THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IS AT A CROSSROADS—AND THE CLOCK IS TICKING. As we enter the final weeks of 2025, organizations across the country are facing unprecedented challenges that demand decisive, year-end solutions. Inflation is squeezing operating budgets. Government dollars are tightening. And charitable giving has not kept pace with surging community needs.

We are calling on ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) donors to act now: make transformational, unrestricted trust gifts before December 31. These are not nice-to-have contributions—they are lifelines that keep essential programs open, staff in place, and momentum alive into 2025.

“Let’s meet this moment with urgency and trust,” says Dwayne Ashley, CEO and Founder of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting. “If you have the capacity to act this year, do it now—trust the leaders closest to the work and fund them to win for their communities.”

Bill Gates: “There’s never been a greater need for philanthropy—and there has never been a greater opportunity to have an impact in our own lifetimes.” (Giving Pledge, 2025)

Melinda French Gates: “Philanthropy has a critical role to play in solving the urgent challenges the world is facing right now.” (Giving Pledge, 2025)

“By the time, you know, the lives of my children and their kids run out, I will have given most of it to charity.” —Phil Knight, Nike founder (Philanthropy.com, OPB interview)

—Sheila Johnson: “True wealth is not just about financial success but also about the impact one can make through giving. …Sharing her story and her wealth can inspire others and create positive change, highlighting the transformative power of philanthropy in addressing societal issues.”

—Alex Soros: “It’s forced us to grapple with the limits of what we can achieve.” —Alex Soros, on philanthropy as power and the importance of humility and trust in effecting change (Philanthropy.com, 2025)

—Dave Steward: “When you support United Way, you are supporting the entire United Way ecosystem – the more than 160 nonprofits they support and the 1 million people they serve every year.”

—Steve Ballmer: “Every kid deserves a shot. Not every kid’s going to be successful. But if you’re born with parents who are less affluent, you should still have an opportunity to pursue your dreams.”

“Our mission is to improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers.” —Laurie M. Tisch

—Robert Kraft: “Philanthropy is not just about giving money; it’s about giving your time and your heart.”

—Josh Kraft: “We believe in the power of community and the importance of making a difference in people’s lives.”

The question isn’t whether these gifts are needed. The question is whether our most capable philanthropists will step forward now to provide them.

WE’VE SEEN WHAT’S POSSIBLE WHEN TRUST MEETS TRANS-FORMATION

MacKenzie Scott didn’t just write checks, she rewrote the playbook for philanthropic impact. Her $640 million in unrestricted gifts to HBCUs demonstrated something powerful: when you combine significant resources with genuine trust in organizational leadership, magic happens.

“What MacKenzie Scott did was revolutionary because it wasn’t just about the money, it was about the message,” says Dwayne Ashley, CEO and Founder of Bridge Philanthropic Consulting. “She told these institutions, ‘I believe in your mission, I trust your leadership, and I’m going to get out of your way so you can do what you do best.’ That’s the essence of trust philanthropy.”

As someone who graduated from Wiley University and received scholarships from direct funders and the UNCF UPS Scholarship, I understand firsthand how these unrestricted gifts create ripple effects that extend far beyond the initial donation. They don’t just fund programs, they fund possibilities.

THE 2025 REALITY: WHY THE TIMING IS CRITICAL

This year has been particularly challenging for nonprofits. Rising operational costs have squeezed budgets. Staff turnover has reached concerning levels as organizations struggle to compete with private-sector salaries. Meanwhile, the communities they serve are facing compounding challenges—housing insecurity, educational disparities, healthcare gaps—that require sustained, substantial intervention.

Here’s what we know from doing this work every day: with more than $2 billion raised for clients and over 800 years of combined fundraising experience on our team, transformational, trust-based gifts don’t just solve immediate problems—they stabilize organizations, unlock 2025 plans, and create momentum that attracts additional funding.

Ford Foundation’s new president, Heather K. Gerken, has underscored the urgency of trust-based philanthropy at this moment, noting, “Trust isn’t a tactic—it’s a commitment to the people closest to the solutions. When donors move first with flexible, transformational gifts, communities can move faster—and farther.” Her charge to peers is clear: act before year-end, fund with trust, and fuel 2025 at scale.

TRUST PHILANTHROPY: MORE THAN A BUZZWORD

Trust philanthropy isn’t just about writing unrestricted checks. It’s about fundamentally reimagining the relationship between donors and organizations. Instead of lengthy applications, detailed restrictions, and exhaustive reporting requirements, trust philanthropy operates from a simple premise: the people closest to the problems are best positioned to solve them.

This approach requires courage from donors, the courage to let go of control and trust that their philanthropic partners will steward resources wisely. But the results speak for themselves.

Laurene Powell Jobs is direct: “Giving that expects control is anything but generous.” (Nonprofit Quarterly, 2025)

Scott herself captured this philosophy perfectly: “There’s no question in my mind that anyone’s personal wealth is the product of a collective effort, and of social structures which present opportunities to some people, and obstacles to countless others.”

THE UHNW OPPORTUNITY: WHY NOW MATTERS

Ultra-high-net-worth individuals control unprecedented wealth, collectively holding nearly $60 trillion globally. Yet only 36 percent are actively engaged in charitable giving. For those already philanthropic, the question is not whether to give—it’s how to give with maximum impact, speed, and trust.

Year-end giving is the moment. A transformational trust gift made before December 31 does more than meet today’s needs; it sets strategy, staffing, and scale for the year ahead.

As Warren Buffett has reminded his peers, “If you’re in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.” (Philanthropy Roundtable) Bill Gates has argued that philanthropy must take on the big bets and long-term risks markets and governments won’t. Oprah Winfrey has consistently called on leaders to use their platforms and resources to expand opportunity and dignity. And JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon has urged business leaders to invest in communities and inclusive growth.

“The donors we work with aren’t looking for their names on buildings,” Ashley explains. “They’re looking for their values reflected in outcomes. They want to see systemic change, not just temporary relief. That requires trust, partnership, and the kind of substantial commitment that moves beyond traditional philanthropy.”

BEYOND THE GIFT: THE MULTIPLIER EFFECT

Research consistently shows that transformational, trust-based gifts actually attract additional funding rather than crowding it out. When an organization receives a significant unrestricted gift, it signals several things to other potential donors:

Credibility: Someone with significant resources has vetted this organization and found it worthy of major investment.

Stability: The organization has the financial foundation to take on ambitious projects and see them through completion.

Vision: Leadership has articulated a compelling case for support that resonates with sophisticated philanthropists.

Impact: The work being done is significant enough to warrant transformational investment.

Dr. Aminta H. Breaux of Bowie State University, one of the institutions that received Scott’s transformational support, emphasized how such gifts expand “access and academic excellence”: creating opportunities that extend far beyond the immediate recipient institution.

THE BRIDGE DIFFERENCE: CONNECTING VISION WITH IMPACT

At Bridge Philanthropic Consulting, we’ve built our practice around facilitating exactly these kinds of transformational partnerships. Our track record speaks to our effectiveness: demonstrated success in securing prospect meetings, strategic guidance, and helping close gifts with UHNW prospects.

But we’re more than fundraising consultants. As members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Association of African-American Development Officers, and the Giving Institute, we adhere to the highest ethical standards in our work. Our commitment to social justice and social impact around the world guides every client relationship and every strategic recommendation.

“We’re not trying to convince wealthy donors to give money they can’t afford,” Ashley notes. “We’re working with individuals who have both the capacity and the desire to create meaningful change. Our job is to help them identify the organizations and opportunities where their investment will have the greatest impact.”

WHAT TRUST PHILANTHROPY LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE

Effective trust philanthropy starts with relationship, not transaction. It begins with donors taking time to understand the communities and causes they want to support. It involves listening to organizational leadership about their greatest needs and biggest opportunities. And it requires the humility to recognize that sometimes the best thing a donor can do is provide resources and step back.

For UHNW donors considering year-end gifts, this might mean:

Deciding and deploying year-end trust gifts by December 31 so organizations can lock budgets and launch 2025 with confidence.

Choosing fewer organizations but making more substantial commitments to each one.

Offering multi-year pledges that enable strategic planning and sustained programming.

Providing unrestricted funding that allows organizations to address their most pressing needs.

Building genuine relationships with organizational leadership rather than maintaining arms-length donor relationships.

Measuring success through organizational outcomes rather than donor recognition.

As Richard Branson has said, “Wealth should be used to create opportunities for others; social impact is the highest return.” (PlannedGiving.com)

THE CALL TO ACTION: WHY WE CAN’T WAIT

THE CHALLENGES ARE URGENT; THE WINDOW IS NOW. Educational inequities, healthcare disparities, economic opportunity gaps, and environmental justice issues won’t wait for perfect timing or ideal conditions. They require bold, sustained intervention that only transformational philanthropy can provide—and that must be mobilized before year end.

For UHNW donors, the opportunity is clear. The capacity exists. The need is urgent. What’s required now is the will to act and the courage to trust. Make a seven- or eight-figure unrestricted trust gift by December 31 so organizations can plan, hire, and deliver at scale in 2025.

“We’re living in a moment that demands transformational thinking and transformational giving,” Ashley concludes. “If you’re ready to lead, lead now—with trust. The donors who step forward today and make substantial, unrestricted commitments won’t just fund programs; they’ll fund possibilities and catalyze the systemic change that defines generations.”

WE’VE SEEN WHAT’S POSSIBLE. Now let’s choose to make it probable—together.

Organizations that need transformational support most can’t wait for another giving cycle, another strategic planning process, another year of incremental progress. They need philanthropic partners who understand that trust, combined with significant resources, is the lifeline that makes lasting social impact possible in 2025.

The path forward is clear. The capacity exists. The need is urgent. What happens next depends on whether our most capable philanthropists will choose to lead—now.