Update on TBF’s Efforts to Meet the Moment
May 5, 2025
As the federal government continues to compound its assault on the rights and freedoms of our democratic values, seeking to erase the cultural, social and even human identities of those we serve, while starving vulnerable communities of resources that sustain life and wellbeing, the Boston Foundation has redoubled its efforts to not only advance equity and justice, but to protect and sustain it.
As TBF’s President and CEO has said and written before, “this is not a time to rest. It is a time to be restless—and relentless—in the pursuit of what is right and just.”
Below, please find a list of our Meeting the Moment initiatives – both those we’ve completed, and those in process. We will continue regularly to update you about the progress of our initiatives even as we develop new ones.
The list includes several convenings– large and small– as well as:
- The launch of our first of two Special Safety Net Grants programs,
- Public research to benefit non-profits and general audiences,
- A comprehensive survey of non-profits partners, which will lead to a large convening to review and discuss the survey results as a guide to collaboration and possible next action steps,
- Outreach to donors as well as individual, corporate philanthropists.
Prominent among these many efforts will be launch of our digital TBF Navigating the Moment Resource Center to support non-profits and others in their strategic work.
February
Launch of $2 Million Special Round of Expedited Safety Net Grants to meet the moment for Greater Boston Nonprofits
500 applications requesting $25M (four times the number of applicants than usual).
Lee Pelton writes to donors, funders and professional advisors to invite them to contribute to the Special Round of Expedited Safety Net Grants.
TBF staff followed this message with personal outreach to donors and via our Donor Insider Newsletter which helped generate $396,000 in additional support.
MA Nonprofits Federal Impacts Survey
TBF Nonprofit Infrastructure Team partnered with Massachusetts Nonprofit Network and Mass. Inc Polling to survey Nonprofit leaders to capture perceptions of the new administration’s impact on their organizations and vulnerable communities, with more than 500 responses received. Results from the survey were shared at a convening on May 5.
March
A Crisis of Trust in Federal Data
Boston Indicators wrote a report on the impact of the federal government’s removal of datasets and public web pages.
Online Convening of Donors who want to learn more about the Safety Net Grants Special Round
80 Attendees
April
Navigating the Moment: A Resource Hub for Nonprofit
Launch of a new resource on tbf.org with information on meeting the moment for Nonprofits, which will be updated and refreshed to respond to changing events.
Trump is making the challenges facing nonprofits even tougher
Blog Post in Commonwealth Beacon authored by TBF staff member Carlos Muñoz Cadilla, Senior Associate, Nonprofit Sector Infrastructure.
Webinar gathering of Safety Net Grantees
Gathering grantees to strengthen collective impact, support each other and navigate the challenges posed by the current government administration.
ACF Lunchtime Conversation with Julie Su
Asian Community Fund Convening with Former Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, nationally recognized workers’ rights and civil rights expert who served in President Biden’s cabinet as the Acting Secretary of Labor, to discuss seismic shifts in international trade policy and workers’ rights and how to advocate for AAPI and immigrant communities across the region.
May
Partner and Lead Funder for Lawyers for Civil Rights and TBF Legal Clinic
Lawyers for Civil Rights is hosting a TBF funded three-hour legal clinic/ virtual meeting between their attorneys and non-profit leaders to discuss their compliance and rights under the federal administration.
Meeting the Moment with Lee: TBF Staff Reflections on the Impact of Current Events
Monthly, one-hour zoom convenings for staff to come together with Lee Pelton to reflect on the impact of current events on our work with the community as well as on our internal equity and inclusion work. Listening, learning, sharing, being in community with colleagues, reinforcing TBF’s commitments.
The Shifting Federal Landscape: Mass Nonprofits Raise the Alarm
Convening to discuss results of Massachusetts Nonprofits Federal Impacts Survey. 900+ registrations.
The Future of Collective Action Convening
Convening for arts and culture sector partners and non-profits to mobilize action around key policies and legislation that impacts the future of artists and creatives.
Convening of Shifting Power and Advancing Justice Collective
Convening of Shifting Power and Advancing Justice Collective to discuss shared learnings for navigating the administration.
Gathering of donors and key Safety Net Grantees
Gathering of donors and key Safety Net Grantees to discuss how we might together meet the political and social moment before us.
Resilia Event: Resilience in Action
Offering an opportunity for Boston grantmakers to learn how they can better support nonprofits in this critical moment, TBF will host at our office this interactive workshop on advancing responsive grantmaking and strengthening nonprofit capacity. Candace Burton, Senior Program Officer, Support for the Social Safety Net, at TBF will join the panel to share how TBF is responding to urgent needs with the special round of Safety Net Grants.
June
Annual Gathering of Professional Advisors Network with focus on meeting the moment
We continue to craft and deploy our Meeting the Moment plans through the lens of our nine impact tools:
Convening
Research
Engagement
Grant making
Impact investing
Narrative building
Advocacy
Fundraising
Capacity building
The Boston Foundation was made for meeting this moment in our nation’s history.
