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Executive Actions Impacting Our Sector & Our Communities

A wave of Executive Orders (EOs) and other actions and communications from the federal administration in early 2025 have called for the eradication of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across an array of policies and structures, eliminating staffing, supports and related resources. These actions have also directly targeted immigrants and refugees, the LGBTQ+ community and People of Color.

Further, an attempt by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in January 2025 to freeze federal grants and loans, and statements by federal agency leaders, have targeted the work of nonprofit organizations and philanthropy.  

Harmful effects are being seen and felt across our sector and in our Michigan communities. While the federal grant freeze was rescinded and other issues are being litigated, the EOs remain. CMF anticipates actions impacting Michigan philanthropy and our commitment to equity will continue in the months ahead.

Recognizing this is a fast-moving and fluid situation, CMF has organized these pages as a resource hub for our members, to help you navigate the uncertainty with access to relevant resources, timely news, and opportunities for action. Beyond that, we aim to help you help lead boldly – remaining steadfast in leading with your values in your practices, your work in policy and your support for the people who power our sector. 

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Executive Actions Impacting Our Sector & Our Communities: Latest Developments

Join the CMF Policy Online Community to stay connected to the latest in policy developments. If you have any questions on policy and advocacy engagement, connect with Regina Bell, CMF's Chief Policy Officer.

Latest Developments (Updated 5/2/2025) 

  • On May 2, the White House unveiled the president’s 2026 budget plan, which includes significant cuts to essential programs. Under the plan, the Housing and Urban Development Department would receive a $33.6 billion cut, the Health and Human Service Department would receive $33.3 trillion less, and the Education Department’s spending would be reduced by $12 billion. Read More.
  • On April 25, DOGE ordered the AmeriCorps agency to terminate more than $400 million in grant funding, impacting over 1,000 nonprofit and community organizations and prematurely ending the service of over 32,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Michigan will lose over 1,200 AmeriCorps members, leaving local communities and neighbors without vital support.
  • On April 23, Trump signed several executive orders, targeting universities that he views as liberal adversaries to his political agenda. One order called for harder enforcement of a federal law requiring colleges to disclose their financial ties with foreign sources, while another called for a shakeup of the accrediting bodies that decide whether colleges can accept federal financial aid awarded to students. Trump also ordered the Education Department to root out efforts to ensure equity in discipline in the nation’s K-12 schools. Read more. 
  • On April 21, Harvard University announced it filed suit to halt a federal freeze on more than $2.2 billion in grants after the institution said it would defy the Trump administration’s demands to limit activism on campus. In an April 11 letter to Harvard, the Trump administration had called for broad government and leadership reforms at the university and changes to its admissions policies. It also demanded the university audit views of diversity on campus and stop recognizing some student clubs. Read more.
  • America’s Service Commissions is sharing a statement in response to the AmeriCorps agency staff reductions and AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps demobilization. Read more.

Timely Resources

Executive Actions Impacting Our Sector & Our Communities: What You Can Do

As leaders working alongside your communities, Michigan philanthropy is well-poised to engage in deep listening with your community members and partners and lift up pressing issues. As funders you can provide the clarity and calm to meet this moment, leveraging all that we have learned throughout the pandemic – relationships built, practices shifted, collaborations strengthened – to be more effective and even more committed to the equity-centered approaches that can create a truly thriving Michigan.  

We've compiled several resources to help you schedule meetings with policymakers and plan for productive and engaging conversations together.

Learn More

Subscribe to CMF News to stay connected to events, news and resources for Michigan philanthropy. 

Subscribe to the Michigan Nonprofit Newsletter, the MI Nonprofit Connector. 

Current Sign-On Letters and Sharing Opportunities:

Past Sign-On Letters from the Sector

What can you do?

  • Center Humanity  
    Without a doubt, one key support we can all offer is to center humanity in times like these. Check in with your nonprofit partners as well as your colleagues, especially those most impacted by these actions. Remember, too, the airplane safety practice of putting on your own oxygen mask first, creating space for self-care. CMF Philanthropic Practice Expert in Residence Jen Heymoss also encourages building formal or informal systems of community care within your influence.  
  • Communicate  
    Maintain open communication lines with your nonprofit partners, with multiple channels and flexible opportunities to share challenges and innovations. Center their input and community voices in understanding what is needed and how you can be of support. Work with your partners to gather data and stories to communicate the value of our sector's work and its impact, particularly in areas that depend on public sector funding. Keep your staff and trustees informed with these insights.
  • Convene
    Lean into your convening power. Re-establish the funder and nonprofit tables developed during the pandemic and share intelligence. Support nonprofit organizations to hold briefings for policymakers’ staff on the issues and impact of your nonprofit partners.
  • Invest
    Explore and plan for the full suite of options available to your organization (i.e., general purpose grants, pooled funds, loans, impact investments, bridge grants) to deploy when needed to create timely solutions. Consider opportunities to provide flexible and less restrictive funding, as well as capacity building and technical assistance you can support through funding and by leveraging your networks.

Executive Actions Impacting Our Sector & Our Communities: Templates, FAQs and Guidance

The following tools and resource guides have been curated to support Michigan philanthropy and to share in outreach to your nonprofit partners.  

Are you looking for resources not featured here? Do you have a suggested resource to add? Contact our team!

Checklists

Scenario Planning, Crisis Management and Risk Assessments

Finance and Operations Management 

Legal Opinions and Compliance

Racial Equity

Resource Hubs and Toolkits

Technology Specific Resource Hubs

Advancing Your Equity Journey

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