As President Trump’s executive order freezes $68 billion in foreign aid, nonprofits are racing to create emergency fundraising initiatives that prevent catastrophic program closures. Organizations like Unlock Aid and GlobalGiving have launched bridge funds to support HIV treatment networks, vaccination campaigns, and malnutrition response teams facing abrupt funding cuts.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s sudden suspension of USAID grants has left thousands of global health workers unemployed. ‘Philanthropy can’t replace public funding, but every dollar saves lives now,’ stressed GlobalGiving CEO Victoria Vrana. The State Department maintains the foreign aid freeze aims to ensure funds ‘serve U.S. interests and reach intended recipients’ according to an official statement.
We’re under no illusion this bridges the entire gap, but in crisis moments, action matters,said Unlock Aid’s Walter Kerr
Three critical developments dominate this unfolding story:
- Federal courts ordered USAID to resume payments by Thursday following nonprofit lawsuits
- Founders Pledge reports $100M+ shortfalls for previously funded poverty initiatives
- Cryptocurrency donations surge through platforms like Every.org as tech donors engage
The funding pause disproportionately impacts U.S.-based contractors, with mass layoffs at American development firms. While major foundations hesitate, grassroots campaigns like #HalfMyDAF have redirected $70M from donor-advised funds since 2020. Unlock Aid’s bridge fund leverages this infrastructure, accepting stock gifts and crypto alongside traditional donations.
With 251 billion currently parked in DAF accounts nationwide, advocates urge rapid deployment of idle funds. Emergency fundraisers face dual challenges: replacing immediate grants for malaria bed nets and refugee shelters while preparing for potential long-term aid reductions. As legal battles continue, nonprofits emphasize that even partial funding prevents ‘needless deaths from treatable conditions’ in the words of Founders Pledge CEO David Goldberg.