Across the country, women-led organizations are navigating one of the most challenging funding environments in years. Uncertainty is growing as nonprofits face public funding shortages, increased grant competition, and shifting corporate giving priorities.
For organizations that are already operating with limited resources, losing one grant can have immediate consequences – reduced staff, programs put on hold, services limited or cut. Some leaders face an urgent question: Can we even keep serving our communities?
At Mary’s Pence, we see the effects of this changing landscape firsthand. The number of organizations seeking our support has increased sharply, with organizations seeking our grants increasing by 85% over the last year.
“When we applied for Mary’s Pence funding last spring, our funding had just been dramatically and unexpectedly destabilized,” shares Annie Rosenkranz, Director of Loretto Justice Fellowship. Based in El Paso, Texas, the organization connects students with local social justice organizations, giving emerging leaders hands-on experience supporting immigrant communities at the U.S.-Mexico border. “In our grant application, we wrote: ‘Funding from Mary’s Pence would provide critical support in an uncertain time,” recalls Annie. “And the generous support from Mary’s Pence did just that.”
Mary’s Pence funding supported 16 Loretto Justice Fellows during the 2025–26 program year, their largest cohort to date. “Loretto Justice Fellows provided nearly 8,000 service hours to eight social justice partner organizations. Fellows supported legal and social services for people in the immigration justice system,” shares Annie.
Leslie Farrington, founder of Black Coalition for Safe Motherhood, says funding opportunities are shrinking while competition intensifies. “Federal funding cuts have affected many areas, including academic research, increasing the competition for grants that community organizations might otherwise pursue. At the same time, funding for diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice has dried up. For us, this is a major setback: we’re Black, we’re women, and we’re social justice-oriented. We haven’t received one single grant so far in 2026.”
Beth Gombos, Executive Director of Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis, echoes, “One of the biggest changes we’re experiencing is increased competition on both ends. More individuals are reaching out to us for financial assistance as economic pressures grow, while more organizations are competing for the same pool of philanthropic funding.
Building resilience through relationships
For Mary’s Pence, supporting grantees does not end when a grant is awarded. As organizations shift their priorities and navigate funding cuts, Mary’s Pence is working to remain available and responsive, creating open channels for communication. We bring grantees together through the annual Grantee Gathering and monthly Third Thursday grantee conversations, provide ongoing opportunities to check in, facilitate networking and partnership building, and share resources.
These opportunities to connect create valuable space to exchange ideas, and navigate challenges together, and ultimately give leaders a safe place to be in community with other women at a time when working for social justice can make you a target.
“Mary’s Pence support has been especially meaningful because flexible funding helps us meet the moment and direct resources where they are most needed. Having funders who trust grassroots organizations makes a real difference,” adds Beth.
The problem is bigger than any one funder
For decades, organizations focused on women and girls have received only a small share of philanthropic dollars. The gap is greater for organizations led by and serving queer women and women of color. These organizations often operate with few resources while addressing complex, systemic issues in their communities.
Mary’s Pence is proud to provide critical support and build relationships with organizations doing this work, but we cannot close this funding gap alone. We need more funders willing to invest in women’s organizations. We need donors who recognize the impact small organizations have in their communities. And we need community members willing to show up and support local groups.
Today, grassroots leaders are facing historic pressure as funding falters and uncertainty grows. More than ever, nonprofits are looking to each other — and to our communities — to build strength through partnership and solidarity.
How you can support small organizations
Individuals also play an important role in strengthening women-led organizations and grassroots movements. Here are a few ways you can support organizations in your own community:
- Find a local cause to support. Attend an event.
Look for grassroots organizations working on issues you care about. You may find them at community events, neighborhood gatherings, or online. Reach out, learn about their work, attend an event, or find out what they need. Showing up and building relationships can be especially meaningful for organizations that are just getting started.
- Connect with a Mary’s Pence grantee.
Mary’s Pence supports women-led organizations across the country. We can help you learn more about current grantee partners working in your area and find ways to connect with their work.
- Invest in Mary’s Pence.
Not sure where to start? Your gift to Mary’s Pence helps us continue directing resources to grassroots women’s organizations doing important social justice work in their communities. As new organizations come our way, your support helps us respond.
The challenges facing women-led and social justice organizations are significant. We need to do more, together.