How are Nonprofits *Really* Doing? Find out in AFG’s New Report
The 2024 election and ongoing executive actions have shaken the ground beneath girls, gender-expansive youth, and the communities that care for them. From sudden funding cuts to shifting political winds, our youth are navigating more uncertainty than ever — and so are the organizations that serve them.
But one thing is clear: our community continues to rise to meet the moment. Organizations remain on the frontlines, providing critical services and programs that are urgently needed by girls and gender-expansive youth, particularly youth of color.
With 120+ member organizations collectively serving over 300,000 girls and gender-expansive youth across the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, AFG recognized that our powerful ecosystem of care and support was under threat. In January, we launched a rapid response effort to better understand the political and funding impacts on organizations, strengthen community, and provide ongoing guidance and advocacy to ensure girls and gender-expansive youth are respected, valued, and safe.
Today, we’re proud to release our newest report: The Political Impact on Girl and Gender-Expansive Youth-Serving Organizations. Based on expert interviews and surveys with 63 frontline organizations across the Bay Area and LA County, this report reveals not just the challenges, but the power, resilience, and community-based solutions emerging across these communities.
Key Findings
Girl and gender-expansive youth-serving organizations are caught in a triple bind:
They are lifelines for their young people.
They face legal restrictions, making it hard for them to support their communities.
And they’re uncertain if they’ll have the funding to survive.
Additionally, the report reveals that:
91% of organizations are already seeing or expecting cuts to funding, and they expect to see more cuts in the coming months.
More than 8 in 10 organizations are prioritizing safety for their girls and gender-expansive youth.
Organizations are adapting quickly to meet the needs of their youth - especially when it comes to youth mental health and wellbeing.
Organizations are uplifting lessons learned from past major crises, noting that community partnerships and shared resources are essential during challenging times.
What's Next and How You Can Help
This moment demands more than awareness. It demands action.
The report ends with bold calls for action for:
Funders and donors to increase flexible, long-term investments in youth-serving organizations.
Youth-serving organizations to lean into shared learning and coordinated advocacy efforts.
All of us to stand firm and ensure every girl and gender-expansive youth is safe, seen, and supported.
This is more than building resilience — it’s about building a future our young people deserve.