Trump 2.0 and US Philanthropy: Reflections and Actions for Canadian Philanthropic Foundations

24 March 2025  – Michele Fugiel Gartner, Lead Researcher, Philanthropic Foundations Canada Adjunct Research Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration Carleton University

Abstract 

Philanthropy is more than money—it is an expression of values, relationships, and responsibilities. As the US navigates the return of Donald Trump’s presidency, the philanthropic landscape faces profound uncertainty and transformation. This briefing uses a social sector and civil society lens to understand the impact of rapid policy shifts, exploring the implications of executive orders, budgetary priorities, and the devolution of social policy to state control. The research captures a sector caught between urgency and uncertainty, drawing on emerging insights from US philanthropic leaders to reveal a field in flux—where hesitation meets quiet adaptation, where funders scramble to make sense of shifting realities, and where nonprofits are forced into survival mode, reconfiguring their operations in the face of new political and financial risks. 

Canadian philanthropic leaders, this is not a distant concern but one requiring both reflection and action. The final section of the briefing outlines clear steps for leaders to define their role in civil society, use data to guide decisions, provide a continuum of support, and openly share philanthropy’s impact. At its core, this briefing calls for moral citizenship of care – a reminder that in moments like these, philanthropy must decide whether to retreat, adapt, or rise to meet the moment.