GDR Podcast - S5, E12 - Mounting Pressure on Nonprofits: What Donors Need to Know

Giving Done Right Podcast - Season 5, Episode 12 - 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.

Guest Info:
Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Ph.D. manages CEP’s Research team, leading the creation, development, analysis, and release of various research projects and initiatives relevant to the philanthropic sector’s most pressing issues. Prior to CEP, Dr. Smith Arrillaga was a faculty fellow and professor of practice in philanthropy and education policy at the University of Texas, and she served as executive director of several national and state level nonprofits, including the Dana Center, a national center on math and science education equity and the Education Trust West. Dr. Smith Arrillaga has also served on a range of state and national advisory groups including Google’s Emerging Artificial Intelligence Research Roundtable and has spoken widely at conferences, published articles and op-eds and has been interviewed by various media outlets, including Forbes, Fortune, USA Today, the New York Times, and CNN.

Credits:
Podcast Production: Rococo Punch
Artwork: Jay Kustka

Resources:
New CEP Research: “Mounting Pressure: U.S. Foundations and Nonprofits on the 2025 Political Climate”
https://cep.org/report/mounting-press...

CEP’s annual “State of Nonprofits” report for 2025, published May 2025
https://cep.org/report/state-of-nonpr...

March 2025 CEP Research snapshot: “Challenging Times”
https://cep.org/report/challenging-ti...

A compilation of additional resources for funders on responding to the current context on the CEP blog
https://cep.org/blog/responding-to-th...