation Fund is a pilot that will provide one-time grants of $5,000 to $20,000.
The Fortitude Fund at the Pride Foundation
The fund aims to provide flexible grants of $10,000 to $50,000 to LGBTQ organizations affected by policies from the Trump administration, state-level legislation, and the “broader cultural realities these factors are creating,” according to the Pride Foundation website.
Four Freedoms Fund’s Immigration Frontlines Fund
Four Freedoms is a funder collaborative launched more than 20 years ago by NEO Philanthropy, which aims to raise $10 million this year to advocate for and protect immigrant communities.
Mobilize Power Fund from Third Wave Fund
Third Wave Fund is offering grants of up to $10,000 (or up to $20,000 for partnerships or coalitions of two or more groups) on a monthly basis to gender justice nonprofits, with a focus on youth-led and intergenerational organizations, Black trans and other LGBTQ groups, and immigrants. The fund prioritizes underfunded areas in the Southwest, deep South (specifically Mississippi and Florida), Midwest, and Puerto Rico. So far this year, Third Wave said it has given $150,000 in rapid response funds.
Movement CARE Fund from Communities First Fund
Communities First Fund focuses on racial and climate justice and supports nonprofits serving people of color and “low-wealth” communities. Its $2 million Movement Care Fund will prioritize funding for organizations impacted by federal funding cuts. Awards will be up to $25,000 with amounts determined by the scope and scale of the work. The application deadline is May 16. Decisions are expected to be announced by May 25.
Regional Funds
The Denver Foundation’s Critical Needs Fund
The foundation is soliciting donations for its ongoing rapid response fund to help provide legal aid, educational resources, nonprofit operational support, and other assistance to immigrant and refugee communities.
The Meyer Foundation’s rapid response grants
The Washington, D.C.-based foundation provides funding to nonprofits in the surrounding area, including cities and counties in Maryland and Virginia. It is offering one-time, rapid response grants of $10,000 to $20,000 to current grantees focused on racial justice and systems change.
International Funds
The Catalyst Fund from Population Services International
PSI has revived this fund, which was initially created during the pandemic, to deploy small grants to global health care organizations whose U.S. funding has been terminated.
The Foreign Aid Bridge Fund from Unlock Aid, along with #HalfMyDAF 2025, Smarter Good, and other partners
This fund will support nonprofits affected by the U.S. foreign aid cuts and that work directly with communities globally. More than 500 organizations have applied for the short-term grants of $50,000. The campaign aimed to raise about $5 million this year. It had raised $2 million as of April 15 and is now expected to close on April 30. The decision to shutter the initiative is due to dwindling fundraising contributions and a lack of support from larger philanthropic entities, Unlock Aid announced recently.
GiveDirectly’s fund for families impacted by cuts to U.S. foreign aid
GiveDirectly provides direct cash transfers in the United States and abroad, which it often used to do in collaboration with the now-dismantled U.S. Agency for International Development. This online campaign aims to raise $1 million to assist families impacted by U.S. foreign aid cuts.
GlobalGiving’s Community Aid Fund
GlobalGiving, an intermediary group that connects donors and companies to nonprofits, aims to raise $1 million to support locally led nonprofits worldwide that have been impacted by the freeze on U.S. international aid.
Global Philanthropy Project’s Fund Our Futures Campaign
Launched in advance of President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and in anticipation of anti-LGBTQ backlash and funding cuts worldwide, the Global Philanthropy Project is a funder network that has raised $105 million from 31 funders and seeks $150 million total for LGBTQ causes, which will be distributed over the next three to five years. Fund Our Futures doesn’t run through a specific funding mechanism, rather all campaign-pledging donors make awards through their existing methods, and some have already moved urgent funds to LGBTI grantees, according to a Global Philanthropy Project spokesperson.
The Rapid Response Fund for international aid from Founders Pledge and the Life You Can Save
This fund aims to help international aid nonprofits such as the International Rescue Committee. The groups have raised more than $3 million so far.
Skoll Foundation’s emergency fund
The $25 million fund will support current Skoll Foundation grantees affected by U.S. international aid cuts.