The opening actions of the second Trump administration should have come as little surprise to anyone working to improve the lives of others. The new administration made no secret of their desire to cut and curtail services that support marginalized people both in the United States and abroad, and they have been open about their ambivalence toward the law and established process, underscoring the need for the sector to effectively respond to nonprofit funding cuts.

In a change election, the candidate that represented change won. But as citizens and professionals, change doesn’t have to mean abandoning your values or the issues you care about most. You can look to the public uproar and temporary restraining order against the federal funding freeze as an example of how public pressure can work to halt or delay efforts to cut programs, and you can tap into shared values to build a bigger tent that unlocks long-term progress.

So how, exactly, can the social sector show up at this moment?

Own Your Successes

Own your work and your success. Intimidation only works if there is a weak link, if folks begin to fold and turn on each other or their ideas, or if you abandon the town square. Work to own the square instead—as Bloomberg Philanthropies has done by filling a critical funding gap and doubling down on their mission, or as Melinda French Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have done in speaking out about the impacts of cuts to aid. Corporations like JP Morgan Chase and Costco have also taken a firm public stance in support of their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, breaking down why an emphasis on respect and dignity for all employees is good for business. Advancing proactively during this time can open the door to holding onto ground firmly and with conviction, to prepare for the challenges ahead instead of hoping they won’t materialize.

Read the full article about responding to nonprofit funding cuts by Felix Schein at Stanford Social Innovation Review.