Today we woke up in the same country as yesterday. Yes, with the election of Donald Trump, for those who believe in a true multi-racial democracy and education justice, we have important work to do. Yet, as Dr. Martin Luther King reminds us, “darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Soon the days will grow longer again. But driving out hate with love can start today, if we choose.

During the last Trump administration, grassroots, community-centered organizations led the way to both resist the worst and build the best: stopping his Muslim ban, establishing sanctuary cities, building community schools, protecting LGBTQ and transgender students, and facing down the epidemic of police violence.

Philanthropic partners: we must continue to leverage resources to ensure the work does not begin or end with an election cycle. In 2020, we saw new and unprecedented commitments from funders to support grassroots groups amid a racial justice reckoning and pivotal election year – unfortunately, many of those promises never fully materialized.

This time around, we encourage philanthropy to look to those who have been building a more racially just and equitable society for years, who have built multi-racial, multi-generational movements. We urge our fellow funders to make grants on a greater scale and longer timeline and build the infrastructure to protect equity and opportunity at the local and state level. Every day, grassroots advocacy organizations are taking much larger risks – safety, political, financial – than we are. Despite threats to our sector, we cannot shrink from the task that our communities and history itself demands of us. Now is not the time to retreat. Now is the time to build loving communities that provide all children and families an opportunity to learn and thrive.

The extreme agenda of Project 2025 presents a real and pressing danger, but it is not inevitable. Across federal, state, and local levels, there are officials, institutions, and public servants who can resist, delay, and counteract these policies. From school boards to state governments, dedicated individuals and groups can take steps to uphold democratic principles and protect our neighbors, especially in Black, Indigenous, Latino, and immigrant communities. We stand with them, ready to support and empower these efforts to ensure a just and equitable future.

In the face of difficult election results, it is easy to feel a sense of defeatism. We will find solace, strength, and renewed purpose not alone but together. Now is the time to find your people, to build bonds with those around you, to join or create an organization. We may not like the moment, but we were made for it: it’s up to us to be the leaders we were born to be. Take a beat, and let’s get back to work, beloved!