The Kenneth Rainin Foundation is monitoring the rapid rollout of executive orders and policy and funding shifts that are affecting our Arts, Education and Health grantees. Our work continues to be informed by the needs and experiences of our communities. At the same time, we’re collaborating with both local and national funders to thoughtfully and proactively navigate the challenges ahead.
Recognizing that many organizations are navigating uncertainty, we’ve compiled these resources to help them manage the evolving landscape and continue their vital work. We will continue to add new offerings as they emerge. If there is another guide or tool that you would like us to add, please reach out to the Communications Team by selecting media inquiry in this form.
Note: This blog was last updated on May 7, 2025.
Response Funds
- The Kenneth Rainin Foundation’s $4 million Response Fund will support broad efforts to protect and defend human rights, understanding those rights are not tangential but essential to our philanthropic mission. The Response Fund will also focus directly on our grantees and their efforts to defend against and resist harmful actions while continuing their important work. This might include technical assistance or direct support as well as education, advocacy and training. Rainin Foundation grantees should reach out to their program staff and share how your organization, work and people are affected. We continue to be flexible and nimble, recognizing the rapidly changing and unpredictable situation.
- This Chronicle of Philanthropy article compiles a list of national, regional and international emergency response funds. The article is being updated as new funds emerge.
Resources For Navigating Policy And Funding Changes
- Americans for the Arts has a resource page for organizations that have received National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant termination letters. It includes next steps organizations can take and additional resources.
- The National Council on Nonprofits has shared resources to help nonprofits understand the impacts of the executive orders. Their website includes a regularly updated chart on executive orders, a checklist for what to do when your federal grant or contract is terminated, a checklist for conducting a risk assessment for federal funding, answers to general questions and a myth versus reality checker on the Executive Branch’s authority over nonprofits.
- The Alliance For Justice posted this blog to guide nonprofits in advocacy related to harmful executive orders.
- California Nonprofits has compiled a robust guide with human resource and legal compliance, data protection, scenario planning, financial modeling and advocacy lessons as well as webinar recordings.
- California Black Freedom Fund’s Legal Education, Advocacy and Defense for Racial Justice program is offering comprehensive support to California-based nonprofits and funders in response to recent legal challenges affecting affirmative action and race-conscious programs. They provide legal analysis and answers to frequently asked questions, trainings around legal considerations, as well as an opportunity to request pro bono legal support. Organizations should complete a brief interest form to see if they are eligible to receive pro bono legal assistance.
- Candid is giving nonprofits free access to their Foundation Directory to help them replace lost federal funding. This tool can help organizations identify and connect with over 240,000 US grantmakers.
Safety And Security Resources
- We Are California’s Know Your Rights resources help everyone understand their guaranteed basic freedoms under the US constitution. Topics include immigration, health care, wellness and gender. We Are California is a multigenerational, multiracial, multi-issue movement of organizations and people advancing the common dream of a good life, quality education and safety for families.
- Harvard Law School’s Protect Your People Toolkit helps organizers, service providers, members and staff of organizations facing digital threats as a result of their work supporting LGBTQ+ people and communities. The toolkit’s guidance is applicable to supporting a range of communities.
- Equality Labs’ Anti Doxxing Guide for Activists (PDF) is designed to help activists proactively protect themselves from doxxing—a tactic where adversaries publish personal information online to harass, intimidate or silence individuals. This guide is aimed at activists who may be targeted for resisting white supremacy, Islamophobia, casteism, antisemitism, anti-LGBTQ+ harassment or any form of authoritarianism.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation’s Surveillance Self-Defense guide is focused on protecting individuals and communities from online surveillance by using secure technology and developing careful practices. In addition to tutorials for installing and using security-friendly software, you’ll learn about making a security plan, the importance of strong passwords and protecting metadata.
- Vision Change Win draws on a rich generational legacy of community safety initiatives to support groups in building risk assessments and safety plans to address threats. Their website offers a range of services focused on community safety including toolkits, trainings and rapid response support.
