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Howdy y’all,

I’m writing to you from my kitchen table at 3:00 am. Like many of you, I’m a nonprofit leader and caretaker. Also like many of you, this week shook me. I don’t normally write notes based on the news, but I wanted to reach out to you, our community, to check in. (Also, I can’t sleep.)

I’m not much for dramatic language, but 2025 is not the time to mince words. Our sector contributes over $1.5 trillion to the US economy. We employ almost 13 million people. We provide critical services to millions more. Yet despite our might, this week, elected representatives treated us as an afterthought. Voiceless. As though our political power and economic impact don’t matter.

Like many nonprofit leaders, my brain has bounced from how to protect my team and community to how to protect our entire democracy. I’ve run scenarios. Checked bank balances. Drafted funder emails. Wrestled complex questions. How can we diversify our revenue streams? What kids didn’t get a hot meal today? What elder didn’t get lifesaving care? Will philanthropy step up?

But as I was sitting here at 3:00 am, wishing funding portals nationwide popped up the message, “As a result of President Trump’s decisions, this service is not available in the US,” something smacked me upside the head.

I was never trained in one of our sector’s most powerful tools: advocacy.

And I’m not the only one who missed out.

According to research from Independent Sector ([link removed]) , only 32 percent of 501c3 public charities know that they can support or oppose federal legislation. Additionally, “Although a majority of nonprofits have a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statement, only 36% engage in policy activities to create more equitable systems.”

Too often, nonprofits think we cannot be bold or argue in the court of public opinion. We fear alienating funders or boards. We’re told to protect our 501c3 status. We don’t know when we’re allowed to advocate and fear making a mistake. And this year, it feels more dangerous than ever to speak up.

How can we learn how to advocate collectively to make our voices heard while prioritizing safety?

It’s going to take a lot of work. NPQ has decided to start by creating a safe learning space. We’re calling it, “Advocacy in a Second Trump Administration: A Practical Guide for Leaders on Defending Progress and Advancing Justice ([link removed]) .”

Leaders from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and Alliance for Justice will walk us all through:
* Clear guidelines on what we CAN do (it’s more than you think)
* Legal frameworks to help boards and EDs feel confident
* Specific strategies for influencing public funding decisions
* Real examples from nonprofits who’ve successfully shaped policy

Collectively, our team also has decided to offer an NPQ gift to our fellow nonprofit workers, a $20 discount between now and Valentine’s Day.

Here are our other brainstorms for how to make this opportunity accessible:
1. If you’re a funder and want to sponsor seats for your grantees, we’ll work with you to buy in bulk.
2. If you’re an individual and want to gift a seat to a local nonprofit, we got you.
3. If you’re a nonprofit and you have a donor who will help pay for you, amazing.

Please reach out. We’ll work with you to make this possible.

Our future depends on us using our collective voices to hold the line. It’s scary. I’m worried. But the critical question I keep asking is, “Can we afford to keep letting others decide our fate?”

We are not powerless. We are not voiceless.

In 2025, let’s not just respond to what happens to our sector—let’s shape it.

In solidarity and with gratitude,
Sara Hudson
Interim CEO and Editor in Chief, NPQ

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