BY Dion Cartwright, TFN President & CEO

We are only four days away from a high-stakes presidential election, with more than 60 million ballots already cast by early and mail-in voting.

The outcome may come down to a razor-thin margin and we may not know the final results for days or even weeks after Election Day, if polls and pundits are to be believed.

Uncertainty can be a heavy weight to bear, even for optimistic folks like myself.

I am certain about this, though: Philanthropy, at its best and boldest, has a moral mandate to unlock the resources that will move us closer to racial, environmental and economic justice – regardless of who is in office.

As we head into the final stretch of this presidential election, I wanted to share these reflections and resources with TFN’s community of funders, partners and allies.

The Road Ahead

TFN is committed to helping our members and the broader philanthropic sector navigate the post-election landscape.

Over the past year, we’ve been unpacking political impacts on our work, including partisan efforts that threaten historic levels of climate investment and concerted efforts to roll back decades of progress on social justice issues.

Looking forward, our funder-led working groups will be holding peer learning calls and funder briefings to process the impact a new administration will have on our communities and climate. We are creating space at our 25th Anniversary Conference in Baltimore to further share insights and strategies.

TFN is co-sponsoring two post-election webinars organized by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees. Smart Growth California, a TFN initiative, is also partnering with SoCal Grantmakers for a hybrid virtual/in-person convening later this month to explore the impact election results could have on the environment.

Support Those Doing the Work

As the head of a network focused on creating more sustainable, prosperous and just communities, I know that we’ll have a steeper hill to climb depending on who sits in the Oval Office.

But I also know that our journey toward justice began long before this election cycle, and will continue long after.

And the hate-filled rhetoric targeting immigrants, trans kids, women of color and other marginalized groups?

While those disgusting comments and so-called “jokes” have been trumpeted and celebrated by candidates up and down the ballot, they aren’t just confined to the campaign trail.

Those harmful words can be heard on our social media feeds, in our kids’ classrooms, at our places of work and worship. Maybe even across our own kitchen tables.

They’re not new to those of us who have been hearing them our whole lives – just louder.

That’s why it’s important to acknowledge and support those working toward meaningful change, from grassroots movement leaders to bold voices in philanthropy calling out injustices in the sector.

We see you and stand by you.

And to those foundations that are considering pulling back on their equity commitments, or paring down their internal equity practices: I encourage you to reconsider, and implore you not to sacrifice our shared struggle in the name of political pragmatism or fear. Stand boldly with us in our commitments.

Our Commitment to Racial Equity

TFN will continue to center racial equity in all that we do. We remain steadfast in our belief that we cannot address the escalating climate crisis, widening wealth gap or stark inequities in healthcare access – among other critical issues – without addressing systemic racial injustice.

We are ten toes down for diversity, equity and inclusion, regardless of the pushback from those who want to undermine or water down these values.

What We Ask of You

  • VOTE! If you didn’t make it to early voting, please show up on Nov. 5. It’s an honor and a duty that many of our ancestors fought for.
  • Prepare for post-election action. Support grassroots organizations that are ready to respond to challenges facing marginalized and racialized communities. Host conversations with grantees and partners on the election’s impact. Fund legal services and strategies to help inform policy and advocacy efforts, and support narrative change by uplifting the stories of those most impacted.
  • Flex your own advocacy muscles. There are opportunities to impact policies at the local, state and federal level beyond presidential elections. TFN has worked with Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy to provide resources to our network. Their website has additional resources for foundations looking to advance their missions through policy advocacy.
  • Invest in equity-focused professional development for your team, your board – and yourself. Philanthropy needs leaders who have the understanding and skills to embed equity into their programmatic, grantmaking and community engagement practices. TFN’s cross-cutting approach to racial equity informs our internal and external practices, including our working groups, virtual learning opportunities and in-person events. Please reach out to me or Vice President of Programs and Partnerships Ann Fowler Wallace if you’d like to learn more.
  • Let us know what you’re doing. If your organization has an election-related statement, resource or learning opportunity, send it our way. Please reach out to TFN Senior Communications Director Tere Figueras Negrete to be considered for our round-up of post-election resources.

 

And finally, I encourage each of you in the coming days to set aside time for something – or someone – that brings you joy.

Like Audre Lorde wrote: Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.

Be well and take care.

 


Rocking Baltimore pride — and my early voting sticker.

 

Additional Resources

Imagining 2025: What’s next for disaster philanthropy?
Nov. 14 |  1-2 p.m. ET
Webinar
This Center for Disaster Philanthropy webinar is co-sponsored by TFN, Alliance Magazine, Philanthropy New York and United Philanthropy Forum. 

The Election and Its Impact on The Environment
Nov. 15 | 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. PT
Hybrid virtual/in-person
This SoCal Grantmakers event is presented in partnership with Smart Growth California, a TFN initiative.

The 2024 Election and the Path Ahead
Nov. 19 | 12:30-2 p.m. ET
Webinar
This webinar is organized by Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees and is co-sponsored by TFN, Philanthropy New York, Council of New Jersey Grantmakers, Forefront, and Funders Together to End Homelessness.

Decision ’24 Post-Election Briefing: Debrief + Sector Outlook
Nov. 20 | 12- 1:15 p.m. ET
Webinar
To help PSOs and their foundation members make sense of it all, join United Philanthropy Forum for our special Decision ’24 Post-Election Webinar, where we will analyze the results, discuss potential policy shifts, and look ahead to what’s on the horizon for the coming year.

This Much We Know
Blog Post | Barr Foundation
President and Trustee Jim Canales on how the Barr Foundation will meet this moment.

 

For an updated list of post-election statements, resources and events, click here.  

 

Featured photo by Ronile | CC BY-NC-SA