Nonprofit Leadership

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** When the States Align…
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October 14, 2025

It’s now been two weeks since the federal government shut down. As government employees collected a final partial paycheck last Friday, they wait for the stalemate to end—many continuing to work without pay, and under new threats from Trump of (illegal) permanent layoffs.

At the center of the shutdown is healthcare, which Republicans in Congress slashed for millions of people in Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” passed this summer—another burden piled onto poor and working-class people already struggling to get by.

These days, it often feels as though we are beholden to the whims of a dysfunctional federal government. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Recently, Mother Jones’s editor in chief, Clara Jeffery, called for a “soft secession” ([link removed]) to push back against the Trump administration by aligning blue states through legislation and economic support.

While this idea may sound radical (or theoretical), it’s certainly possible. In fact, at NPQ, we’ve published articles on how leaders and individual states can support each other to serve their people when the federal government fails. In essence, a “soft secession” calls for states to align to safeguard their residents, funding, and values. This moment calls for us to reclaim our power and invest in solidarity and innovation across the civil sector to protect democracy, civil society, and we, the people.

In solidarity,

Coty Poynter

Managing Editor


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** Must-Read Articles
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As Trump Administration Aims to Silence Dissent, Nonprofits Must Respond

by Jennifer Johnson

In the name of “national security,” a federal memorandum from the Trump administration targets nonprofit advocacy. Here are some steps nonprofits can take.
Read Article ([link removed])
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How States Can Link Up to Support Human Rights

by Peter Sabonis

In 2025, the Right largely controls the federal government. The levers of state power offer the means to enact an alternative, progressive agenda.
Read Article ([link removed])
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Former Maryland Governor Calls on States to Place Trump Officials on Trial

by Matthew Rozsa

How can nonprofits and activists respond to the rising threat of authoritarianism? A former Maryland governor calls on states to hold Trump officials criminally liable.
Read Article ([link removed])
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Clamoring for Equity: Now Is a Builder’s Moment

by Melissa DeShields, Keecha Harris, and Carmen JM Simon

Today, faced with a rising tide of authoritarianism, many in nonprofits and philanthropy are lying low. But what is required is something else entirely: building for the future.
Read Article ([link removed])

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Nonprofit Leadership offers timely civic news, equity-centered insights, and innovative frameworks for leaders building a just and thriving civil society. This newsletter delivers field wisdom, leadership strategies, and practical tools to help you lead with intention and create sustainable impact in your organization and community.

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