Mounting Pressure on Nonprofits: What Donors Need to Know with Elisha Smith Arrillaga

Federal funding cuts and increased demand for their services have left nonprofits across the country and issue areas reeling, with many questioning whether they will survive. The consequences are stark, given the vital work nonprofits do in communities across the country. In this episode, CEP Vice President of Research Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. shares just-collected data on what nonprofits are experiencing, exploring questions like which nonprofits have been hardest hit and what steps organizations are taking to respond. 

She also talks with Phil Buchanan about data on the foundation response to the situation, exploring lessons for individual and institutional donors alike. Smith Arrillaga argues that the existential challenges nonprofits are facing require bold, values-driven responses from donors.

Additional Resources:

New CEP Research: “Mounting Pressure: U.S. Foundations and Nonprofits on the 2025 Political Climate”

CEP’s annual “State of Nonprofits” report for 2025, published May 2025

March 2025 CEP Research snapshot: “Challenging Times”

A compilation of additional resources for funders on responding to the current context on the CEP blog