Over the past year, many nonprofit leaders have been navigating a shifting landscape. The current Presidential administration’s stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) has not only changed the national conversation, it has had very real, practical consequences for organizations working to expand opportunity.

At Elevate+, we exist because opportunity is not evenly distributed. Our work is simple in concept: provide underserved students with access to paid internships, mentorship, and professional development so they can compete on a more level playing field.

That work has not changed. But the environment around it has.

A Changing Funding Landscape

Elevate+ does not receive federal funding. On the surface, that might suggest we are insulated from policy changes. In reality, the opposite has been true.

As federal funding to many nonprofits has been reduced or redirected, organizations across the country have turned more heavily to private philanthropy to sustain their work. Foundations and donors, facing increased demand, are being asked to do more with the same or fewer resources.

The result is increased competition for funding.

We felt that shift in 2025. We secured fewer grants than in prior years, and those we did receive were often at lower levels. At the same time, individual giving declined. Taken together, our funding was down by more than 20 percent.

For an organization like Elevate+, that impact is not abstract. A significant portion of what we raise in one year funds intern wages for the following summer. A decline in 2025 directly increases pressure on our 2026 program and limits how many students we can support.

This is not unique to us. Across the nonprofit sector, many organizations are facing similar constraints, even as the need for their services grows.

The Quiet Impact on Student Access

Another effect has been less visible, but equally significant.

Recent pressure on universities, particularly in some states, has led to the scaling back or elimination of programs that support underserved students, including those focused on BIPOC and other marginalized populations.

For Elevate+, these programs have often served as critical bridges. They connect us to students who might otherwise never hear about our internships. They provide trusted relationships and on-campus champions who encourage students to apply.

When those programs disappear, the pipeline breaks.

In one city where we have operated successfully in the past, two university partners eliminated support structures that had previously helped us reach students. The impact was immediate. In 2026, we were able to fill only 2 of 10 available internship positions. Not because the need disappeared, and not because the students were not there, but because we no longer had an effective way to reach them.

That is the quiet consequence of this moment. Opportunity does not just shrink. It becomes harder to access, especially for those who already face barriers.

A Broader Sector Challenge

The nonprofit community is resilient. It always has been. But resilience does not mean immunity.

When funding tightens and access points close, organizations are forced to make difficult choices. Fewer programs. Fewer participants. Slower growth. In some cases, pulling back from communities that need support the most.

At the same time, the underlying issues these organizations address have not gone away. If anything, they have become more urgent.

This creates a widening gap between need and capacity.

Staying Grounded in the Mission

At Elevate+, our response is to stay focused on what we know works.

Paid internships change trajectories. They provide not just income, but experience, confidence, and access to professional networks. They help students move from potential to opportunity.

We have seen it time and time again.

That belief is unchanged. But sustaining and scaling that impact requires collective effort, especially in a climate where the systems that once supported access are under strain.

How You Can Help

Moments like this are not just about policy. They are about participation.

You can make a difference by:

• Championing equitable access to opportunity within your own organization or community
• Supporting nonprofits that are working directly with underserved populations
• Serving as a mentor, opening doors, or simply helping to spread awareness
• Advocating for programs and partnerships that expand access rather than restrict it

If you believe, as we do, that talent is equally distributed but opportunity is not, then this is the moment to act on that belief.



Organizations like Elevate+ are working every day to level the playing field. With your support, we can continue to do so, even in a more challenging environment.