A Defining Moment: Will Philanthropy Stand Strong for Girls Around the World?

What happens when the world’s largest global development funder suddenly stops paying the bill?

Girls lose access to education. Refugees go without food. Families lose financial support, making early marriage seem like the only option for their daughters.

The USAID funding freeze isn’t just a policy shift — it’s a full stop on lifesaving programs around the world.

At Plan International, we’ve already had to halt 13 projects across 12 country offices, impacting $38 million in grant funding with $19.5 million in unspent funds frozen for programs that provided education for girls, protection from violence and economic opportunities for families. The consequences are immediate:

• In Burkina Faso, a trafficking prevention program that protected girls from exploitation has been shut down, leaving thousands more at risk.
• In Ethiopia, a child care initiative supporting 45,000 women factory workers has been terminated, jeopardizing the livelihoods of thousands of families who depend on these jobs to survive.
• In Nepal, a $20 million, USAID-funded program that helped 1 million children enroll in school and gain job skills was shut down — cutting off critical education pathways and leaving girls at greater risk of child marriage. For girls like Ganga, who depended on USAID-funded remedial classes, this loss means not just a disruption in learning, but a push toward early marriage as her family struggles to find alternatives.
• In Nigeria, the closure of a USAID-supported learning center has left 15,003 children — 7,914 girls — without education, increasing their risk of child labor and early marriage.

This isn’t theoretical — it’s happening now. This is what a funding freeze looks like in real life.

So here’s the question we’re all asking: What happens next? While few believe philanthropy alone can fill the gap, the real question is how the sector will respond to prevent catastrophic setbacks for girls and women.

This is a moment of reckoning for funders, corporate partners and the nonprofit sector. If we don’t act now, decades of progress for girls and women could disappear overnight.

The scope of the crisis: Girls and women on the line

Girls are especially vulnerable in contexts of hunger, conflict and crisis. USAID funding has played a critical role not only in addressing rising global needs but also, through partners like Plan, in meeting the unique needs of girls in these situations. Yet, progress remains fragile. Consider this:

• 129 million girls worldwide are out of school.
• Girls in conflict zones are 2.5 times more likely to be denied education than their male counterparts.
• USAID programs have helped 4.7 million women gain financial independence.
• Millions of girls have accessed safe learning spaces and psychosocial support through USAID-backed initiatives.

How nonprofits are adapting

The USAID funding freeze was abrupt — nonprofits didn’t see it coming and are navigating uncertainty as the courts debate the issue. Plan and many of our peers are making difficult choices — figuring out how to keep critical programs running despite losing a third of our financial support. The question isn’t just how to adapt, it’s how to ensure that girls don’t lose the progress they’ve fought for while the world figures out its next move. Without urgent action, many of them will lose that progress.

What funders can do now

Can philanthropy replace government aid? The short answer? No. But it can play a bigger role. Here’s how:

1. Bridge the funding gap: Support education, economic opportunity and safety programs for girls and women.
2. Provide unrestricted support: Flexibility is key — unrestricted grants allow nonprofits to respond quickly.
3. Use influence for policy advocacy: Push for the return of government funding.
4. Invest in locally led solutions: Build resilience through community-driven initiatives.
5. Speak out against harmful policies: Use platforms to advocate against policies that harm vulnerable communities. The reality is stark: USAID’s budget is nearly $30 billion a year — a scale no single foundation or donor network can replace.  However, private funding can play a critical role as part of a larger strategy. We’re already seeing promising shifts in real time:

• Corporate partnerships are evolving. Some companies are expanding corporate social responsibility investments, especially in education and workforce development, leveraging shared values partnerships to align their philanthropy with long-term social impact.
• Foundations are stepping up. Many are shifting priorities to keep education and economic programs alive.
• Unrestricted funding is gaining traction. More donors realize that flexibility is key in moments like this.

A defining moment for philanthropy

The USAID freeze isn’t just a funding gap — it’s a test of our global commitment to girls and women. The outcome won’t just shape the future of nonprofits — it could determine the future for millions of people worldwide.

Who will fund the next generation of girls’ education programs? What happens to communities that relied on USAID for economic stability? How can philanthropy evolve beyond emergency relief?

Philanthropy has a chance to lead — but lasting impact requires collective action. We need bold funding, smart partnerships and real advocacy. For Plan, this is a test of our commitment to girls and women. The future of millions of girls is at stake.  This is our moment to protect the vital work that empowers girls and strengthens communities. 

At Plan, we’re doing everything we can to keep programs running — but we can’t do it alone. Together, we can safeguard progress, spark change and create a brighter future.

Shanna Marzilli is the President & CEO of Plan International USA, a global nonprofit advancing children’s rights and gender equality. She led the successful We Are the Girls $200 million fundraising campaign and has over a decade of executive leadership experience at Plan, overseeing business development, fundraising and partnerships with corporations and foundations. Before joining Plan, she worked in health policy at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island.

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