The “One Big Beautiful Bill” Leaves Our Kids Behind. We Can’t Stay Quiet.

Don’t let the name fool you. The Trump administration’s so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” delivers some of the ugliest consequences in public education policy in years. Chief among them – a sweeping consolidation of 18 federal K–12 programs and the elimination of the only federal funding stream dedicated to after-school and summer learning for millions of children: the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. 

If, like me, you’ve worked in communities that have been systematically underfunded for generations, you already know: these programs aren’t extras.They’re essential. 21st CCLC provides more than 1.4 million kids – most of them Black, Brown, immigrant, and low-income – with nourishment, academic support, stability, and a safe place to be. The so-called Big Beautiful Bill would replace this with a watered-down block grant and slash overall funding by 69% .

When that funding disappears, there’s no soft landing. It means families scrambling, programs closing, and nonprofits getting stretched past their limits.

We know how this goes. The work doesn’t go away. It just becomes heavier, harder, and more invisible.

Nonprofits often face tough choices about how much to share with donors, especially when it comes to public funding. There’s a long-standing worry that if donors know the government helps fund a program, they might see their own support as less urgent or necessary. That fear is understandable.

But in moments like this, transparency isn’t just important…it’s a strategy. Being honest about public funding cuts isn’t a liability; it’s a powerful way to deepen trust, clarify stakes, and invite donors into real partnership.

Donors Can Handle the Truth. And They Deserve It.

Here’s the truth: this isn’t just a funding cut – it’s a crisis of justice and equity. And if we don’t name it, we become complicit in letting the most predictable injustice play out again: communities of color losing vital supports while philanthropic language stays polite and sanitized.

It’s time for a different approach – one that doesn’t just raise money, but builds awareness, political clarity, and long-term commitment.

What We Can Do

Tell the Whole Story. If your program is impacted by public funding cuts, say so. Donors who care about justice want to understand the full context, and they’re more likely to stay engaged when they know what’s truly at stake.

Connect Public and Private Dollars. Philanthropic funding doesn’t replace public investment; it should complement and strengthen it. Help donors see how their giving sustains programs under threat and supports organizing to win those resources back.

Invite Donors Into Action. This is about more than donations. It’s about values. Offer your supporters ways to advocate, organize, and stay informed, not just write a check.

How English Hudson Can Help

At English Hudson, we believe fundraising is political and that the most effective donor strategies are those rooted in truth, not spin.

When federal programs like 21st CCLC come under attack, we help nonprofits do three things:
Tell the story. Build the bridge. Mobilize the support.

That looks like:

• Designing donor campaigns that don’t flinch from the facts, but use them to call in deeper giving.

• Equipping teams with language that shifts from scarcity to strategy.

• Creating bold messaging that names the racialized impacts of disinvestment.

• Supporting organizations to craft fundraising that educates, organizes, and sustains.
  
  

If you’re ready to tell the truth and raise the money anyway, we’re with you. Let’s goooo!