When Funders Try to Silence Your Advocacy
What happens when the money your organization needs comes with a muzzle attached? In this bold and necessary conversation, Maria and Caitlin tackle one of the most uncomfortable truths in the nonprofit sector: funders using their financial power to silence organizational advocacy and control community narratives.
On this week's episode of The Small Nonprofit Podcast, co-hosts Maria Rio and Caitlin McBride don't hold back as they share real stories of organizations facing pressure to stay quiet, stay neutral, and stay safe in exchange for funding. From the Ontario Trillium Foundation's anti-advocacy clauses to prolific donors demanding ideological alignment, this episode exposes how censorship happens behind closed doors and what nonprofit leaders can do to protect their mission.
If you've ever felt pressured to soften your stance, avoid political issues, or accept funding that made you uncomfortable, this conversation will validate your concerns and give you practical strategies to stand your ground. Because serving your community means advocating for your community, even when it costs you.
Funder Control - The Highlights:
The OTF investigation: How political appointments led to anti-advocacy clauses in funding agreements, and how public pressure eventually got them removed
Real consequences of saying "yes": Caitlin shares the personal story of turning down a longtime funder whose new agreement would have muzzled not just the organization, but individual staff and board members from speaking out
The Band-Aid trap: Why organizations that don’t advocate for systemic change end up keeping communities in cycles of dependency
When politicians weaponize nonprofits: Examples of how elected officials use organizations for photo ops and political gain while simultaneously trying to control their messaging
The performativity problem: How organizations publicly claim values they privately compromise through the funding agreements they sign
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Funder Control – 5 Actionable Tips:
Read every funding agreement carefully and get legal review: Your board member who's a lawyer isn't your lawyer. Invest in having YOUR attorney review agreements if you're uncertain about restrictive language. This small cost could save your mission.
Diversify your revenue streams strategically: Build unrestricted revenue through individual giving and community fundraising. The more you rely on any single funder—especially government or large foundations—the more vulnerable you are to censorship.
Get crystal clear on your organizational values and boundaries: Before you're in a crisis moment with a funder, establish what you will and won't compromise on. When you know your values, you can establish boundaries that protect your peace and your mission.
Question everything, especially new clauses: Don't be afraid to ask funders clarifying questions about restrictive language. What exactly do they mean by "advocacy"? What counts as "political activity"? Push back on vague language that could be weaponized later.
Act as if all decisions will be made public: Even if you think a funding agreement will stay private, operate as if your community, staff, and donors will find out. If you wouldn't be comfortable defending a decision publicly, don't make it privately.
Resources:
Connect with the show: Watch the episode on YouTube; follow Maria Rio or Caitlin McBride on LinkedIn for more conversations and resources. Or support our show. We are fully self-funded!
Book a Discovery Call with Further Together: Need help with your fundraising? See if our values-aligned fundraisers are a fit for your organization.
