Nonprofit Board News, June 2025: Leading During Turbulent Times

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While many of the funding fears that have gripped the nonprofit community in the U.S. throughout 2025 have subsided a bit, that doesn’t mean the overall atmosphere has calmed.

To the contrary, government influence — from ousting board members to prompting resignations due to unpopular moves — has hit nonprofit boards hard, and shows no sign of slowing.

Here’s a look at a few of the headlines that caught our eyes during the last couple of weeks.

Fulbright Board Accuses White House of Unlawful Interference

The entire board of Fulbright, the nation’s best-known academic exchange program, resigned recently, citing political interference from the Trump Administration.
Board members said the administration denied awards to selected individuals and is reviewing 1,200 foreign recipients.
The board claimed the actions contradict Fulbright’s mission of free speech and academic freedom. “We believe these actions not only contradict the statute, but are antithetical to the Fulbright mission and the values including free speech and academic freedom that Congress specified in the statute,” the board said a memo.

Indiana University Trustees Ousted

Meanwhile, in Indiana, Gov. Mike Braun fired three elected members of Indiana University’s Board of Trustees and appointed replacements.
Braun removed Donna Spears, Vivian Winston, and Jill Burnett from the board at the start of June. Braun replaced them with broadcaster Sage Steele, attorney James Bopp Jr., and attorney Brian Eagle.
Braun gained the power to make Board of Trustees moves in the Indiana General Assembly’s most recent session, as part of the state’s latest budget. Braun wasted little time putting that power to use.

ASAE Offers Insight on Handling the Turbulence

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) obviously doesn’t speak for all types of nonprofit boards, but the advice it offers in its recent article, “Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Ways Association Leaders Can Support Their Teams During Change” could serve just about any type of nonprofit board well.
We won’t give away those 3 items — ASAE wants clicks just like the rest of us — but it does offer some additional insights that boards going through external challenges would be wise to consider.
“Supporting your team through uncertain times isn’t just about having the right answers; it’s about showing up with honesty, clarity, and consistency,” the article. says. “At the heart of that is communication. When change is constant, people look to leadership for cues on how to respond. The way you communicate — what you say, how often you say it, and how transparent you are — can shape your team’s understanding, as well as their confidence in the path forward.”

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About The Author

Adam Wire: Adam Wire is a Content Marketing Manager at OnBoard who joined the company in 2021. A Ball State University graduate, Adam worked in various content marketing roles at Angi, USA Football, and Adult & Child Health following a 12-year career in newspapers. His favorite part of the job is problem-solving and helping teammates achieve their goals. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two dogs. He’s an avid sports fan and foodie who also enjoys lawn and yard work and running.