Groundwork: Mission Critical
As we contemplate peace and goodwill this holiday season, many people in Memphis and around the nation are navigating heightened fear and uncertainty — a reminder that year-end giving can also be an act of protection.
Memphis is often described as one of the most philanthropic cities in the nation. We give generously, we volunteer wholeheartedly and we show up for causes that matter. At the same time, we remain one of the poorest large cities in America, grappling with persistent crime, deep inequality and generational disinvestment.
Both things are true.
As 2025 draws to a close, that tension feels sharper than usual during this season of light-hearted galas, campaigns and end-of-year appeals. But this December’s realities make anxiety feel heavier than normal and needs seem more widespread. State troopers, National Guardsmen and other law enforcement agents have increased their presence as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force. Traffic stops are up. Arrests are up. For some residents everyday routines now come with added caution.
It is important to note this fear is not confined to one community, Memphis is also home to immigrants from across the world, including the African diaspora. Alongside Hispanic communities, these immigrants are living in fear as well. They are all navigating the same uncertainty, heightened by language barriers, unfamiliar systems and the real possibility of being caught in situations they do not fully understand or feel equipped to manage.
Across immigrant communities nonprofit leaders are working overtime to handle crisis situations, support children afraid to go to school and help families manage anxiety that stretches far beyond the holiday season.
These realities do not fit neatly into a fundraising brochure. Nor do they translate easily into a 60-second public service announcement. Yet this is exactly where Memphis nonprofits are doing some of their most essential work.
Across the city, organizations are stabilizing families in quiet, unglamorous ways. They are translating documents, hosting know-your-rights sessions, providing emergency food, offering legal referrals and creating spaces where people can breathe. They are educating residents about their civic rights, reminding people to vote and helping communities understand how local and state decisions shape daily life. They are absorbing fear so it does not spill further into classrooms, streets and homes.
This is not work driven by headlines or large marketing budgets. It is work driven by trust and sustained by proximity.
While year-end giving is often framed as generosity, this year, it may be better understood as stewardship. Stewardship asks different questions. Not just what inspires us, but what steadies the city. Not just what is visible, but what is holding things together when pressure rises and prevents situations from boiling over.
Data shows that Memphis does not lack generosity. Yet the pressures residents face — compounded this year by expanded federal and state intervention — point to a misalignment in how that generosity is distributed. Large, well-established institutions play an essential macro role in shaping systems, advancing policy and delivering services at scale. At the same time, the nonprofits most critical to day-to-day community stability are often smaller and less visible. These organizations provide the micro-level, direct-touch support that meets immediate needs, builds trust and prevents crises before they escalate. For a city to truly stabilize and progress, both must thrive. When either is under-resourced, the ripple effects are felt across the entire community.
As donors consider where to give before the year closes, there is value in looking toward organizations that specialize in stability: Community-based nonprofits providing eviction prevention; groups supporting immigrant families; organizations focused on re-entry support, transportation assistance and legal navigation. These are just a few nonprofit categories that rarely have donor campaigns, but they are often the first call when challenges threaten our wellbeing.
This kind of giving may not come with a ballroom or a spotlight. It may just come with a folding table, a donation hotline or an overworked volunteer answering the same questions for the tenth time. But this is what it looks like when philanthropy meets reality — and quite often identifying these philanthropic opportunities requires a little research and some patience.
Memphis has long prided itself on being a benevolent city but there is still an overwhelming amount of need going unaddressed. As the year comes to a close, resolving to give more thoughtfully can deepen our sense of stewardship and better align philanthropy with the most mission-critical work. Helping people feel protected, respected and safe — this is generosity in its purest form. For a city striving toward peace, comfort and joy, it is the most sacred groundwork of all.
— Judith Black Moore is a nonprofit consultant and founder of Taking Back the Future, a youth-focused nonprofit. With decades of leadership experience at nationally recognized nonprofit organizations, she brings a seasoned, strategic lens to the issues that matter most in the nonprofit sector.
