News & Insights

Across the country, organizations advancing equity, justice, sustainability, and care for vulnerable communities face mounting threats. From rising political hostility to abrupt funding cuts, many of our grantee partners are being forced to navigate not only institutional uncertainty but personal risks. Some are contending with challenges that strike at the very core of their missions —or their existence. The Lumpkin Family Foundation’s mission is to support people working together to build healthy, sustainable communities in East Central Illinois and across the United States. In this moment, we are holding true to that mission—and to our aspiration to be a force for resilience, equity, and long-term well-being in the communities we serve.

We have been listening closely to our grantees and remain committed to being attentive to the communities we all serve. In response to what we have heard, and as part of our
commitment to being a force for good, we have committed to:

Providing Additional Support: We recognize that some organizations, especially those serving rural and marginalized communities, are the backbone of the local support systems on which people depend. We cannot substitute for government support, but we will do what we can to help these critical institutions stay strong. Therefore, we are supplementing the general operating grants already committed to our core grantees across all programs. While the added support may not match the scale of the challenges ahead, it acknowledges both the rising costs and the emotional toll of navigating increasingly hostile policy environments. In the coming months, we will launch a new funding opportunity focused on strengthening leadership and organizational capacity. This effort is about making sure grantee leaders feel supported—personally, professionally, and organizationally.

Rallying Funder Support for Grantees: Together with peer funders, we have created the Illinois Food Movement Fund to support the personal wellbeing and professional growth of leaders in our key grantmaking areas. Many are facing sustained pressure and shifts that they – and their organizations—may not be fully equipped for. The Fund has already reached out to grantees who qualify and will provide a responsive and streamlined process for those organizations to reach several foundations at one time.

Listening: We will continue to have direct conversations with grantees to understand what they need most throughout this period of uncertainty. Their insights are shaping our decisions, and we are committed to staying in dialogue as conditions evolve.

These steps will not solve every challenge, but they reflect our commitment to show up with clarity, conviction, and care. We are inspired every day by the strength and creativity of our
grantees, and we are proud to stand with them as we meet this moment together.

(Photo: HEAL Food Alliance)