January 20, 2026
Dear Readers,
Today marks one year since Donald Trump was sworn into office for the second time. Since then, the nonprofit sector has faced funding freezes, defunding threats, and escalating attempts to silence dissent and criminalize advocacy.
But here’s what authoritarians have always underestimated: the power of people who refuse to stand down. The sector’s response has shown that organized commitment to justice doesn’t break under pressure. How we resource this work—and the people doing it—will shape out capacity for the inevitable fights ahead.
In this issue, we’re introducing a new column from Protect Democracy, In Defense of Civil Society, which reflects on this difficult year and charts a path forward. We’re also sharing articles that address sustaining frontline work—because defending democracy requires more than courage. It demands sustainable infrastructure, resources that honor the full humanity of those doing the work, and a commitment to collective care that extends far beyond crisis response.
In solidarity,
Coty Poynter
Managing Editor
