Standing Together to Protect Philanthropy’s Freedom to Give

______________________________________________________________________________________ A Message from the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative

Dear ECFC Community,

Philanthropy must remain free to act on its values—especially in moments of challenge.

The members of the Early Childhood Funders Collaborative (ECFC) range from large national foundations to smaller foundations deeply rooted in their communities. Together, we work in big cities and rural counties on issues spanning health care, education, family support, and economic mobility. We are united by our commitment to the holistic well-being of young children and their families.

We are also united by our belief that philanthropy’s freedom to give in accordance with our values, grounded in our First Amendment rights, is essential to this work.

That’s why ECFC has joined a public call to defend philanthropic independence. Led by Tonya Allen of the McKnight Foundation, John Palfrey of the MacArthur Foundation, and Deepak Bhargava of the Freedom Together Foundation, this call to action reminds us: silence isolates; solidarity shields.

This moment is bigger than any one organization. Millions of children and families rely on the nonprofits that foundations support. ECFC proudly joins this effort—and we are committed to creating space for our members to lead with courage and clarity. If foundations are silenced or sidelined, communities lose critical resources.

Navigating Urgency with Clarity and Community

We’re here to help our members stay informed and engaged. Our Spring 2025 Member Meeting will bring our community together in Alexandria, Virginia for dialogue on the policy landscape for young children and families, and how early childhood funders can meet this moment with bold leadership. As part of our virtual programming, we recently co-hosted on key issues including budget and tax policy for children and families, supporting children in immigrant families, and examining recent federal education policy under the Trump Administration through a civil rights lens.

We’ve also launched policy updates with timely insights to help members track emerging threats and opportunities. Our new Member Statements page highlights how ECFC members are speaking up—issuing statements that defend philanthropic freedom, uphold core values, and elevate the voices of the communities at the heart of our work.

From October 7 to 10, ECFC will host an immersive Fall 2025 Member Meeting and learning tour in Montgomery, Alabama. Together, we’ll examine our nation’s history of racial injustice, explore the legacy of civil rights leadership and community power across the South, and reflect on how these truths shape today’s work in early childhood, policy, and systems change.

We invite you to read the full Statement From Philanthropy. Add your voice and speak up—for your foundation, your grantees, and the freedom to give in pursuit of a more equitable and just future for children.

In solidarity,

Shannon L. Rudisill
Executive Director
Early Childhood Funders Collaborative