Weekly Reads—February 28, 2025

Enjoy PEAK’s weekly roundup of timely insights from the grantmaking community and beyond.

“I have heard many stories of leaders and their staffs, acting on the advice of legal counsel, scrubbing language from websites or taking other steps to ‘mitigate risk.’ I understand these concerns and recognize the need to be strategic, but let us not retreat from crucial (and legal) objectives out of fear. The risks we consider should not only be risks of action that are parochial to our institutions, but also risks of inaction — to our missions, values, the people we seek to help, and, indeed, our democracy.” [more]
Phil Buchanan, The Center for Effective Philanthropy

“The legislative outlook may be murky on Capitol Hill, but there is no confusion in the minds of voters. Voters overwhelmingly want to see nonprofits better resourced through charitable giving and federal tax credits, a strong nonprofit workforce, and nonprofit engagement in policy work to address community needs.” [more]
Independent Sector

“This moment offers a critical opportunity for nations, cities, states, regions, investors, and businesses to step forward and demonstrate ambition and leadership, and philanthropy and the nonprofit sector have a vital role to play. Every investment in climate solutions with a holistic outlook can save lives, limit damages, and help build a more stable and equitable world for future generations.” [more]
Surabi Menon, Candid

“The social sector in the United States is in a time of crisis. The cliff of funding from federal programs has sent budgets underwater in field after field, and people and communities in the United States and abroad will suffer. The need for a surge in funding is plain. Philanthropy needs to step up. We at MacArthur believe it is time to tap our reserves to get more money flowing.” [more]
John Palfrey, MacArthur Foundation