In a period of backlash and systemic destruction, grantmaking and nonprofit organizations are feeling the pressure to walk away from their commitments to race-explicit grantmaking and programming. They’re facing potential legal threats and a hostile environment that may paralyze them into inaction without considering the ways they can continue courageously working to bring about transformational change. These organizations want to act boldly but may lack the alignment and tools to balance organizational values, legal concerns, security threats, and reputational risks. For foundation trustees, this moment carries particular significance. Trustees have a fiduciary and stewardship responsibility in helping their institutions distinguish between real and perceived risks, uphold mission and values, and ensure that legal uncertainty or political pressure does not unnecessarily impact a foundation’s commitment to advancing racial equity in the communities they support.

In June 2025, the Racial Equity Advancement and Defense Initiative (READI), a partnership led by ABFE, in partnership with AAPIP, HIP, and NAP to promote, expand, and defend race-explicit grantmaking and programming, released the first edition of the READI Legal Landscape Analysis. The Legal Landscape Analysis (LLA) is a living document designed to help foundation and nonprofit leaders distinguish between actual legal risks, perceived risks, and political pressure. As the READI Team prepares to write the next edition of the LLA, we need to know what challenges funders and practitioners are experiencing, and the resulting legal questions. Trustee perspectives are essential to this process, as trustees are often navigating questions of board alignment, legal counsel, public positioning, and the governance decisions that determine whether institutions retreat, remain steady, or act with clarity and courage.

Please join session facilitators, Dr. TJ Breeden, ABFE’s Director of Trustee Organizing, E. Bomani Johnson, ABFE’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives and lead staff for READI, and Daphnee Saget Woodley, Managing Attorney of Dedicated Work Solutions and READI Legal Advisor, and for an engaging learning and action-oriented discussion.