Nonprofit and philanthropic leaders are being invited to a timely global conversation as the social sector confronts one of its most difficult periods in recent memory.
On February 19, from 12:00 pm to 1:15 pm, a free virtual convening titled “A Sector in Crisis: How Nonprofits and Foundations are Navigating Challenge” will bring together nonprofit executives, foundation leaders, and sector practitioners to reflect on how organizations are responding to funding shocks, political pressure, and rising community needs.
The past year has seen sweeping cuts to federal government funding, increased scrutiny of civil society organizations, and growing polarization within and across communities.
For many nonprofits and foundations, these pressures have translated into operational uncertainty, staff burnout, and difficult choices about which programmes can continue.
The session aims to provide space for shared learning at a moment when the sector is being forced to adapt quickly and often with limited resources.
How Nonprofits and Funders Are Responding
The conversation will explore how nonprofits are faring under current conditions and what they are hearing directly from the communities they serve.
Panelists will reflect on how organizations are adjusting their strategies, managing risk, and sustaining trust amid instability.
Participants will also examine what nonprofits need most from funders in this moment whether flexibility, longer-term commitments, or non-financial support and how foundations are responding to those calls.
The discussion will draw on experiences from both the United States and international contexts, recognising that while challenges differ across regions, many of the pressures facing the sector are shared.
Among the featured speakers are John Hecklinger, Co-CEO of the Global Fund for Children, who will bring insights from working with grassroots organizations globally; Dr. Julie Morita, CEO and President of The Joyce Foundation, who will speak from a philanthropic leadership perspective; and Robin Peacock, Executive Director of MEND NJ, who will reflect on how community-based organizations are navigating funding cuts and increasing demand for services.
Rather than focusing only on crisis, the session will highlight adaptive and creative responses emerging across the sector, including new forms of collaboration, shifts in grantmaking practice, and deeper engagement with community voices.
Why This Conversation Matters Now
As nonprofits and foundations face continued uncertainty, the need for practical, grounded dialogue has become more urgent.
This session is designed to offer actionable insights for leaders grappling with immediate challenges, while also encouraging reflection on what resilience, accountability, and solidarity should look like in the current context.
By centring real experiences from funders and frontline organizations, the event seeks to move beyond abstract debate and toward lessons that can inform decision-making across the sector.
It also provides an opportunity for participants to connect with peers navigating similar pressures, reinforcing a sense of shared purpose at a time when many organizations feel isolated.
How to Register
The event is free to attend and open to nonprofit leaders, foundation staff, and others working in or alongside the social sector. Advance registration is required to participate in the virtual session.
Interested participants can register through the event’s official registration page, CEP, to secure their place and receive joining details ahead of the February 19 discussion.
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