Emergency Declaration

Read and sign on to support urgent, community-led action in San Diego.

We, the undersigned members of the San Diego Solidarity Network, declare a state of emergency.

Our democratic principles are under attack, the integrity of civil society is being undermined, and our communities—particularly those historically marginalized and excluded—are experiencing devastating losses due to hostile federal actions.

We declare this emergency to protect our democracy and restore vital community support. This is a call for urgent, coordinated action by those with power, resources, and influence. Our communities must be centered in all decisions and resourcing efforts.

CONTEXT

Federal funding freezes and policy rollbacks are causing widespread service disruptions across our region.

  • Recent reports, including Pulse on Policy by the Policy & Innovation Center and the University of San Diego Nonprofit Institute's March 2025 survey, confirm that federal funding freezes and policy rollbacks are causing widespread service disruptions across our region. Key findings (as of March 2025) include:

    • San Diego County’s 13,000+ nonprofits face disrupted operations in health, education, social services, and more.

    • Government-funded organizations in arts (43%), environment (34%), science (31%), and housing (24%) are especially vulnerable.

    • Nonprofits in Central (31%) and South Bay San Diego (20%) are disproportionately impacted.

    • 72% of nonprofit leaders report current or imminent harm from federal actions; as of February, 1 in 3 have already modified or ended services.

    • 56% of nonprofits depend on federal funds, and 40% report serious access disruptions.

    • Nearly 500 staff have been laid off or furloughed—primarily in organizations serving immigrant and refugee communities.

    • 58% have changed or anticipate ending programs due to funding instability.

    This is not only a funding issue—it is an existential threat to the civic infrastructure and public well-being of our region. San Diego's nonprofits represent a $28.1 billion economic force. They are vital to our collective health, equity, and democracy.

    • Clawbacks of funds for environmental justice, housing, arts, food access, research, and more

    • Attacks on DEI, immigrant rights, LGBTQIA+ protections, and other vital community efforts.

    • Intimidation and silencing of leaders and erosion of trust in public institutions.

    • Legal, operational, and strategic paralysis from uncertainty.

  • Yet San Diego is a region rich in resources:

    We have the capacity and the obligation to act.

URGENT ACTIONS BY STAKEHOLDER GROUPS

  • Community Members

    Speak out & organize your own community town halls, share your lived experience with your peers

    Strengthen mutual aid & community networks, support each other’s efforts

    Stay informed on how the loss of crucial services will impact the region

  • Nonprofits & Mutual Aid Groups

    Share resources, take collective action, & think beyond the benefits of a single organization, think for the whole ecosystem

    Proactively shift culture from competition to cooperation 

    Advocate for more effective & community-governed resource re-distribution efforts in our region

    Care for your teams, community, & yourselves

  • Philanthropic Partners

    Provide unrestricted, accelerated funding, increasing payouts. Take a look at some examples. 

    Fund the whole ecosystem including nonprofits, grassroots groups, mutual aid, & individuals

    Leverage influence to mobilize resources, advocate for, and co-create more effective & community-governed resource redistribution efforts 

    Make decisions with/alongside community members

  • Local and State Government Leaders

    Adopt policies to significantly increase funding for civil society sector & safety net programs

    Streamline contracting processes to enable resources to flow more easily to civil society sector   

    Protect impacted communities

    Incentivize public participation in decision-making

Sign the declaration

Join us. Sign on. Share. Mobilize. Questions? You can reach someone at ccfsdchapter@gmail.com.

CREDITS

Cited Works

Deitrick, L., Tinkler, T., Cardenas, B., Hurt, R., Manriques, N., & Nelson, T. (2025). Federal impacts on nonprofits: San Diego County survey of nonprofit leaders. San Diego, CA: The Nonprofit Institute, University of San Diego. https://thinkpic.org/pic-intel/pulse-on-policy-assessing-and-addressing-emerging-risks-facing-greater-san-diegos-nonprofits/

Le, V. (2025, April 22). Funders: Here’s the blueprint for saving democracy. Nonprofit AF. https://nonprofitaf.com/2025/04/funders-heres-the-blueprint-for-saving-democracy/

Inspirational Sources

Cause IQ. (n.d.). Private foundations in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area [Inspiration]. https://www.causeiq.com/directory/private-foundations-list/san-diego-chula-vista-carlsbad-ca-metro/?utm

Le, V. (2025, May). What the heck is the Overton Window and how can we use it to advance progressive goals? [Inspiration]. Nonprofit AF. https://nonprofitaf.com/2025/05/what-the-heck-is-the-overton-window-and-how-can-we-use-it-to-advance-progressive-goals/

Join us.

•

Sign on.

•

Share.

•

Mobilize.

•

Join us. • Sign on. • Share. • Mobilize. •