Samwise Nonprofits and Charities Newsletter
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
As Federal Funding Pressure Grows, Major-Gift Fundraising Becomes a Lifeline for Nonprofits
San Francisco public media station KQED has grown its major-gifts team from one fundraiser to seven since before the pandemic, generating roughly $18 million annually—up from $6 million—as federal support collapses. The station lost approximately $8 million in Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding after Congress gutted the CPB, forcing a hard pivot to individual major donors. The shift reflects a broader sector reckoning: household charitable participation has fallen from about 66 percent to 50 percent of U.S. households since 2000. Major-gift operations, once a supplement, are increasingly the financial bedrock for mission-driven organizations navigating deep federal cuts.
Read more → The Chronicle of PhilanthropyThree Massachusetts Human-Service Nonprofits to Cut 200 Jobs Amid Federal Funding Reductions
Three Massachusetts human-service organizations are cutting approximately 200 positions by June 30 following reductions in federal funds for care management. Community Counseling of Bristol County is eliminating 52 positions, Community Healthlink is cutting 78, and Innovative Care Partners is shedding 70. The layoffs follow the removal of a state mandate requiring Accountable Care Organizations to contract with care coordination nonprofits, a move tied to MassHealth budget pressures and federal Medicaid policy shifts. Innovative Care Partners warned the reductions will disrupt care coordination for roughly 3,500 clients. Sector advocates say the losses underscore the fragility of human-services funding in the current federal environment.
Read more → Boston.comNew BBB Report Finds Donor Openness Near Nine-Year High, But Deep Trust Gap Remains
BBB’s Give.org released its 2026 Donor Trust Report on May 5, finding that 42.1 percent of U.S. adults say they are open to being approached by charities—one of the highest levels observed in nine years. However, the research reveals a persistent trust deficit: 67.7 percent of respondents say trusting a charity is essential before donating, yet only 18.3 percent report high trust in the organizations they encounter. Gen Z shows the strongest giving intent, with 63 percent saying they would give more if approached. The report signals both opportunity and urgency for nonprofits investing in transparency and donor engagement strategies.
Read more → BBB’s Give.orgFederal SPLC Indictment Breaks With Legal Norms and May Lack Criminal Evidence, Analysts Say
The Trump administration’s April 21 indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center on 11 counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering is drawing sharp criticism from legal experts and civil rights groups. Former federal prosecutors and legal analysts argue the indictment may contain serious defects, including failure to articulate core elements of the alleged crimes. The SPLC, which does not accept government grants, allegedly funneled more than $3 million between 2014 and 2023 to paid informants inside extremist groups—a practice the organization says was known to federal law enforcement. The National Council of Nonprofits called the prosecution a direct attack on the sector.
Read more → Nonprofit QuarterlyCalifornia Academy of Sciences Union Workers Report to Jobs Despite Receiving Layoff Notices
Dozens of workers at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco have continued reporting for duty after receiving layoff notices, a move coordinated by their union, CalAcademy Workers United. The museum announced 53 layoffs—37 union and 16 non-union positions—as part of efforts to address a projected deficit exceeding $8 million this fiscal year, the third round of cuts in five years. Union president Teddy Vollman argues at least some of the layoffs violate terms of the recently signed labor contract and that a 60-day bargaining period must precede any cuts. Union leaders are calling for executive pay reductions instead, noting Executive Director Scott Sampson earned $885,000 last year.
Read more → Mission Local