Illinois Nonprofits Urge State to Resist Trump-Era Policies | DEI & Funding Concerns

Illinois Nonprofits Seek State Protection From Trump Administration Policies

Nonprofits across Illinois are urging state government to resist policies emanating from the Trump administration that they fear will undermine their missions. Over 100 organizations, including the LGBTQ+ advocacy group Peoria Proud and JOLT, a Peoria-based harm reduction organization, have signed a letter expressing these concerns, January 30, 2026.

The letter commends the Illinois government for its past actions and requests continued resistance to what the organizations describe as “attacks” from the Trump administration. The concerns center around funding cuts and rhetoric that impacts organizations’ ability to operate and serve their communities.

River Russell, president of Peoria Proud, explained that while the organization doesn’t receive substantial direct funding from the federal government, the administration’s stance on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is having a ripple effect. “We’ve lost some financial supporters, and it’s a trickle down from the DEI verbiage cutbacks that are being imposed on corporations,” Russell said. “And then they’re having to learn what they can comply with and what they’re actually allowed to continue to sponsor.”

Peoria Proud is actively seeking alternative fundraising strategies, including plans to host an annual New Year’s Eve gala, to offset these losses. Despite the challenges at the federal level, Russell highlighted the strong support the organization receives from the state of Illinois, particularly in providing resources and legal assistance to the LGBTQ+ community.

“I think what our state is doing is really progressive, looking out for their people,” Russell stated. “They understand that knowledge is power, and they’re trying to give them access to that knowledge.” Specifically, Russell noted the state funds resource websites and maintains a legal hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals.

The state’s support is particularly crucial in areas where federal funding is being curtailed, such as transgender healthcare. Russell explained that the Illinois government is “maintaining an internal repository to know which organizations still provide healthcare to people under the age of 19,” as access to such care is reduced elsewhere.

JOLT, a harm reduction organization, is also facing potential funding cuts from federal grants. Chris Schaffner, JOLT’s executive director, believes Illinois should prioritize making grants more accessible to smaller organizations like his. He argues that the Trump administration’s focus on drug supply chains overlooks evidence-based strategies for addressing substance use disorders.

“The Trump administration is actively pushing back against supporting harm reduction and encouraging defunding harm reduction efforts, in spite of harm reduction efforts being credited for the drop in fatal overdoses in our country,” Schaffner said. He advocates for increased investment in demand-reduction strategies, such as overdose prevention sites, which he says have proven effective in lowering substance abuse rates.

Schaffner explained that addressing the demand for drugs, through support and treatment, ultimately disrupts the supply chain. “You want to address the substance use… invest in expanding support on the demand side,” he said.

The concerns extend beyond healthcare and social services. According to reporting from March 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the closure of the U.S. Department of Education and has significantly reduced its staff. This, along with proposed cuts to research funding, presents an “existential threat” to regional public institutions like Southern Illinois University, which serves as an economic anchor for the surrounding rural communities.

Illinois officials are currently resisting threats from the Trump administration’s Department of Education to withhold federal funding over DEI policies, April 10, 2025. The state is requesting clarification on which specific DEI activities are deemed to violate federal law.

The broader trend, as highlighted in a report from May 22, 2025, suggests that nonprofit organizations are adapting their operations in response to systemic funding shifts under the Trump administration. The situation underscores a growing tension between state-level efforts to support progressive policies and federal actions that seek to curtail them.

A request for comment from the governor’s office was not returned as of today, February 3, 2026.