Philanthropies Condemn Political Violence, Call on Leaders to Protect Democracy and Get Back to the People’s Business

As representatives of nonpartisan philanthropic institutions, serving rural, urban, and suburban communities across the nation, we condemn the violence that broke out at the U.S. Capitol this week. The events in Washington are a stain on our nation’s history and a painful break in the peaceful transition of power that has been a defining hallmark of American democracy for more than 200 years.

The shameful events are the result of actions by President Trump and other political leaders who have recklessly fanned the flames of grievance. Those responsible for this deadly violence and insurrection must be held to account, and we call on Republican leaders, in particular, in government and media to unequivocally reject conspiracy theories and the actions of extremists who use violence. After hard-fought campaigns, extraordinary voter turnout, and the resolution of more than 60 election-related lawsuits, it is long past time for our nation to accept the results of the 2020 election so that our duly elected leaders — President-elect Biden, Vice President-elect Harris and members of the 117th Congress — can move forward with addressing the nation’s pressing challenges.

Our organizations donate hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes each year to advance the common good. While we have different funding approaches, vary in our areas of focus, and are ideologically diverse, we share a belief in the importance of finding common ground to solve problems and serve people and communities. And while we may vary in our views on the size and scope of government, we share a belief that safeguarding the health, security, and rights of people and communities requires a government whose leaders can accept the election results, bridge divisions that have roiled our nation, work in good faith to forge solutions, and stand up for democracy.

As the U.S. faces the most dire global health emergency in 100 years, the worst economic crisis in modern history, and a racial reckoning overdue for centuries, it is time to move on from last year’s election, cease further delays in the transition of power, and turn to governance. To our duly elected leaders, we urge you to follow facts and let science lead the way toward solving the COVID-19 crisis. We encourage you to listen to diverse voices — including those of people who have been overlooked, forgotten, and excluded, and who are facing persistent threats to their lives and livelihoods. We call on you to repair our tattered social fabric and help our democracy live up to its ideals. And we stand ready to work with you to move our country forward and increase opportunity for all who call it home.

Signatories (updated on a rolling basis, alphabetical by organizational affiliation)

Susan Taylor Batten, President and CEO
ABFE

Phillip P. Lanham , President
The Advancement Network (AdNet)

Kristi Petrie, Executive Director
AJL Foundation

Lateefah Simon, President
Akonadi Foundation

Sarah Lyman, Executive Director
Alliance Healthcare Foundation

Elizabeth Alexander, President
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Neel Hajra, CEO
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

Anna Lefer Kuhn, Executive Director
Arca Foundation

Alan and Dean Preston, Trustees
Arch Community Fund

Adriana Gallego, Executive Director
Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona

Linda Lanier, President
Tina Crisci, Treasurer
Atkinson Foundation

Akia Tanara, Chair
Aventa Foundation

Adam Simon, Executive Director
Aviv Foundation

David Daniels, CEO and President
Bainum Family Foundation

Shanaysha Sauls, President & CEO
Baltimore Community Foundation

Katherine Joiner, Board Member
The Bella Vista Foundation and The Bothin Foundation

Christopher T. Quaka, President and Chief Executive Officer
Benton Community Foundation

Peter H. Taylor, President
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Denise Joines, Board President
Judy Hatcher, Executive Director
Biodiversity Funders Group

Patricia E. Harris, CEO
Bloomberg Philanthropies

Anupama Joshi, Executive Director
Blue Sky Funders Forum

Gary Steuer, President and CEO
Bonfils-Stanton Foundation

Paul Grogan, President and CEO
The Boston Foundation

Wendy Greeney, President
The Brookby Foundation

Jen Ford Reedy, President
Bush Foundation

Molly Schultz Hafid, Executive Director
Butler Family Fund

Jessica Bylo Chacon, President
Veronica Ensign Ksiazek, Executive Director
Bylo Chacon Foundation

Dr. Robert K. Ross, CEO/President
The California Endowment

Judy Belk, President and CEO
The California Wellness Foundation

Vartan Gregorian, President
Carnegie Corporation of New York

Timothy J. Maloney, President and CEO
Carol Ann & Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation

Steve and Jean Case, Chairman and CEO
The Case Foundation

Megan Thomas, Interim President & CEO
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties and Philanthropy California

Maha Freij, Director
Center for Arab American Philanthropy

Phil Buchanan, President
The Center for Effective Philanthropy

Merle Chambers, Founder
Chambers Initiative

Priscilla Chan , Co-Founder and Co-CEO
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

David Weil, Co-President
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

Julie Sandorf, President
Charles H. Revson Foundation

Ridgway White, President and CEO
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation

Carrie Sanders, Executive Director
Cherokee Strip Community Foundation

Crystal Middlestadt, Executive Director
Chinook Fund

Monica Lozano, President and CEO
College Futures Foundation

Sean Gibbons, CEO
The Communications Network

Tatiana Hernandez, CEO
Community Foundation Boulder County

Theresa Grimison, President & CEO
Community Foundation for Brevard

Frank Fernandez, President & CEO
Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta

Jennifer Rhoads, President
Community Foundation for Southwest Washington

John Eberle, President & CEO
Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region

Maryam Elahi, President & CEO
Community Foundation of Eastern CT

Christopher Nanni, President
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham

Isaiah M. Oliver, President and CEO
Community Foundation of Greater Flint

Roxie Jerde, President/CEO
Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Katie Allan Zobel, President and CEO
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts

Ellen Friedman, Executive Director
Compton Foundation

Karla Fortunato, President
Connecticut Council for Philanthropy

Thomas Cook, Executive Director
Cook Family Foundation

Kyle Caldwell, President & CEO
Council of Michigan Foundations

Maria Vizcarrondo, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers

Kathleen P. Enright, President and CEO
Council on Foundations

Michael Moritz, President
Harriet Heyman, Vice President
Crankstart

Loraine Stuart, Board President
Crescent Porter Hale Foundation

Bailey Malone, Executive Director
CS Fund

Randall Kempner, CEO
Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation

Matthew Randazzo, President & CEO
The Dallas Foundation

Nancy Lindborg, President and CEO
David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Lukas Haynes, Executive Director
David Rockefeller Fund

Joe Goldman, President
Democracy Fund

Mike Berkowitz, Executive Director
Democracy Funders Network

Tory Dietel Hopps, Managing Partner
Dietel and Partners

Diana Samarasan, Founding Executive Director
Disability Rights Fund

Julie Chaiken, Vice President
Donald and Carole Chaiken Foundation

Jasmine Gomez and David Moy, Co-Chairs
Drawing Democracy Fund

James W. Head, President and CEO
East Bay Community Foundation

Peter J. Taylor, President
ECMC Foundation

Jennifer Hoos Rothberg, Executive Director
Einhorn Collaborative

Trent Stamp, CEO
The Eisner Foundation

Jason Mark, CEO
Energy Foundation

Franny Canfield , Interim Executive Director
Environmental Grantmakers Association

Katie Redford, Executive Director
The Equation Campaign

Andrea Cole, Executive Director and CEO
Ethel and James Flinn Foundation

Mark Gunther, Managing Director
Eva Gunther Foundation

Cathy Cha, President and CEO
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund

Nancy Farese, Board Chair
F3 Foundation

Paulette Meyer, President
Faultline Foundation

Beth Tigay, Executive Director
Fineshriber Family Foundation

Darren Walker, President
Ford Foundation

Ben Chandler, President & CEO
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

Kiki Jamieson, President
The Fund for New Jersey

Kristin Purdy, Executive Director
Funders’ Committee for Civic Participation

Patricia L. Smith, President & CEO
The Funders Network

Christine Russell, President
Mark Schlesinger, Managing Trustee
Gaia Fund

Dimple Abichandani, Executive Director
General Service Foundation

David Abbott, President
The George Gund Foundation

Tanuja M. Dehne, President and CEO
Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation

Ghassan and Manal Saab, CEO
Ghassan and Manal Saab Foundation

Amy Goldman, CEO and Chair
GHR Foundation

Diana Sieger, President
Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Eddie Torres, President and CEO
Grantmakers in the Arts

Celine Coggins, Executive Director
Grantmakers for Education

Kathleen Traphagen, Lead Facilitator
Grantmakers for Thriving Youth

Jen Algire, President & CEO
The Greater Clark Foundation

Vanessa Daniel, Executive Director
Groundswell Fund and Groundswell Action Fund

Nichole June Maher, President and CEO
Group Health Foundation

Rebekah Saul Butler and Leslie Dorosin, Co-Executive Directors
The Grove Foundation

Terrence George, President and CEO
Harold K.L. Castle Foundation

Brooke Hazen, Member of Hazen Family Foundation
Hazen Family Foundation

Kristen Keely-Dinger, CEO
The Healing Trust

Deanna Gomby, President and CEO
Heising-Simons Foundation

Paul Serini, President
Lisa Clark, Executive Director
The Helen J. Serini Foundation

Myron Miller, Trustee
Herman and Frieda L. Miller Foundation

Larry Kramer, President
Hewlett Foundation

Susan Hirsch, CEO/Executive Director
Hirsch Philanthropy Partners & Hellman Foundation

Ann Stern, President and CEO
Houston Endowment, Inc.

Melanca Clark, President and CEO
Hudson-Webber Foundation

Srik Gopal, Managing Partner
Humanity United

Amy Klement, Managing Partner
Imaginable Futures

Jack Byrd, Jr., President
Interactivity Foundation

Dmitri Mehlhorn, Co-founder
Investing in US

Tiffany Lovett, President
Isabel Foundation

Don Howard, President and CEO
The James Irvine Foundation

Sara J Fertman, Director
Jeffrey H. and Shari L. Aronson Family Foundation

Ben Cameron, President
Jerome Foundation

Rini Banerjee, President
Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation

Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, President
John A. Hartford Foundation

John Palfrey, President
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Amy Rabbino, Executive Director
John Pritzker Family Fund

Lauren K Forman, Executive Director
Jubitz Family Foundation

Carrie Pickett-Erway, President/CEO
Kalamazoo Community Foundation

Allison Scott, CEO
Kapor Center

Zelene Wilkins, Executive Director
Keller Foundation

Jake Moritz, President
Kelson Foundation

Jennifer Rainin, CEO
Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Eileen Farbman, President
Kolibri Foundation

Kim Philbrick McCabe, Executive Director
The Klarman Family Foundation

Jason Franklin, Principal
Ktisis Capital

Michelle Coffey, Executive Director
Lambent Foundation

Ian David Moss, Founder
Landslide Coalition

Jacqueline Martinez Garcel, CEO
Latino Community Foundation

Laura Seaman, CEO
League of California Community Foundations

Jane Leighty Justis, President
The Leighty Foundation

Shane Murphy Goldsmith, President/CEO
Liberty Hill Foundation

Crystal Hayling, Executive Director
Susan Pritzker, Director
Libra Foundation

Aaron Dorfman, President
Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, Board Chair
Lippman Kanfer Foundation for Living Torah

Victor Kovner, Trustee
Alison Richard, Trustee
Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation

Will Moritz, President
Loud Hound Foundation

Lisa Stone Pritzker, President
Abigail Michelson-Porth, Executive Director
LSP Family Foundation

Jamie Merisotis, President and CEO
Lumina Foundation

Stephen King, CEO
Luminate

Paula Gruszynski, Executive Director
M&M Area Community Foundation

Samantha Morris, Executive Director
Madge M. & Joseph T. Mohar Charitable Foundation

Robin and Marianne Ferriby, Advisors
Marianne and Robin Ferriby Family Fund

Justin Maxson, CEO
Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation

Elisabeth Hyleck, Acting President
Maryland Philanthropy Network

Douglas Bitonti Stewart, Executive Director
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation

Alessandra Mayer, Executive Director
Mayer-Phillips Foundation

John A. Mancasola, President and CEO
The McConnell Foundation

Kate Levin Markel, President
McGregor Fund

Noa Staryk, Board Chair
McKnight Foundation

Amber French, Executive Director
Media Democracy Fund

Vincent Stehle, Executive Director
Media Impact Funders

Jenny Russell, Executive Director
Merck Family Fund

Janet Y. Spears, Chief Executive Officer
Metta Fund

R.T. Rybak, President & CEO
Minneapolis Foundation

Susie Brown, President
Minnesota Council on Foundations

Kevin Dean, CEO
Momentum Nonprofit Partners

Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director
Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation

Nurit Siegel Smith, Executive Director
Music Forward Foundation

Nicholas Tedesco, President and CEO
National Center for Family Philanthropy

Aaron Dorfman, President and CEO
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy

Erik Stegman, Executive Director
Native Americans in Philanthropy

Gabrielle Strong, Managing Director-Foundation
NDN Collective

Mary Sobecki, Executive Director
The Needmor Fund

Nicholas C. Donohue, President and CEO
Nellie Mae Education Foundation

Michele Lord, President
NEO Philanthropy

Gian Brosco, President & CEO
Nevada Community Foundation

Pamela D. Lewis, Executive Director
New Economy Initiative at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan

Vanessa Kirsch, Founder & CEO
New Profit

Lee Bodner, President
New Venture Fund

Ana L. Oliveira, President & CEO
The New York Women’s Foundation

Jennifer Ching, Executive Director
North Star Fund

Dwayne Marsh, President & CEO
Northern California Grantmakers and Philanthropy California

Kevin Walker, President and CEO
Northwest Area Foundation

Jesse Beason, President and CEO
Northwest Health Foundation

Mike Kubzansky, CEO
Omidyar Network

Mark Malloch-Brown, President
Open Society Foundations

Max Williams, President and CEO
Oregon Community Foundation

Leslie White, President
Pace Able Foundation

Charles Casey, President
Pacific Foundation Services, LLC

Connie Malloy, CEO
Panta Rhea Foundation

Adelaide P. Gomer, President
Rachel Leon, Executive Director
Park Foundation

Erin Dale Byrd, Executive Director
The Partnership Funds

Hans Cole, Vice President of Environmental Activism
Lisa Myers, Director of Environmental Grants
Patagonia

Alexandra I. Toma, Executive Director
Peace and Security Funders Group

Satonya C. Fair, President and CEO
PEAK Grantmaking

Nicole Baran, Executive Director
The Peggy and Jack Baskin Foundation

Sarah A Malachowsky, President + Chair
Penney Family Fund

Ralph Lewin, Executive Director
Peter E. Haas, Jr. Family Fund

Joanne Kelley, CEO
Philanthropy Colorado

Kristen Cambell, Executive Director
Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement

Ronna Brown, President
Philanthropy New York

Anjana Pandey, Executive Vice President
Philanthropy Northwest

Sara Lomelin, Executive Director
Philanthropy Together

Paul D. Daugherty, President and CEO
Philanthropy West Virginia

David Beckman, President
Pisces Foundation

Emma Belcher, President
Ploughshares Fund

Rachel Pritzker, President
Pritzker Innovation Fund

Philip Radford, Executive Director
Bethany B. Maki, Managing Director
Progressive Multiplier Fund

Sarah Williams, CEO
Propel Capital

Amy Berler, Chair
Propel Fund

Carrie Elston Tunick, President
The Prospect Hill Foundation

Paul Di Donato, President and CEO
Proteus Fund

Kathryn Murdoch, President
Quadrivium Foundation

Fern Shepard, President
Rachel’s Network

Dennis Quirin, Executive Director
Raikes Foundation

Natasha Dolby, Vice President
The Ray and Dagmar Dolby Family Fund

Jennifer Roller, President
The Raymond John Wean Foundation

Neil D. Steinberg, President & CEO
Rhode Island Foundation

Jennifer Leonard, President & CEO
Rochester Area Community Foundation

Stephen Heintz, President and CEO
Jeremy McKey, Special Assistant to the President and CEO
Rockefeller Brothers Fund

Tim Silard, President
Rosenberg Foundation

Ruth Salzman, CEO
Russell Berrie Foundation

Raquel Thueme, President
Ruth Mott Foundation

Bobbi Hapgood, CEO
Ryobi Foundation

Fred Blackwell, CEO
The San Francisco Foundation

Nicole Bagley, President of the Board of Trustees
The Sapelo Foundation

Tony Mestres, President & CEO
Seattle Foundation

Tia Oros Peters, CEO
Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples

Chet P Hewitt, President and CEO
Sierra Health Foundation

Nicole Taylor, CEO and President
Silicon Valley Community Foundation

David Onek, CEO
Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund (SV2)

Julie Kidd, Executive Director
Silver Giving Foundation

Tonya Allen, President and CEO
The Skillman Foundation

Donald Gips, CEO
Skoll Foundation

Sandy Herz, President
Lisa Sobrato Sonsini, Board Chair
Sobrato Philanthropies

Lauren Johnson, Executive Director
Social Venture Partners Portland

Rajasvini Bhansali, Executive Director
Solidaire Network

Christine Essel, President and CEO
Southern California Grantmakers and Philanthropy California

Julie Ridenour, President
Steelcase Foundation

Sophie Fanelli, President
Stuart Foundation

Glen Galaich, CEO
Stupski Foundation

Alexis Sant, President
The Summit Foundation

Don Chen, President
Surdna Foundation

Susie Sarlo, President
Susie Sarlo Family Fund

Romilda Justilien, CEO
Tides Advocacy

Sam Cobbs, CEO
Tipping Point Community

Allan Oliver, Executive Director
Thornburg Foundation

Taryn Higashi, Executive Director
Unbound Philanthropy

William V. Engel, President
Union Foundation

Harrison Miller, Chairman
Unite & Renew

Nick Troiano,Executive Director
Unite America

Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO
United Nations Foundation

David Biemesderfer, President and CEO
United Philanthropy Forum

Kate Kroeger, Executive Director
Urgent Action Fund for Women’s Human Rights

Nancy Wiltsek, Executive Director
van Loben Sels/RembeRock Foundation

La June Montgomery Tabron, President and CEO
W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Ellen Dorsey, Executive Director
Wallace Global Fund

Jamie Allison, Executive Director
Walter & Elise Haas Fund

Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat, President and CEO
Washington Area Women’s Foundation

Allison Harvey Turner, CEO
Water Foundation

Nicole Boucher, Vice President, Way to Win and Senior Advisor, Way to Rise
Way to Rise

Mark Van Putten, President & CEO
The Wege Foundation

Fred Ali, President and CEO
Weingart Foundation

Ed Kissam, Co-trustee
Werner-Kohnstamm Family Giving Fund

Janet Miller, President
WestWind Foundation

Mauri Ingram, President & CEO
Whatcom Community Foundation

John Esterle and Pia Infante, Co-Executive Directors
The Whitman Institute

Alan S. Davis, Director
The WhyNot Initiative

Paul Beaudet, Executive Director
Wilburforce Foundation

David Addams, Executive Director
William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund

Robert Borton, President of Board of Directors
William G. Gilmore Foundation

Dr. Stephanie Phillips Johnson, Trustee
Winifred Johnson Clive Foundation

Surina Khan, CEO
Women’s Foundation California

Lauren Y. Casteel, President & CEO
The Women’s Foundation of Colorado

Gloria Perez, President and CEO
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota

Amalia Luxardo, Chief Executive Officer
Women’s Foundation of Southern Arizona

Donna Haghighat, CEO
Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

Elizabeth Barajas-Román, President and CEO
Women’s Funding Network

Luis Arteaga, CEO
Y&H Soda Foundation

Lauren Czajka, Executive Director
YouthRoots

Allison L. Magee, Executive Director
Zellerbach Family Foundation