#2. The Nonprofit Sector Under Threat: How Martha Schumacher is Fighting for Civil Society, Free Speech, and the Future of Giving

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In this urgent and inspiring episode, nonprofit leader and fundraising powerhouse Martha Schumacher joins AmickyCarol to sound the alarm about the rapid dismantling of America’s nonprofit infrastructure—just 90 days into a new administration. From wolf restoration in Yellowstone to securing $21 million for affordable housing in DC, Martha shares her lifelong commitment to equity, justice, and building resilient communities.

But today, she warns of unprecedented threats to civil society: the shuttering of USAID, the mass loss of nonprofit jobs, and the potential revocation of tax-exempt status for institutions like Harvard and environmental charities.

🔹 Grew up in Ann Arbor with a family rooted in civil rights and social justice
🔹 Early fundraising roles with Greenpeace and Defenders of Wildlife
🔹 Helped restore wolves to Yellowstone National Park as a conservation milestone
🔹 Recently led a $21M campaign to double affordable housing units in the DC region
🔹 Raises the alarm over 10,000 nonprofit job losses and defunding of key agencies like USAID
🔹 Highlights the erosion of democracy and free speech through targeted attacks on nonprofits
🔹 Reflects on the dangers of international aid dependency and calls for sustainable development
🔹 Emphasizes the urgent need for unrestricted, trust-based giving—like that led by MacKenzie Scott

“Injustice anywhere represents the potential for injustice everywhere.”

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