Samwise Nonprofits and Charities Newsletter
Thursday, July 23, 2026
56% of Americans Highly Trust Nonprofits, Far Outpacing Corporations and Government
A new national survey from Independent Sector finds that 56 percent of Americans highly trust nonprofits — the highest rating among major institutions measured. By contrast, only 31 percent highly trust corporations and just 28 percent trust government. The seventh annual study, conducted by Edelman Data & Intelligence with a nationally representative sample of 3,000 respondents, arrives at a moment of deepened public skepticism about institutions broadly. Independent Sector frames the finding as a call to action: nonprofit leaders are urged to lean into that trust by deepening community engagement and maintaining transparent operations. The report notes that trust is fragile and must be earned continuously — but the sector’s standing represents a meaningful advantage heading into a period of increased public scrutiny.
Sources: Independent Sector Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
House Passes Defense Bill Embedding Proof-of-Citizenship Voter Registration Rule That Threatens Nonprofit Civic Programs
In a 216-to-212 vote, the House approved the National Defense Authorization Act with the SAVE America Act attached — a provision requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration. The measure would upend third-party voter registration drives conducted by nonprofits and advocacy organizations nationwide, as groups conducting outreach would be unable to accept applications from registrants without verified documentation. The $1.15 trillion defense package now goes to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Voting rights advocates and nonprofit civic engagement organizations are warning that the requirement would disproportionately disenfranchise low-income, elderly, and immigrant community members that many nonprofits serve — and could force organizations to shutter programs that have run for decades.
As America Turns 250, a Civic Innovator Says Nonprofits Must Build Listening Infrastructure, Not Just Celebrate
With the United States approaching its 250th anniversary, civic leaders are questioning whether commemoration is enough. Wei Soo — co-founder of Global Citizen and now the force behind The Stories of Us — argues that America needs organized listening infrastructure, not just celebration. Writing in Nonprofit Quarterly, Soo outlines three pillars: helping people feel seen, heard, and understood. The Stories of Us is already deploying “listening capacity” through partnerships with AARP Michigan, the Detroit Public Library, Girl Scouts, and United Way affiliates. Soo frames narrative intelligence as a practical tool nonprofits can use to rebuild civic bonds at a moment of deep national polarization — and calls the sector to lead where institutions have failed.
Sources: Nonprofit Quarterly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
‘No More 24’: NYC Home Care Workers Demand End to Mandatory All-Day Shifts Amid Stalled City Legislation
A decade-long labor campaign is intensifying in New York City, where home care aides — predominantly immigrant women of color — are fighting to abolish mandatory 24-hour work shifts. Intro. 303-2026, which would ban the practice, has stalled in committee, with both Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani signaling opposition. Workers have staged sit-ins and hunger strikes at government offices. The United Nations Working Group on Business and Human Rights has flagged the 24-hour shift requirement as displaying indicators of forced labor, adding international pressure to the local fight. Nonprofit home care agencies — which employ most affected workers — now face growing calls to move beyond neutrality and actively champion the campaign alongside the workers they depend on.
Sources: Nonprofit Quarterly Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
WilmerHale Probe Finds Gates Foundation Leaders Met Epstein Approximately 30 Times After His Conviction — Drawing Governance Lessons for All Charities
A five-month investigation conducted by law firm WilmerHale found that senior Gates Foundation figures met with Jeffrey Epstein approximately 30 times over a three-year period, all occurring after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea on solicitation charges. Foundation employees raised concerns about the relationship and were disregarded; the board was found to have exercised insufficient oversight. The findings, released Tuesday, prompted Warren Buffett to formally end his philanthropic relationship with the Gates Foundation, where he had pledged to direct the bulk of his fortune. The Chronicle of Philanthropy examines what the report reveals about reputational risk management, board responsibility, and the governance structures every nonprofit — large or small — needs to protect its mission and credibility.
Sources: Chronicle of Philanthropy Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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