“Funders should ask themselves “If we knew that in two years, there will be no more fair elections; any media that criticize the government get sued or disbanded and its journalists jailed; any organization accused of engaging in DEI is shuttered; protests are declared illegal and protestors and anyone who helps them get arrested; and we are branded a terrorism-funding foundation and our endowment gets seized, how would we act?”’

– Vu Le, “Thanks Foundations, but 6% or Even 10% Payout is Not Enough”, (Mar 4, 2025)

 

Over the past decade, the Hill-Snowdon Foundation (HSF) has consistently risen to meet historic challenges with courage and commitment. From standing against police brutality and anti-Black racism through the Making Black Lives Matter Initiative and Black Movement Infrastructure strategy, to doubling its grantmaking in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, HSF has demonstrated its dedication to justice and equity. In response to the Trump administration’s attacks on vulnerable communities, HSF helped create the Defending the Dream Fund and later launched the Democracy’s Promise Initiative to advance the vision of a multiracial democracy. These efforts, alongside our core support for grassroots organizing, have strengthened the foundation’s resolve to act boldly and consistently in defense of justice, fairness, and the promise of democracy.

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Today, as we face the dismantling of progressive policies and the rise of authoritarianism, philanthropy is at a crossroads. Many funders are retreating, silencing organizations that speak truth to power, while vulnerable communities face escalating threats. In this moment, HSF reaffirms our commitment to push forward with clarity and conviction. Over the first quarter of 2025, staff engaged deeply with partners and colleagues to shape a strategy anchored in three commitments: Protect by providing additional support to partners under threat; Block by defending targeted communities and populations; and Build by investing in long-term, proactive strategies aimed at securing lasting victories. When staff proposed committing an additional $1 million per year in grants from 2025–2028 to launch the Protect, Block & Build Fund, the Board responded with a resounding yes. This commitment increases HSF’s payout to 15 percent for the next four years, an unprecedented expansion of our grants budget to meet an unprecedented moment.

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Although we are announcing the Protect, Block & Build Initiative in September, we have been making grants under this framework since March 2025 and have already committed most of the $1.5 million designated for this year. We share this announcement at this moment to foster community and strategic alignment with other philanthropic allies who are ready to stand up in defense of a multiracial democracy and a vibrant civil society. These are among the most difficult times we have ever faced, and we must stand with targeted communities, stand together, and stand tall in support of our values, our mission, and the fair and just society we all deserve.

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​The past decade has shown that HSF can and will step up when times are difficult, and these are the most difficult times yet. The Protect, Block and Build Initiative and the SOS Fund together reflect our dual commitment to defending communities under attack and building the strategies, alliances, and solidarity needed to secure lasting victories. We stand tall in support of our values, mission, and the communities we serve, determined to help bend the moral arc of this country back toward justice.