A Call to Action: Philanthropy Must Step Up in the Face of New Threats to Civil Society
1 February 2025 |
The landscape of global civil society is shifting dramatically—and not for the better. The recent executive order suspending U.S. foreign aid for three months and terminating all Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs under U.S. grants and contracts is already having devastating consequences for the most vulnerable populations worldwide.
The stakes are high: This decision is cutting off essential funding for women and LGBTI communities, human rights defenders, victims of climate change, independent journalism, anti-corruption initiatives, and many more. Civic space, already under attack in many countries, is shrinking further. Organizations are closing their doors. Layoffs are happening now.
63 billion USD was allocated in U.S. global foreign aid in 2024. While it may be impossible to offset this sudden loss entirely, the philanthropic world has a responsibility to act.
We, along with other human rights organizations across Europe and beyond, call on the philanthropic community to recognize the urgency of this situation and take bold, concrete action to mitigate the damage.
Sign the petition and stand with us. Add your voice to the call for urgent philanthropic intervention. https://chng.it/hdWtLKbG6X
What can be done?
– Monitor & research the global impact of these orders to identify the most at-risk communities.
– Provide emergency funding—flexible, unrestricted, and rapidly deployed.
– Establish legal support funds to challenge these measures in court.
– Engage in urgent advocacy with governments and high-net-worth individuals to fill funding gaps.
– Increase flexibility in existing grants to allow organizations to pivot in response to this crisis.
The need for solidarity, collaboration, and decisive action has never been greater. The philanthropic sector can and must step up to defend democracy, human rights, and justice globally.
