Philanthropy and Nonprofits: Current Challenges and Future Visions

Host Jared Asch interviews Deborah Levine, executive director of the Lesher Foundation, about changes affecting East Bay nonprofits and philanthropy. Levine explains the foundation’s 30+ year focus on Contra Costa arts and culture, education, and children and families, awarding 172 grants totaling about $6 million in 2025, and distinguishes philanthropy’s resourcing role from service-delivery nonprofits. She describes rising service demand alongside receding federal support, increased scrutiny and pressure to remove DEI language, and higher legal and operational risks. Citing a Center for Effective Philanthropy survey, she notes that 81% of nonprofits anticipate increased demand, 61% face a moderate to significant risk to their continued operations, and 70% report jeopardized access to basic needs. They discuss uncertain impacts of tax changes on giving, philanthropy’s risk calculations, lagging nonprofit adoption of AI and cybersecurity, staff burnout, and a call to champion nonprofits with donations, time, and expertise.