June is National Pollinator Month, and there’s no better metaphor for the work happening across the charitable sector right now than cross-pollination. Just as bees move between flowers to keep entire ecosystems thriving, the charitable sector relies on connections between donors and communities, between Capitol Hill offices and the organizations they represent, and between bipartisan champions willing to work across the aisle on shared priorities.
Congress has had its share of buzz this year, from reconciliation to appropriations to oversight fights, but pollination doesn’t require fanfare to make a difference — it just requires persistence. This month, we’re tracking where that persistence is paying off, and where the charitable sector still needs more bees on the job.
Charitable Giving Reaches Record High — With an Asterisk
Charitable giving in the United States reached $617.2 billion in 2025, a record high in current dollars and a genuine milestone for the sector. The Giving USA Foundation released these findings on June 23 in Giving USA 2026: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2025, and the topline number is worth celebrating — Americans continue to give generously even in a turbulent year.
But the full picture deserves a closer look. The 2025 figures largely predate the tax changes enacted through last year’s budget reconciliation bill, most of which took effect in 2026. Independent Sector has raised serious concerns — backed by data — that those changes will reduce charitable giving in the years ahead. The record we’re celebrating today may be harder to match once those effects work their way into the numbers.
A Sweeping OMB Rule Could Reshape the Grant Landscape
On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget published a proposed rule that would substantially revise 2 C.F.R. Part 200, the government-wide framework known as the “Uniform Guidance” that governs federal grants, cooperative agreements, and other financial assistance. As our new Independent Sector colleague Tyler Hinkle writes in more detail, “Overall, these changes would make federal funding less transparent, more unpredictable, and susceptible to shifting political priorities from administration to administration.”
Adding to the unease, the timing coincides with the confirmation hearing for Hal Duncan, nominated to be OMB’s Deputy Director. At his June 16 hearing, Duncan declined to commit to opposing OMB’s unilateral cancellation of congressionally approved funding, aligning himself with the position that the administration holds inherent authority to impound funds Congress has already appropriated. For an office now proposing to centralize even more discretion over how grants are awarded and terminated, that signal matters.
Independent Sector encourages all impacted nonprofits to consider weighing in before the comment period on this rulemaking closes on July 13. You can submit a customizable comment via Independent Sector’s Action Center or write your own using National Council of Nonprofits’ comment guide.
House Judiciary Puts Southern Poverty Law Center in the Hot Seat
On June 9, Bryan Fair, SPLC’s Interim President and CEO, faced tough questioning from Republican lawmakers before the House Judiciary Committee over the organization’s former confidential informant program, a program the Department of Justice alleges was used to misuse donor funds by secretly paying operatives embedded in extremist groups including the KKK, Aryan Nations, and neo-Nazi organizations. The hearing, titled “The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II,” was chaired by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).
Fair repeatedly defended the program, telling lawmakers that SPLC shared intelligence gathered through its informants with local, state, and federal law enforcement to prevent racial violence, and that the DOJ itself was aware of and benefited from the program. Democrats on the committee pushed back throughout the hearing, characterizing the DOJ’s criminal case as politically motivated. SPLC’s lawyers have also filed a motion to dismiss the indictment in federal court in Alabama, arguing the charges constitute vindictive prosecution and amount to political retaliation for the organization’s decades of research on extremism.
For Independent Sector and the broader charitable sector, the stakes extend well beyond SPLC. Independent Sector President and CEO Dr. Akilah Watkins has continually expressed concern about the tone and nature of April’s indictment.
National Council of Nonprofits Fights for PSLF in Court
A federal court held oral arguments on June 3 in National Council of Nonprofits v. McMahon, the lawsuit challenging the Department of Education’s overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. NCN is joined by a coalition of cities, counties, and other plaintiffs representing more than six million public service workers in challenging the Department’s authority to disqualify government and nonprofit employers based on findings that they engage in activities with a “substantial illegal purpose.”
Independent Sector has been firmly opposed to these changes since they were proposed. We submitted formal comments opposing the rule last year and continue to support legislative efforts in the Senate and House to override it. The PSLF program has served public service workers across the political spectrum for nearly two decades, and we remain committed to keeping it predictable, fair, and free from political interference — regardless of which party controls the White House.
Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026 is Coming to Phoenix!
Early bird registration is still open for Independent Sector’s National Summit (ISNS) 2026, taking place October 13-16 in Phoenix. ISNS brings together nonprofit and philanthropic leaders from across the country for expert-led sessions designed to sharpen your skills, deepen your policy knowledge, and build the partnerships that move the sector forward. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your organization’s leadership, expand your coalitions, or simply connect with peers who understand the work, ISNS is where those conversations happen. Register today and take advantage of the early bird rate, available through June 30.
Travis Swanson is the Government Relations Manager at Independent Sector
