Rusty Stahl: Defending Civil Society in a Time of Political Threats

In this continuing installment of the Brave Voices, Kristine Michie welcomes Rusty Stahl of Fund the People for a conversation that meets the moment. With the nonprofit sector facing historic pressure, Rusty brings both urgency and grounded hope as he unpacks what it takes to protect civil society and the people who hold it together. This episode offers clarity, action, and inspiration—a reminder that courage and community go hand in hand.

Key Takeaways:

• Rusty Stahl calls for SOS (Staff Operating Support) grants that prioritize nonprofit operating expenses, particularly workforce support.
• The inclusion of HR 9495 in a tax bill was a calculated threat to the nonprofit sector's First Amendment rights and 501(c)(3) status.
• Despite long-standing, widespread impact, the nonprofit sector is left out of public narratives—even though it has reliably delivered critical services on behalf of the government for centuries.
• Rusty emphasizes that the government relies on nonprofits for the social safety net and shouldn’t threaten their existence while outsourcing services to them.
• Fund the People promotes “Talent Justice” to ensure racial, economic, and generational equity in nonprofit career paths.
• Most foundation grants don't align with actual nonprofit cost structures, often underfunding essential staffing needs.
• Nonprofits and funders must use their legal rights to advocate or risk losing those rights entirely in the current climate.
• Fund the People has restructured much of its work, including 50% of its podcast content, to focus on “Defend Nonprofits, Defend Democracy,” providing biweekly action updates useful to those on the ground doing the work.

"If we don’t use our rights, we lose our rights." — Rusty Stahl

"[Nonprofits] impact all parts of our lives. But it's so embedded in our society that it's almost invisible, and we don't recognize that we have this amazing resource and asset in our society." — Rusty Stahl

"There’s no guarantee things are going to be better just because you torch them." — Rusty Stahl

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