In the past several months, federal funding priorities have drastically shifted away from international charitable causes. Charities have had to cut important services like health care for mothers and newborns, support for refugees, and disaster response, impacting millions in need across the globe. A recent survey of our Charity Alliance members found that around 85% are facing funding cuts. We also found:

If you are someone that is worried about the effects of the funding cuts and is looking to support international charities and those they help, continue reading to learn how the landscape has changed and what you can do to support these important causes.

Why charities need your support now more than ever
Losing funding not only cuts life-saving programs but also affects staffing and the charities’ ability to carry out services. While our surveyed organizations attempt to diversify their funding and adapt their priorities, 47% of them are experiencing layoffs. With the loss of USAID funded positions and governmentally funded contracts, having less staff in addition to funding cuts limits the number of people in need they can reach.

At the same time, the needs of their partners are only getting bigger. Several charities expressed that even if they haven’t been directly affected by federal funding cuts, their partners have. To fill the gaps created by these cuts, their partners are turning to them for help, both financially and administratively. Charities respond with grants when they are able, and work to strengthen their partners’ abilities to seek more funding on their own.

With less staff and more need, charities are stretched thin as they navigate this new landscape and find a way to balance those relying on them. Hear directly from our partners:

“We’ve already had to halt 13 projects across 12 country offices, impacting $38 million in grant funding with $19.5 million in unspent funds frozen for programs that provided education for girls, protection from violence, and economic opportunities for families. Girls are especially vulnerable in contexts of hunger, conflict, and crisis.”

“We know that private support can’t replace U.S. government funding, but even small donations can make a real impact to carry forward crucial and strategic programming efforts. Employee donations provide flexibility to prioritize investments toward the most crucial underfunded activities.”

“In many of the countries where we work, we focus on equipping farmers and fostering economic self-reliance. But we can’t begin with farming techniques or small business training when AIDS is once again tightening its grip and access to treatment is slipping away. When a mother can’t get the medicine she needs, her children leave school to care for her. When a father falls ill, the family loses both income and stability. The whole foundation begins to crack. Before we can talk about economic resilience or community development, we have to make sure people can survive. This reality will completely reshape our work.”

“Overnight, we lost 30% of our budget. We had to tell over 100 partner organizations —LGBTIQ groups on the frontlines of crisis — that the funding they were counting on would never arrive. The total loss from U.S. funding alone represents $11 million between now and 2027. Unfortunately, other governments are also stepping back, along with some foundation and corporate funders. We estimate that 30-40% of the total funding for the entire global LGBTIQ movement has been lost, creating an existential crisis for LGBTIQ groups and communities across the globe.”

Charities are responding to these cuts by sharing how funding gaps are impacting their organization, launching calls to action, and developing new cases for support.

How to donate to charities in need:
Donate today through your workplace giving program. You can learn more about your workplace’s program and the causes you can support through it on our Give at Work page.

You can also support impacted charities through their special fundraising requests, launched to meet the moment. Here are some from our partners:

Learn more:
Passionate about workplace giving and international charities, and want to learn how to update your campaign for this year? Check out our behind the scenes look into the State of Workplace Giving.

Resources from our charities: