Funding Movements in Times of Crisis: Building Trust and Power Amid Adversity

In this episode of Let’s Imagine, host Bruce MacDonald speaks with Jess Tomlin, CEO of the Equality Fund, about reimagining how philanthropy can truly meet the urgency of our times.

From rising authoritarianism and economic instability to shrinking civic spaces, climate emergencies, and entrenched social injustices, nonprofits and human rights movements are navigating unprecedented challenges. Too often, traditional funding models fall short—delivering short-term, restrictive support when what movements need most is trust, flexibility, and long-term commitment.

The Equality Fund offers a bold alternative. As one of the world’s largest organizations advancing human rights and justice, it is reshaping philanthropy by channeling resources and decision-making power directly to the communities leading change on the ground. Central to this vision is a commitment to long-term funding cycles—spanning 10 years, and even aiming toward generational grant cycles—so that movements can build resilience, shift power, and create lasting impact.

For funders and nonprofit leaders alike, this episode is both a challenge and an invitation: to imagine a world where philanthropy doesn’t just respond to crisis, but actively builds the conditions for justice across generations.

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