BLOG

Philanthropy Southeast is partnering with Candid to encourage members to share their grants data and help provide more accurate, current information on foundation grantmaking.

By sharing your grants data, your organization can ensure that Philanthropy Southeast and Candid are able to provide a more complete picture of foundation support for our region and its communities. Data is critical to sharing the impact of philanthropy, especially in a time when we see foundations and nonprofits coming under increasing scrutiny. We ask you to help tell the full story of foundation giving in the Southeast by committing today to share your grants data with Candid.

If your organization is already a data sharing partner, thank you! We encourage you to continue sharing your grants data with Candid in the current year.  

If your organization is new to data sharing, it’s easy to submit your grants data. You can follow the instructions on this page. Sharing your data can be as simple as following these two steps:

• Export a complete list of your most recent grants data to a spreadsheet following this template.
• Email your grants file to egrants@candid.org.

The link above also includes answers to frequently asked questions and tips on sharing your data.

As an added benefit, funders that provide grants data can get free access to Foundation Maps, Candid’s premier visualization tool.  

For additional information, visit the Candid website or contact Stephen Sherman, Senior Director of Engagement and Learning, at stephen@philanthropysoutheast.org.

The 2025 Class of the Janine Lee Learning & Leadership Collaborative recently kicked off a year-long journey that will inspire and equip them to be social change agents who advance equity and justice within their organizations and communities.

This year’s cohort is the second in the history of the program, which was launched in 2023 as the Accelerating Equity Learning Collaborative. It was renamed last year to honor Janine Lee, who served as Philanthropy Southeast’s president and CEO for more than a decade before she passed away in February 2024.

Members of the 2025 Class met for an opening session online last month. Throughout this year, they’ll meet virtually and in locations throughout the Southeast, including St. Petersburg, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; and Little Rock, Arkansas, before concluding their work at this year’s Annual Meeting in New Orleans.

Congratulations to the members of this year’s class!

Philanthropy Southeast regularly provides members with updates on the latest public policy developments in Washington and state capitols around the region, analyzing their possible impact on the charitable sector. If you would like to see an issue featured in a future Public Policy Update, contact Jaci Bertrand at jaci@philanthropysoutheast.org.

Assessing the Impact of Recent Executive Actions on the Charitable Sector

Philanthropy Southeast has been closely monitoring executive orders and other actions taking place in Washington that could affect philanthropy and the broader charitable sector.

One of President Trump’s first executive orders takes aim at efforts to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA, or DEI) in both the public and private sectors. While this has already resulted in sweeping changes within federal agencies, the impact beyond the federal government, including the philanthropic sector, is still unclear.

Notably, the order requires federal agencies to “identify up to 9 potential investigations of corporations, large nonprofits or associations, or foundations with assets of $500 million or more.” It also requires agencies and the attorney general to “take appropriate action” to advance “anti-DEI” in the private sector.

It is possible these provisions could result in investigations of large foundations or efforts to discourage or halt philanthropic work tied to advancing equity. At this point, however, there is nothing contained in the executive order requiring nonprofit organizations, including foundations, to change how they direct resources.

A separate executive order calls for the termination of all DEI programs in federal agencies including equity-related grants and equity action plans that were formulated during the Biden administration. While not surprising, this demonstrates that federal agencies will not serve as partners to the sector on equity and inclusion work going forward.

The January 27 memo from the Office of Management and Budget, ordering a pause for all federal grant programs, sent shockwaves through the charitable sector. While OMB rescinded the memo on January 29, the agency has also been placed under multiple restraining orders while courts consider the memo’s legality.

A National Council of Nonprofits analysis of these moves found that “[n]onprofits partnering with federal government agencies or receiving federal funding, especially through government grants and contracts, may experience longer wait times and slower processing, loss of points of contacts or difficulty reaching them, and increased strain on relationships,” and that nonprofits “will no longer have direct White House connections through the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.”

Nonprofit organizations working with immigrant, refugee and LGBTQ+ communities may also be under additional strain due to other executive orders affecting those groups.

The Alliance for Justice has published a guide for foundations and other nonprofits on responding to these executive orders and others. The list includes:

• Publicly criticizing actions that run counter to your organization’s values. Since President Trump and his appointees are not candidates for public office, this does not violate rules on nonprofit advocacy.
• Reach out directly to administration officials to tell them how these actions affect your work and the communities you support.
• Directing funding toward organizations that are under added strain or experiencing gaps in funding, as well as organizations that engage in advocacy themselves.

The opening days of the second Trump administration have seen a flurry of actions that could have lasting effects on your work, your nonprofit partners, and the issues you focus on in your communities.

Executive orders and directives from other agencies, such as a recently announced freeze on federal grant programs (since rescinded) are being issued at a rapid pace – and many are being challenged in court just as quickly, making it unclear where things stand at any given moment. Meanwhile, Congress is also working on legislation for this year, including tax reform, that stands to have a significant impact on our sector.

To help you keep up with the latest news, we will be releasing updates on public policy on a more frequent basis going forward, as well as more frequent Policy Alerts. These messages will also be posted on our blog, Engage. If you don’t already receive our Public Policy Update or alerts and would like to, please contact Stephen Sherman at stephen@philanthropysoutheast.org.

We will also include more articles on the latest policy developments affecting the charitable sector in our weekly newsletter, Connect.

If you’re concerned about the effect of public policy on your work, we hope you join us in Washington next month for Foundations on the Hill, your best chance this year to make the case for a strong charitable sector directly to lawmakers and key staff members.

As news develops, we will be updating this blog post with links to resources and other items provided by Philanthropy Southeast and other organizations in the charitable sector. If you know of a helpful item that isn’t listed here, please let us know by contacting David Miller at david@philanthropysoutheast.org.

Resources & Other Links:

• National Council of Nonprofits: Executive Orders Affecting Charitable Nonprofits
• Philanthropy Southeast: Public Policy Update for January 21, 2025

Philanthropy Southeast regularly provides members with updates on the latest public policy developments in Washington and state capitols around the region, analyzing their possible impact on the charitable sector. If you would like to see an issue featured in a future Public Policy Update, contact Jaci Bertrand at jaci@philanthropysoutheast.org.

Philanthropy Needs You at Foundations on the Hill

Major tax legislation is high on the agenda of both leaders in Congress and the White House this year, creating an opportunity for policies that strengthen philanthropy – but also the threat of laws that weaken our ability to support communities and people in need.

Lawmakers need to know about the great work philanthropy does throughout our region – and how policy can help or harm our sector. That’s why we need you at next month’s Foundations on the Hill.

Foundations on the Hill, taking place February 23-26, will bring dozens of philanthropic leaders to Washington, D.C., to meet with lawmakers and key staff and advocate for policies that strengthen your ability to make an impact.

Learn why you belong at FOTH: View the recording of our recent webinar, Why You Belong at Foundations on the Hill, to learn why it’s important to connect with lawmakers and how Philanthropy Southeast will support you before, during and after your time in Washington.

New to policy and advocacy? Foundations on the Hill includes optional programming from our partners at the United Philanthropy Forum to help you learn about issues relevant to our field, along with tips and strategies for effective meetings and other outreach to policymakers.

Finally, if you’re already planning on attending FOTH, make sure you’re signed up for our February 5 webinar, What You Need to Know at FOTH 2025, where we’ll review this year’s key messages and discuss how to get the most out of your time in Washington.

The Winter 2024 issue of our quarterly magazine, Inspiration, was published over the holiday break and is now available online to all Philanthropy Southeast members.

This issue includes a recap of the 55th Annual Meeting in Nashville, as well as a look at some of the new types of members who have joined Philanthropy Southeast in recent years, reflecting our embrace of a “big tent” that welcomes many types of organizations and approaches to philanthropy.

The issue also includes profiles of new members of the Philanthropy Southeast Board of Trustees and a letter from President & CEO Dena Chadwick.

Print copies of Inspiration are mailed to senior staff at Philanthropy Southeast member organizations, as well as Hull Fellows alumni. All members can access this issue, and previous issues, through the archive on our website.

If you have a story idea for a future issue of Inspiration, please contact David Miller, vice president of strategic communications, at david@philanthropysoutheast.org.

Philanthropy Southeast’s online Research Library is regularly updated with the latest reports relevant to Southern philanthropy. Members can browse over 700 research reports, websites, case studies, and other resources we have cultivated to help funders stay abreast of trends in the field and learn about emerging best practices in philanthropy. 

Below are some of the key findings and highlights of the newest additions to the Research Library. If you would like to suggest a resource or have other feedback, contact Stephen Sherman, Philanthropy Southeast’s Director of Research and Data, at stephen@philanthropysoutheast.org or (404) 524-0911.

The Giving Environment: Giving During Times of Uncertainty: Data on U.S. Household Giving in 2020
IUPUI Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (2024)
To examine recent giving trends, the authors analyzed longitudinal data from the Philanthropy Panel Study (PPS), a biannual survey of household giving behaviors, to compare pre-pandemic periods to the pivotal first year (2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report quantifies shifts in overall giving rates and average giving amounts while also identifying key drivers of altered giving behavior. This research also uncovers how pandemic factors – such as social distancing mandates, economic loss, and COVID-19 related morbidity/mortality – affected giving patterns. Data showed that giving rates declined from 50 percent in 2018 to 46.9 percent in 2020, following the onset of the pandemic. Those households that continued to give, however, did so in increased amounts. Additionally, giving rates during the pandemic declined more significantly among individuals who were frequent donors before the pandemic compared to those who gave less often.

The New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans turned a scene of joy and revelry into one of terror and sadness. We mourn for all of those who lost their lives, their families, and for the entire community as it processes last week’s events, even as it comes together to support those whose lives have been forever altered.

Several Philanthropy Southeast members in New Orleans have taken direct action to support their community during this time. The Greater New Orleans Foundation has launched the New Orleans New Year’s Day Tragedy Fund, which will serve as a resource to provide assistance to the families of those whose lives were taken and those seriously injured or impacted by the tragedy. You can donate to the fund here:
 

Baptist Community Ministries has partnered with the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary to offer free counseling services to those impacted by the attack. This includes direct victims, their families, first responders and other community members otherwise affected. The Methodist Health System Foundation, another Philanthropy Southeast member, has made emergency donations to the Blood Center and the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation.

If you know of other ways for people to support New Orleans, or wish to share actions your organization has taken in response, please contact David Miller at david@philanthropysoutheast.org.

Planning is now underway for the 2025 Annual Meeting, taking place November 12-14 in New Orleans. As we begin to build out our agenda, we want to hear from Philanthropy Southeast members about which topics we should explore in our breakout sessions.

Our full agenda will include sessions focused on these four areas:

• Best & Next Practice – These topics are designed to make organizations more effective and impactful in their giving (e.g., evaluation, collaboration, diligence, reporting).

• Giving Strategies & Priorities – These topics typically focus on community issues, initiatives or programming that reflect giving priorities (e.g., education, health care).

• Governance & Leadership – These topics focus on internal operations and strategies for effective leadership and management (e.g., compliance, investments, governance, communications, staff and trustee development, recruitment and retention).

• Communities & Ecosystems – These topics focus on broad issues facing Southern communities, philanthropy, the charitable sector or society generally (e.g., demographics, public policy, next generation issues, diversity/equity, nonprofit capacity). 

In addition to topics, this survey will also allow you to submit ideas for keynote and plenary speakers for this year’s meeting – we’re excited to hear your ideas!

If a topic you submit is selected, we may ask you to serve on our Annual Meeting Session Design Team to develop your idea further, recruit speakers and work with the Philanthropy Southeast staff on session logistics.

The survey will allow you to submit up to three topics. If you have more than three topics, please send your submission to Quincy Kelly at quincy@philanthropysoutheast.org. Submissions are due by December 31!

Each year, Philanthropy Southeast partners with the Council on Foundations (COF) to produce salary benchmarking reports for foundation staff and CEOs in the Southeast. These reports include the average, median, minimum and maximum salaries for a range of 38 staff positions at all levels in foundations based in the 11 Southeast states and U.S. Caribbean territories. Salary tables are organized by both grantmaker type and asset size to provide quick access to benchmarking data for foundations of all shapes and sizes.

Salary information for 2024 is drawn from data on more than 11,000 full-time paid staff at more than 1,000 grantmaking organizations. The South region accounted for approximately 27 percent of all respondents, with 278 organizations participating from across the region. We wish to thank each of our Philanthropy Southeast member organizations that responded to the 2024 Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey earlier this year, providing the valuable benchmarking data that informs these reports.

The 2024 salary tables for Southeast foundations are available exclusively to Philanthropy Southeast members under the For Members section of our web site – or you can click this link to access them directly (login required).