2026 kicked off with thought leaders across the sector releasing a flurry of reports on the year’s predictions and trends, naming the forces actively reshaping our field: democratic fragility, escalating government overreach, rising political violence, cuts to federal funding, the erosion of DEI protections, the operational strain of donor-advised funds (DAFs), and unprecedented pressure on nonprofits to reorganize or merge. From funders to advocates, dozens of leaders’ perspectives rightly identified turbulence ahead. Yet among the various recommendations of drivers for change, something was missing from these reports: the naming of movement-rooted philanthropic intermediaries as a necessary part of future solutions.

That absence is neither intentional nor reflective of how intermediaries are expansively moving resources across the field, it spotlights a visibility gap that risks reinforcing the inequities that philanthropic investments aim to dismantle.

The Untapped Power of Movement-Rooted Philanthropic Intermediaries

Collaborative funds collectively move between $4 and $7 billion annually across more than 500 funds globally. A recent Philanthropy Together study found that these funds consistently rank in the top 15 percent of all funders nationwide for field impact, advancement of knowledge, and contributions to public policy—and in the top 10 percent for understanding the populations served and the political and socioeconomic conditions shaping grantee work. And yet, that $4 to 7 billion in global investments represents a fraction of the estimated $103.5 billion in annual US foundation giving, demonstrating the need for greater investment in movement-rooted philanthropic intermediaries.

Our sector has developed a shared understanding that community-driven solutions are key to advancing equity. As former Ford Foundation President Darren Walker has noted: “As we continue to address the major challenges of this moment—be it inequality, climate change, or the refugee crisis—we need to get out of our comfort zones, listen to communities, and develop unlikely, unconventional partnerships. We need to tap into relationships and resources that we don’t normally consider.”

And community-rooted intermediaries, grounded in the social movements they serve, are a powerful vehicle for ensuring that community voices guide decisions. The infrastructure for movement-rooted philanthropic intermediaries is proven. The rationale is clear. Yet the investment is not proportionate.

Read the full article about movement-rooted philanthropic intermediaries by alvin starks and Helen Wong at Nonprofit Quarterly.