Nonprofit Leadership
Leading with Purpose. Innovating with Equity.
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** The Infrastructure of Resistance
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January 27, 2026
Dear Readers,
Over the weekend, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was shot and killed by ICE agents after trying to help a woman those same agents shoved to the ground. Pretti, in his parents’ words, “wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.” Such are the times we live in, where everyday citizens—Pretti, Renee Nicole Good, and the countless others who peacefully protested, who stood up for their community members—are met with violence for acts of basic humanity and solidarity.
But we, the people, have power. What we also saw over the weekend was a massive “ICE Out” march and general strike against the federal agency in Minneapolis. While this is but one, albeit city-wide instance, it signals to others to keep pushing.
Communities across the country are responding to escalating state violence not with despair but with organized resistance. Yet these resistance movements require sustainable infrastructure. The question now facing nonprofit leaders is not whether to resist, but how to build organizations resilient enough to sustain resistance over the long term without sacrificing the people doing the work.
In this week’s Nonprofit Leadership newsletter, we look to articles that collectively reveal the infrastructure of resistance—from strategic organizing and legal protections to human relationships, care practices, and organizational cultures that make sustained struggle possible.
In solidarity,
Coty Poynter
Senior Editor
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** Must-Read Articles
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A Strike Against ICE Heats Up in Minneapolis
by Janelle Carlson
“Many of the strikers see this as a way to defend the ideas of democracy or anti-authoritarianism more broadly.”
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From Minneapolis to Portland: State Violence and How Communities Are Responding
by Shannon Hiller, Amy Herzfeld-Copple, and Aron Goldman
“Community safety and de-escalation efforts can help build bridges across ideological lines by creating opportunities for civil dialogue and trust building.”
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Holding the Line Together: Civil Society & the First Year of the Trump Administration
by Ellinor Heywood and Genevieve Nadeau
“Nonprofits and other parts of civil society haven’t just been casualties of this agenda. We’ve been targets.”
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Safety in Solidarity: How to Safeguard Movement Groups and Members
by Jas Wade
“It’s not fair how much grassroots groups are forced to handle, but we remain on the frontline to combat the dehumanization.”
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Building Resilient Organizations: Toward Joy and Durable Power in a Time of Crisis
by Maurice Mitchell
“Executives in professional social justice institutions, grassroots activists in local movements, and fiery young radicals on protest lines are all advancing urgent concerns about the internal workings of progressive spaces.”
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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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