Safeguarding New York City's Nonprofit Sector: Forum Summary Report

Abstract

On January 30, 2025, Lawyers Alliance for New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Nonprofit New York, and Philanthropy New York convened over 200 participants, including senior level individuals at foundations, arts organizations, housing advocates, representatives of the LGBTQIA+ community, executive level staff and board members, HR and operations staff for the Safeguarding New York City's Nonprofit Sector forum, a swift response to a dramatically changed and immediately more challenging political landscape.Purpose The Safeguarding New York City's Nonprofit Sector forum aimed to heighten awareness of the challenges and threats facing the nonprofit sector at the programmatic and policy levels, and to: * Strategize and surface emergent themes in a collaborative space; * Co-create solutions and future collective and institutional actions; * Equip organizations with resources and tools to secure and protect themselves internally; * Prepare the NYC nonprofit organizations to better advocate for the critical and essential work of the nonprofit sector in New York CityKey Takeaways and Emergent ThemesThis attack on the non-profit sector is a recognition of the important role the sector plays in community building.Remain grounded and do not let our energies be scattered: Stand in our power. Stand united. Stand in fellowship.As part of risk and security management, develop internal policies and protocols and role-playing scenarios for every level of staff.Find alternative sources of funding and get your money now!Do not fall into anticipatory obedience