The onslaught of executive orders; revenue and funding freezes; and investigations against universities, law firms, and businesses demonstrate a pattern of attacks foundations may see next: attacking individual institutions to silence a sector and forcing concessions that seek to limit our freedoms.

It does not have to be this way.

We’ve seen this before in American history and across the globe. Weaponized oversight. Intimidation dressed up as transparency. It is not new. But our response must be.

We in the philanthropic community must not wait like sitting ducks. We must prepare and unite to defend our freedom to support the millions of people who rely on charitable foundations to build stronger, healthier communities and opportunities for all.