New Year, New “Normal”

2025 has barely begun, and we have already been confronted by a devastating natural disaster, while the political situation at the federal, state and local levels pose threats to the stability and future of our nonprofit and foundation clients. Most of us anticipated the new administration in Washington would bring change; but the speed of announcements is outpacing predictions. At the time of this writing, the US has announced that it will withdraw from the World Health Organization and identify and target transgender people and immigrants. We have halted communications from the Centers for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration — entities that fight epidemics, protect the nation’s food supply and search for cures to diseases. By the time you read this, more executive orders may have been signed impacting vulnerable communities and marginalized populations.

For 45 years, we have partnered with foundations, nonprofits, and companies to solve social problems, navigating through seismic challenges along the way, but what we are facing today feels different and more unpredictable than ever before. We are forging ahead driven by the questions we’re asking ourselves and hearing from our partners and communities across the sector. We’re sharing frameworks to navigate this unstable terrain, guided by our commitment to listening, learning, and adapting.

How can we help our clients navigate the uncertainty of a new administration taking office while continuing their work on the ground? 

Move Decisively at a Thoughtful Pace

• Adopt a flexible approach to new developments, focusing on readiness and avoiding rushed decisions that could hinder long-term impact.

• Diversify funding, build financial reserves, and form strategic collaborations to weather uncertainties.

• Prepare for a range of potential policy scenarios by outlining actionable plans that can be implemented as situations evolve.

Fortify Nonprofits with Targeted Support 

• Consider a phased funding strategy to respond effectively to emerging needs.

• Create spaces for reflection and adaptability, acknowledging the evolving social and political landscape.

Return to Core Values and Communities

• Focus on core values and programs that align with organizational strengths and demonstrating outcomes to attract attention and funding.

• Encourage nonprofits to strengthen connections with the communities they serve, ensuring mutual support and trust during uncertain times.

• Reinforce the importance of steady leadership that can guide organizations through uncertainty by staying aligned with long-term goals and values.

How can we use AI to help further social change, while navigating the concerns and privacy challenges it presents? 

Balance Functionality and Humanity

• Leverage AI for efficiency, ideation, and innovation in resource-constrained organizations, freeing time for complex tasks like strategic planning.

• Use AI tools for data synthesis, photovoice analysis, and summarization to enhance participatory and community-driven approaches.

• Create custom AI solutions like Small Language Models (SLMs) trained on organizational content to enhance client services.

• Create custom chat agents tailored to specific organizational needs.

Address Privacy Challenges

• Establish clear AI use policies to mitigate risks associated with data misuse and privacy breaches.

• Advocate for transparency in how AI systems are trained, used, and deployed, ensuring stakeholders understand the implications of AI-driven decisions.

• Explore privacy-enhancing technologies (such as federated learning or differential privacy) to enable AI to learn from data without compromising individual privacy.

How can we keep building on the strategies we’ve been using to integrate community voices, now that they’re increasingly seen as essential?  

Employ Participatory Methods

• Actively involve communities in decision-making and evaluation through strategies like youth-led focus groups and Evaluation Advisory Groups.

• Use games and other creative tools to gather diverse perspectives from community members.

Create Connections

• Build trust through transparency and inclusivity in program design, ensuring all stakeholders, including beneficiaries, have a voice.

• Engage in storytelling to connect participants and make impacts tangible and relatable.

Open the Lines of Communication

• Uphold the principle that anyone affected by decisions should have a voice in the process.

• Create advisory committees to maintain a feedback loop between organizations and communities for holistic understanding.

What will be the keys to successful collaboration in a new era amidst a backdrop of concern in the social sector? 

Lay a Proper Foundation

• Ensure alignment and unified vision across projects through clear, shared goals and values among collaborators.

• Create formal agreements or frameworks that outline roles, expectations, and shared responsibilities to minimize misunderstandings and foster accountability.

• Approach collaborations with empathy, understanding the unique pressures and priorities each organization faces.

Overcome Hurdles

• Address reluctance to collaborate stemming from funding competition and organizational fragility by emphasizing the collective benefits of working together.

• Provide tools and training to help organizations navigate risks and manage resources effectively while maintaining trust and openness.

• Facilitate regular, transparent conversations where organizations can openly discuss challenges, share progress, and exchange feedback.

Leverage Complementary Strengths

• Encourage organizations to identify and contribute their unique strengths, creating synergies that amplify impact.

• Promote cross-sector learning and capacity building, ensuring all partners benefit from shared expertise and insights.

While uncertainty is inevitable, we are equipping ourselves and our clients with strategies that ensure resilience and measurable impact. By focusing on adaptability, inclusion, and innovation, we are well-positioned to guide our clients and partners through the complexities of 2025 and beyond.