Samwise Nonprofits and Charities Newsletter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Immigrant Support Networks Step Up as ICE Enforcement Rises
As federal immigration enforcement intensifies, a web of nonprofit organizations is mobilizing to protect vulnerable communities. Immigrant legal aid providers, emergency fund administrators, and community shelters report surging demand as fear spreads through neighborhoods with high immigrant populations. Nonprofits are filling gaps left by government, offering legal representation, rapid-response hotlines, and emergency financial relief. The work is increasingly dangerous, with organizations navigating complex legal boundaries to assist undocumented clients. Funders and advocates are calling for coordinated, sector-wide responses to sustain the surge. Nonprofit Quarterly reports that grassroots organizations are leading much of this effort, often on shoestring budgets.
Sources: Nonprofit Quarterly
GiveWell Commits $9.6 Million to Against Malaria Foundation for DRC Net Distribution
GiveWell has announced a $9.6 million grant to the Against Malaria Foundation to fund mosquito net distribution in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the largest single commitment in its April 2026 update. The grant reflects GiveWell’s rigorous, evidence-based approach to high-impact philanthropy, targeting one of the world’s deadliest preventable diseases. AMF will deploy nets across underserved DRC provinces where malaria mortality remains critically high. GiveWell’s monthly transparency updates continue to set a strong benchmark for accountability in effective giving, allowing donors to trace exactly how funds translate into lives saved.
Sources: GiveWell Blog
Candid Study Finds Bystander Effect Slows Funder Response to Nonprofit Crises
A new analysis from Candid examines why funders are slow to respond when nonprofits face acute crises — an organizational phenomenon the researchers compare to the classic bystander effect. When many funders observe the same crisis, each tends to assume others will act, creating collective inaction during moments of peak need. The report identifies sector-wide patterns in delayed response and recommends structural reforms including coordinated emergency funds, proactive crisis monitoring, and clearer accountability among funders. The findings arrive as many nonprofits navigate funding instability, offering a pointed critique of how philanthropic capital is deployed during emergencies.
Sources: Candid
Nonprofits Turn to Social Media Influencers to Expand Reach and Donor Acquisition
A growing number of nonprofits are partnering with social media influencers to reach audiences that traditional communications cannot. Through platforms like Maven, mission-driven organizations are connecting with creators who share their values and can authentically amplify impact stories to millions of followers. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports that while the approach carries risks — including message dilution and brand misalignment — organizations that vet influencer partners carefully are seeing significant gains in donor acquisition and awareness. The trend reflects a broader recognition that audience trust increasingly resides with individual creators rather than institutional voices.
Sources: Chronicle of Philanthropy
Moore and Microsoft Launch SimioAccelerate Agentic Fundraising Platform at AFP ICON
Moore and Microsoft have launched SimioAccelerate, an AI-powered fundraising platform announced at AFP ICON in San Diego. Built on Microsoft Azure, the platform uses Moore’s SimioCloud proprietary data foundation to give nonprofits enterprise-grade donor intelligence. AI agents orchestrate, automate, and execute fundraising workflows — connecting an organization’s first-party data with SimioCloud’s predictive models to surface high-potential donors and timing recommendations. Moore, a Microsoft Elevate Partner, says the free tier is available immediately, with premium subscriptions rolling out later this year. The launch signals a major move by data-driven agencies into the agentic AI fundraising space.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
AFP ICON Session Argues Donor Acquisition Must Shift from Volume to Insight-Driven Models
Donor acquisition is growing more complex as rising costs, privacy regulations, and crowded digital channels squeeze traditional strategies. Research presented at AFP ICON by Kimberley Blease of the Blakely agency shows that chasing volume — the longstanding default of acquisition programs — no longer drives sustainable revenue growth. New and prospective donors bring different motivations across five generations, demanding higher relevance and trust. Blease recommends shifting to an insight-driven model that prioritizes long-term donor value over short-term volume metrics. Organizations that adapt early will be better positioned to build loyal, resilient donor bases in a landscape of declining new file entries.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
AFP ICON Speaker Outlines Adaptive Communications Planning for Nonprofits in Volatile Times
Building a communications plan feels futile when the news cycle is relentless and every strategy seems to crumble on contact with reality. But according to Mindy Morgan Avitia of Mighty Citizen, presenting at AFP ICON, abandoning planning altogether is the wrong response. Plans remain essential — not as rigid scripts, but as frameworks for decision-making under pressure. Avitia outlines how nonprofits can build adaptive communications strategies that account for volatility while still setting direction. Her approach emphasizes scenario planning, modular messaging, and tight alignment between communications and mission — tools that let organizations respond swiftly without losing coherence.
Sources: The NonProfit Times
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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