Jerek Lovey

#FundraisingCatalyst | Donors are becoming more outcome-oriented and seeking impact opportunities aligned with their priorities. Leverage Sattva Consulting’s ecosystem knowledge and funder intelligence, powered by FundAssist, to build a market-resilient fundraising strategy that drives stronger conversions. FundAssist is our data-driven solution that assists organisations in identifying funders aligned with their priorities and focus areas. It offers valuable funder insights, backed by information about 37,000+ companies and funders about their CSR priorities, spending habits, and preferred funding model, to ensure that organisations are equipped to engage with the right funders. Contact us at impact@sattva.co.in to learn more. #SattvaFundraisingCatalyst #FundraisingAdvisory #NonProfitAdvisory Arun Nathan | Aarti Krishnan | Smruti Das | Nilav Kumar Pyne | Aishwarya Meena | Phuhaar Goel | Riya Gupta | Apoorva Prabhu

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2026 federal funding update for ecosystem builders A week ago I wrote about where federal innovation funding stands for 2026. Here's what's changed in 7 days: What's now signed into law: The Commerce, Justice, and Science bill passed the Senate 82-15 on January 15 and is headed to the president's desk. This locks in: NSF → $8.75 billion (with protection against disproportionate cuts to any directorate) → Regional Innovation Engines: Up to $200 million EDA → Tech Hubs: $41 million → Build to Scale: $50 million → MEP: $175 million What passed the House, awaiting Senate action: The Financial Services bill passed 341-79 on January 14, confirming: SBA → Entrepreneurial development: $330 million (Congress rejected the proposed cut to $150M) → Regional Innovation Clusters: $9M → Federal and State Technology Partnership (FAST): $9M → Growth Accelerator Fund Competition: $9M What's still in flux: Leaders just released a final bipartisan package for Defense, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation-HUD. The House may vote this week, with the January 30, 2026 deadline approaching. SBIR/STTR authorization remains expired. No new solicitations until reauthorization—though there's been some movement here. There's also a bunch of new AI policy I need to dig into still. The bottom line hasn't changed: You cannot build a 10-year innovation ecosystem on annual appropriations battles. The regions that succeed are strengthening their partnership infrastructure now, and leveraging federal funding as a bonus to accelerate outcomes. See the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/euDxDVkZ

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Latest in my nonprofit series on Substack for nonprofit leaders that are serious of financial sustainability. Nonprofit endowment thinking starts before the endowment.

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🌍 I'm very excited to introduce the Adaptation Innovation Lab (AIL) - a new pilot accelerator helping climate adaptation entrepreneurs in emerging markets grow, scale, and attract investment. Hazelwood Network is proud to launch this pilot in partnership with First Matter, Achiiv and Foley Hoag LLP and funding from ClimateWorks Foundation. Climate adaptation and resilience is one of the most urgent and underfunded areas in the climate space. The entrepreneurs in this cohort are building exactly that. Please meet our inaugural cohort of AIL Fellows - 5 extraordinary companies from Nigeria, Costa Rica, Argentina, South Africa, and Bolivia - building solutions the world urgently needs: 🌿 Deina Mayaki (DSM): Agriarche LLC | Digitizing agriculture to connect farmers with inputs, markets, and finance 🔥 Franco Rodriguez Viau: Satellites on Fire | AI-powered early wildfire detection and real-time monitoring ⚡ Sofía Camarero & Jose Alfaro: Poás Bioenergy | Turning agricultural waste into biochar and clean energy to help farmers withstand climate shocks 🌲 Chloe Cormack: EcoRestore Africa | Locally-manufactured biofertilisers that restore soil health and protect ecosystems  📊 Fernando Yu & Rodrigo Garcia Ayala: Suyana Climate Insurance | Affordable climate risk insurance for farmers and renewable energy producers Over 4 months, our expert instructors - Nina Ali and Claire Rampen (First Matter), Shubha K. Chakravarthy (Achiiv), and Allie M. Clark, Esq. (Foley Hoag LLP) - are providing virtual training and 1:1 coaching on investment readiness, market access, and legal counsel. We are honored to welcome this cohort into our global community of climate innovators. The future of resilience is being built right now - and it's being built in emerging markets. 🌐 If you're an investor, partner, or organization interested in collaborating or supporting the next generation of adaptation entrepreneurs, we'd love to hear from you. Get in touch! #ClimateAdaptation #ClimateInnovation #EmergingMarkets #Accelerator #ClimateResilience #AdaptationInnovationLab

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Charities and donor-advised funds (DAFs) engaging in venture philanthropy typically invest through venture capital (VC) funds, acquiring indirect stakes in startups. This structure denies DAFs an insurable interest in the lives of founders or key personnel at those portfolio companies, as the DAF does not own the firms directly. NRP offers a superior alternative: direct deal flow enabling DAFs to invest in early-stage science and technology ventures aligned with the DAFs’ missions, bypassing funds entirely. VC funds rarely buy life insurance (term or whole life) on key persons. They demand such coverage within investee companies themselves, while fund-level policies are usually prohibited, and in any case, limited partners resist the 2/20 fee structure subsidizing an insurance strategy. DAFs face no such restrictions. They can legally own life insurance on donors, their own staff, and key individuals at directly invested private firms—even if the firm holds its own key-person policy. A DAF's independent policy avoids the firm's claims processes or governance, which could dilute benefits. Direct payouts to the DAF maximize utility. Applied across a portfolio of (for example) 40 firms, this strategy amplifies impact. The probability of a death benefit within five years rises substantially, creating a hedge against venture risks. These inflows should embolden DAFs to deploy more capital into high-potential science/tech innovations.  On the other hand, if just one firm is to be invested in, it helps reduce that risk also. Venture philanthropy already advances missions effectively. Integrating permissible life insurance elevates it, turning mortality risks into probabilistic returns. Tragically, traditional VC funds foreclose this synergy. https://lnkd.in/gcCjE88n

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I couldn’t agree more. SB1507 was one of the most discouraging outcomes of the session for Oregon businesses — an unfortunate contradiction to the goals of the Governor’s Prosperity Council. #Veto #SB1507

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California just made indoor heat safety non-negotiable. And this rule doesn’t just impact California-based companies—it affects any business with employees working in the state. New Cal/OSHA indoor heat rules are now in effect—and employers need to act fast. Warehouses, indoor cultivation, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants are now required to follow strict heat illness prevention guidelines once temps hit 82°F or above. Here’s what you need to know: 🔹 At 82°F, employers must: • Implement a written Indoor Heat Illness Prevention Plan (IHIP) • Provide cool-down rest breaks & water • Closely observe new employees during acclimatization • Train staff and supervisors on emergency response procedures 🔹 At 87°F or higher, additional actions are required: • Record indoor heat index and temperature • Use engineering controls (AC, ventilation, insulation) • Apply administrative controls (shift rotations, heat scheduling) • If needed, provide personal cooling equipment like ice vests or ventilated uniforms This isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting workers from heat-related injuries and fatalities. And with OSHA launching a federal heat rule, this won’t stay a “California-only” issue for long. DM me or visit https://lnkd.in/gzfBvpmB for guidance on how to build or update your heat illness prevention plan, ensure compliance, and keep your workforce safe this summer. #HeatSafety #CalOSHA #WorkplaceCompliance #CannabisRiskManager #EmployeeWellbeing #IndoorHeatStandard #WarehouseSafety #ManufacturingSafety #RiskManagement #CannabisSafety #WorkplaceHealth #HeatIllnessPrevention #OSHACompliance

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In philanthropy, trust-based approaches aren’t about removing accountability - they’re about redefining it. By funding relationships over transactions, and learning WITH grantees instead of just from them, funders can unlock the very thing traditional models often stifle: innovation, agility, and shared ownership of impact. Our recent blog explores how trust-based philanthropy changes the dynamics of power, data, and decision-making, and why it’s critical to building a more equitable and effective social sector. 🔗 Read more: https://hubs.la/Q03PP73d0 #TrustBasedPhilanthropy #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #Nonprofits #LearningTogether

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Sustainability in community projects requires intentional design. Effective initiatives are built on: ✅ Clear roles and boundaries ✅ Time-bound, focused support ✅ Skills and systems that last beyond the project lifecycle The most regenerative programs we engage with prioritize local ownership and transition planning from the outset. Building capability today creates a lasting impact tomorrow. Dependency is expensive. Capability compounds.

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How do you make strategic decisions for your nonprofit in a rapidly changing landscape? At the Nonprofit Association of Oregon's (NAO) webinar "Strategic Decision Time: Sunset or Sustainability," Anna Young and Myriam Khoury tackled the strategic questions facing organizations amid significant funding cuts and other volatility in the sector, and provided practical tools and templates for deliberate decision-making. Some key insights and tools from this session: ✏️ Use Assumption Mapping to focus your energy. It can feel like everything is unknown some days, but clarifying what's certain helps you stop spinning. NAO's downloadable Assumption Mapping chart lets you plot what's Known vs. Unknown and High Importance vs. Low Importance so you can focus your time where it matters. 📈 Try scenario planning for your biggest risks. Use tools like Bridgespan's Risk Analysis framework (designed specifically for nonprofits navigating disruption) to map out best case, moderate case, and worst case scenarios. You may not have perfect predictions, but you will have something to fall back on. ⏸️ Pause before deciding. Quick decisions feel productive during disruption, but pausing to be strategic pays off. Take time to decide who makes which decisions and communicate the "why" behind every choice. ❓ Build adjustments into your culture. Create daily, weekly, or monthly "pause" moments to ask: What's changing? What new information do we have? What needs to shift? Then use NAO's Pivoting Strategy Worksheet to map your top priorities, identify risks, clarify non-negotiables, and assign next steps. 🧠 Know your brain and have compassion for yourself. Our brains can be our worst enemies in crisis mode, but knowing what’s happening when your brain navigates uncertainty can help you handle it. When fight-or-flight kicks in: slow down, engage others who have your back, and delegate deliberately. Thank you, Anna and Myriam, for equipping nonprofit leaders with practical resources to navigate disruption with courage and care. Access the webinar recording and downloadable tools, as well as the rest of NAO’s five-part series: https://bit.ly/45FK11H #nonprofitresources #nonprofitleadership

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