Liberal-Leaning Groups Flood Supporters With Urgent Post-Election Messages

Progressive-leaning nonprofits are sending backers messages of hope and encouraging them to stay focused on their goals as a president many see as hostile to their interests prepares to take office.

Some of the missives made direct appeals for donations; others focused solely on actions supporters can undertake to maintain progress on issues where they expect to clash with Donald Trump’s administration.

Mr. Trump’s triumph has many on the left dismayed; demonstrators marched through the streets in several cities Wednesday night to protest his victory.

Nonprofits are anxious about the president-elect’s proposed spending cuts, which might hurt organizations that depend on government contracts and grants. They’re also unsure how his economic proposals could affect donations and whether he and Republicans in Congress will maintain current charitable-giving incentives.

Although they are worried about funding, progressive-leaning groups said they are primarily concerned about what Mr. Trump’s presidency could mean for the people they serve.

This morning, leaders from several civil-rights groups representing African-Americans, Latinos, Arab-Americans, and other minority communities met in Washington, D.C. to discuss a course for moving forward.

Farhana Khera, executive director of national legal and education group Muslim Advocates, lambasted Mr. Trump for his calls during the campaign to ban Muslims from immigrating to the United States and his suggestion that information on Muslim-Americans be entered into a special government database — positions he’s since walked back. She said his rhetoric has led to harassment of Muslim-Americans.

“Muslim advocates will use every resource and legal tool available to ensure that the rights of all Americans are protected,” said Ms. Khera, who called in to the discussion from San Francisco. “We will continue fighting for our nation’s founding principles, and we will never waiver in our commitment.”

In notes to backers, many groups had similar messages.

“Our youth deserve every opportunity that our nation can offer: an education, meaningful careers, and a stable home and community,” wrote Lori Kaplan, president of the Latin American Youth Center, in a message to roughly 3,500 supporters. “We will never give up fighting for our youth to realize their fullest potential.”

‘Upset, Scared, and Sad’

The note went on to say that the Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit, which offers services that aid minority youth, will need volunteers and financial support moving forward. Ms. Kaplan encouraged people in the letter to Tweet using #Heretostay — a response to Mr. Trump’s calls to deport undocumented immigrants.

Some of the youth the nonprofit serves are undocumented or have family members who are, Ms. Kaplan said, in an interview with The Chronicle.

“The reason we needed to respond is our community and young people and staff are extremely upset, scared, and sad,” she said. “It’s really important to me that their voice is not silent in what has occurred here. I feel like we need to stand up for our kids of color.”

She said much of her group’s funding comes from city, state, and federal governments for programs to help juveniles who are homeless or in foster care and address youth health issues and other needs. She’s concerned some of that money might disappear.

While the funding spigot likely “won’t be cut off overnight,” Ms. Kaplan said, “philanthropy is going to have to step up with some resources.” She added that her group might need additional money for organizing and advocacy work, depending on what Mr. Trump proposes.

Seeking a Productive Outlet

Global aid charity Oxfam America also sent an email Wednesday to about a half-million supporters that referenced the uncertainly people are feeling after the election.

The nonprofit, whose work includes assisting refugees, fears federal resettlement programs will be scaled back and Syrians fleeing their war-torn nation will be restricted from entering the United States. Oxfam also works to help people in poor areas of the world that are battling the effects of climate change and it supports the landmark Paris climate accord, from which Mr. Trump — who disputes that global warming is human-made — says the United States should withdraw.

“There is no question that this work will only be more important and challenging today than it was yesterday,” Ray Offenheiser, Oxfam America’s president, wrote in the message to supporters.

The email linked to a pledge people could sign to fight for those living in poverty, which then led to a donation page.

The nonprofit wanted to give people something positive to support if they were upset or saddened by the election results, Amanda Peña, head of digital campaigns for Oxfam America, told The Chronicle.

“We definitely need their help,” she said of supporters. “We’re going to have advocacy actions that we’re going to need them to stand up for to help us put pressure on the next administration.”

No Gift Ask

Other organizations did not ask for donations but sent hopeful messages.

The Trevor Project, which offers support to LGBTQ youth dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts, sent a message to its email subscribers acknowledging the frustrations caused by the election results. But the group noted that the LGBTQ community has “dealt with challenges before, and we have overcome them.”

The note called on people to “reach out and tell the young people in your life that you care about them. Ask them how they are feeling and how you can help them.” The group included the phone number for its 24-hour support line in the email and encouraged people to tell those who are depressed or suicidal to call.

The message struck a conciliatory note that echoed the words of First Lady Michelle Obama’s speech this summer at the Democratic National Convention: “More than ever, we need to go high. We need to understand why so many citizens feel disenfranchised and disconnected from the progress, multiculturalism, and optimism we have experienced over the past several years.”

Many of Trevor Project supporters are fearful that Mr. Trump could roll back some of the victories for gender minorities’ rights in recent years, said Steve Mendelsohn, the group’s deputy executive director. A particular worry is that a Supreme Court with new conservative justices will overturn the landmark 2015 ruling that gave same-sex couples the right to marry nationwide.

Mr. Mendelsohn said the nonprofit’s staffers felt strongly that the letter should be purely about the organization’s mission and not include a gift ask. He said the Trevor Project often responds to news events that affect the LGBTQ community, such as the Orlando nightclub massacre earlier this year.

“Our judgment was to focus on the fact that we’re here to help make change and to help young people, so we didn’t want to confuse things,” he said.

The Trevor Project will keep a close watch for political actions that could adversely affect the youth the group serves, Mr. Mendelsohn said, adding, “I’m hoping we don’t need to send more.”

Open Doors

Here are messages other groups sent to supporters about the election results:

• Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America: “We promise one unshakable commitment: THESE. DOORS. STAY. OPEN. In the weeks and months to come, it will be more important than ever to stand together and keep fighting to ensure Planned Parenthood health centers can be there for those who need them most — people who come from communities that especially need our continued support in this new reality — immigrants, people of color, the LGBTQ community, people of faith, and more.”
• Ann Burroughs, board chair, and Margaret Huang, executive director, Amnesty International USA: “This is not the moment to sit down with frustration but rather to stand up and fight against discrimination, bigotry, and hate. We can’t do it alone and that’s why, now more than ever, we need you to grow our movement to fight back.”
• Robert Bank, president of the American Jewish World Service: “Presidents, governments, and elections come and go — and some make our work much easier and others much harder. Regardless of who is in power, we are guided by our enduring belief that it is our obligation to build more just and equitable societies. We are committed to working across cultures and continents to repair our broken world. We are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain. We are spiritual, religious, and secular. We are American, African, Caribbean, Latino, and Asian. We are gay, straight, trans, and intersex. We live and love in different ways, and we are proud of who we are.”
• Tara Libert, executive director of the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop, which works with incarcerated juveniles in Washington, D.C.: “Our country may be divided, but we know that the way to bridge the divide is to understand each other on a human level. By reading and listening to poetry and personal stories by people from different walks of life, we can create a truly inclusive community where everyone feels heard. We call this ‘on the same page.’ ”
• Teresa Younger, president of the Ms. Foundation for Women: “For those of us who believe in progress, inclusion, equality, and justice, this is a heartbreaking conclusion to a presidential campaign filled with hateful and divisive rhetoric. Today we make the first steps in our country’s long and difficult journey toward healing wounds and fulfilling the promise of liberty and justice for all. Now is the time to double down on progress.”