Rebekah Barber

Durham, North Carolina

Staff Writer at Nonprofit Quarterly

Articles

As Immigration Enforcement Ramps Up, Elected Leaders Face Increased Threats

1 week ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In recent weeks, there have been at least three instances of elected officials being placed in handcuffs, arrested, or charged with felonies for trying to perform oversight duties as it relates to immigration enforcement in their jurisdictions. On May 9, the mayor of Newark, NJ, and New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka was arrested outside Delaney Hall, a privately owned facility that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses as a detention center.
Amid Job Corps Cuts, HBCU Leaders Are Stepping Up

2 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On May 29, the US Department of Labor announced a phased shutdown of Job Corps, the nation’s largest free residential education and job training program for young adults ages 16 to 24, which Congress created in 1964. The announcement called for the closure of approximately 100 Job Corps campuses across the country, which serve thousands of low-income youth, providing them with career pathways, GED preparation, and vocational training.
New Tariffs Will Likely Deepen Economic Burdens for Women of Color

2 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

Among the plethora of federal layoffs catalyzed by the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE’s) federal spending cuts, women and people of color have been disproportionately targeted. Now, economists and advocates warn, they will be further burdened by the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs. The US Court of International Trade ruled on May 28 that Trump’s sweeping tariffs exceeded his authority.
Report Uplifts New and Old Challenges Facing Nonprofits

3 weeks ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

The Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) recently released its third annual report on the state of nonprofits. The report, aptly titled, State of Nonprofits 2025: What Funders Need to Know, builds on the findings of its two previous reports. The report is based on the responses from 585 leaders participating in CEP’s Nonprofit Voice Project, which consists of nearly 900 US-based nonprofits receiving funding from at least one foundation.
Passage of GOP Tax Bill Would Worsen Medical Debt Crisis

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On May 22, the GOP tax bill passed in the House by a single vote. Now advancing to the Senate, it threatens to gut Medicaid and strip health coverage from millions of people in the United States. Doing so would further exacerbate the medical debt crisis. As researchers at the Kaiser Family Foundation found in the 2021 Survey of Income and Program Participation, medical debt already burdens 20 million adults. Nearly one in 12 people owe significant debt to a healthcare provider.
Boston Groups Come Together to Face the “Existential Threat” to Nonprofits

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On May 5, more than 1200 people gathered for a forum convened by the Boston Foundation called “The Shifting Federal Landscape: Massachusetts Nonprofits Raise the Alarm.” This was a record turnout for the group—a clear indicator of nonprofit leaders’ sense of urgency in the current political moment. During the convening, speakers made clear that the threats are real, but they also indicated that work is actively being done to combat them.
How the State of the People Power Tour Is Building Power and Amplifying Black Voices

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On March 5, as President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address, Black leaders and advocates from across the country were engaging in a 24-hour livestream called the State of the People, an inaugural effort to counter misinformation and center those who would be most impacted by the administration’s harmful policies.
The Human Cost of Cutting Medicaid

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

On May 13, in Washington, DC, protesters packed the hearing room as members of the House Commerce and Energy Committee moved what President Trump has called a “big, beautiful bill” through the markup process. The bill aims to reduce spending by $880 billion over the next 10 years, largely through cuts to Medicaid.
Why the Threats Against Nonprofit Tax Status Are Unprecedented

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In recent months, nonprofit organizations, particularly those that have been outspoken about the ongoing genocide in Palestine, have become a target of the Donald Trump administration. This includes groups like American Muslims for Palestine, which has repeatedly been targeted by pro-Israel groups in the past. But, more recently, bipartisan legislation like HR 9495 has sought to broaden intimidation efforts against nonprofits.
How Are Foundations Responding to Federal Cuts?

1 month ago | nonprofitquarterly.org | Rebekah Barber

In February, the MacArthur Foundation announced its Set it at Six campaign, committing to increase its charitable payout to 6 percent for at least the next two years and using a flexible trust-based model for its charitable gifts. In April, the Marguerite Casey Foundation announced that it was accessing its endowment to grant over $130 million to help nonprofit organizations combat the challenges of the Donald Trump administration.