Taking Action Around Federal Changes to the Operating Environment

Stronger Together

During this time of turbulence, MCF will keep Minnesota's philanthropic community updated and connected through a variety of resources including the following webpages:

• Taking Action Around Federal Changes in the Operating Environment (below)
• Tracking Federal Changes in the Operating Environment 

Rapid Response Network

For members interested in quickly gathering to connect, share information, and take collective action when an unexpected situation happens that affects the Minnesota philanthropic community.

• MCF Lead: Michelle Maryns | [email protected]
• To subscribe to Rapid Response listservs, please email Maria Paik at [email protected]

Rapid Response Focus Areas Due to Increased Federal Immigration and Enforcement Activities

Three new Rapid Response network groups have launched to coordinate MCF member responses specific to the needs of the moment due to federal immigration and enforcement activities in Minnesota.

• Basic Needs – [email protected] – Immediate and essential support for individuals and families, including housing and rental assistance, food access, health and mental health services, individual legal services, and support for schools and childcare systems serving parents and families.
• Economic Impact – [email protected] – Impacts on commercial corridors and small businesses, including operational disruptions, revenue loss, and broader economic and workforce stability concerns.
• Strategic Response – [email protected] – Strategic philanthropic efforts focused on building and strengthening the infrastructure needed to support overall rapid response and recovery efforts, including through pooled funds, legal strategies, narrative change, and supporting community organizing. 

MCF Coordinator on Focus Areas: Tiffany Xiong

Pooled Fund Opportunities to Support Rapid Response Efforts

• Artist Emergency Relief Fund - Springboard for the Arts
• Community Response Fund - Eagan Community Foundation
• Economic Response Fund - Minneapolis Foundation
• Emergency Response Fund - PFund
• Immigrant Rapid Response Fund - Women's Foundation
• Latino & Immigrant Business Emergency Relief Fund  - Latino Economic Development Center (LEDC) & East Side Funders Group 
• Minnesota Immigrant Community Rapid Response and Long-Term Recovery Initiative - Wilson Foundation
• MN Arts Rise and Respond Fund - Springboard for the Arts & Jerome Foundation 
• OneMPLS Fund - Minneapolis Foundation
• Open for Tomorrow Fund - Main Street Alliance
• Rapid Response Fund - Constellation Fund
• Rapid Response Fund - Headwaters Foundation
• Rapid Response Fund - Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
• Rapid Response Fund - Tiwahe Foundation
• Small Business Stabilization Grant (SBSG) - Hmong American Partnership
• Twin Cities Rapid Response Fund - Asian American and Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)

Note: Application processes vary by fund (e.g., open application or invite-only). Some funds are place-based or community-specific. Please review each fund’s details for eligibility and application information.

Resources for Philanthropic Action

Use Your Voice

• Activate Your Public Voice Through MCF's Principles for Philanthropy - Use your voice to share knowledge and bring change through these MCF-recommended resources
• Contact Your Elected Representatives - Find your elected representatives via the Minnesota Secretary of State
• Get Involved in Advocacy - Understand how private and public foundations can engage in advocacy by accessing Bolder Advocacy resources
• Advocacy, Awareness, & Action - A strategic campaign from United Philanthropy Forum to defend and advance philanthropy's freedom to invest in community well-being
• Engage in Self-Defense Lobbying - Understand how private foundations and community foundations and public charities can engage in self-defense lobbying

Prepare for Increased Scrutiny

• Navigate Federal Scrutiny of Philanthropic Organizations - A framework from United Philanthropy Forum to help your foundation assess and mitigate potential risks during this period of heightened federal scrutiny of philanthropic organizations
• Minnesota Nonprofit Legal Services Initiative - Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and LegalCORPS have launched this initiative to offer free support to Minnesota nonprofits, including a legal help desk, legal resource library, compliance support, and compliance clinics.
• What to Do if You're Targeted by the White House - 22 things your nonprofit can do if faced with executive actions

Stay Committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

• Maintain DEIA Programs - Learn about the Minnesota Attorney General's guidance about DEI initiatives in the workplace
• Re-Commit to Your Values - Work with your board and staff to re-affirm your DEI commitment; see sample statements, below
• Understand the Implications to Tax Exemption of "Illegal DEI" - Read about implications and risks via this post from Lathrop GPM

Support Legal Needs

• Community Foundation Legal Support Fund - Through an open application process, eligible organizations can request funding to help offset the cost of responding to the threat of litigation, audits, or investigations—particularly in cases that have the potential to shape the broader legal landscape for the community foundation field.
• Support MN Lead - Address legal challenges to race-conscious programming and grantmaking

Support Grantee Partners

• Be a Great Partner to Your Grantees - Reduce grantee burden through these suggestions from Candid
• Increase Your Payout - Determine whether you can increase your grant total, payout percent, or add a new grant cycle
  • Increase the Dollar Amount of Grantmaking - Northwest Area Foundation
  • Increase the Percent of Payout - MacArthur Foundation
  • Increase DAF Distributions - Minneapolis Foundation
• Increase Employee Engagement - Corporate funders can activate employees in various ways during uncertain times
• Support Nonprofit Compliance - Encourage grantees to review their state and federal compliance

Find Your Peers

• Connect to MCF Peers - Find peers by joining events and listservs via MCF's 15 different peer networks
• Connect to Peers Across Minnesota - Find peers who are connecting through other philanthropic efforts in Minnesota

A Sample of Statements from Minnesota Grantmakers   

• Our Values as Our North Star - Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
• Amidst Complexity, McKnight Remains Focused on Our Mission, Values, and Partners - McKnight Foundation
• Our Purpose Is Still Our Purpose - Bush Foundation
• CEO Kevin Walker: We’re Doubling Our Funding for 2025 - Northwest Area Foundation
• Our Commitment to Equity and Action - Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation

A Sample of Statements from National Sector Partners  

• Joint Statement on Threats to Civil Society and the Independence of the Charitable Sector - Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum
• Transformative Actions to Protect and Advance Race-Explicit Grantmaking – ABFE, AAPIP, Hispanics in Philanthropy, Native Americans in Philanthropy
• Steadfast in our Commitment – National Council on Foundations
• CEO Views: The Current Moment – Independent Sector
• Standing Strong for DEI – Center for Effective Philanthropy
• Supporting our Communities: Key Strategies for Navigating Federal Funding Threats – Grantmakers for Effective Organizations  
• Philanthropy’s Responsibility Persists: Staying the Course Amid Change – Exponent Philanthropy
• Philanthropy Responds to Threats to Our Democracy – PACE (Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement)