Latest news with #grantFunding
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Judge orders Trump administration to restore part of UCLA's suspended funding
The University of California said it was reviewing a settlement offer by the Trump administration for UCLA in which the university would pay US$1 billion. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON : A US judge yesterday ordered President Donald Trump's administration to restore a part of the federal grant funding that it recently suspended for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). US district judge Rita Lin in San Francisco ruled that the grant funding suspensions violated an earlier June preliminary injunction where she ordered the National Science Foundation (NSF) to restore dozens of grants that it had terminated at UCLA. That order had blocked the agency from cancelling other grants at the UCLA system, of which UCLA is a part. 'NSF's actions violate the Preliminary Injunction,' Lin, an appointee of Democratic former president Joe Biden, wrote. The White House and the university had no immediate comment on the ruling. UCLA said last week the government froze US$584 million in funding. Trump has threatened to cut federal funds for universities over pro-Palestinian student protests against US ally Israel's military assault on Gaza. The Los Angeles Times newspaper reported that the judge's order asked for the restoration of more than a third of the suspended US$584 million funding. UCLA said last week it was reviewing a settlement offer by the Trump administration for UCLA in which the university will pay US$1 billion. It said such a large payment would 'devastate' the institution. The government alleges universities, including UCLA, allowed antisemitism during the protests. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say the government wrongly equates their criticism of Israel's war in Gaza and its occupation of Palestinian territories with antisemitism, and their advocacy for Palestinian rights with support for extremism. Experts have raised free speech and academic freedom concerns over the Republican president's threats. Democratic California governor Gavin Newsom called the Trump administration's settlement offer a form of extortion. Large demonstrations took place at UCLA last year. Last month, UCLA agreed to pay over US$6 million to settle a lawsuit alleging antisemitism. It was also sued this year over a 2024 violent mob attack on pro-Palestinian protesters. Rights advocates note a rise in antisemitism, anti-Arab bias and Islamophobia due to conflict in the Middle East. The Trump administration has not announced equivalent probes into Islamophobia. The government has settled its probes with Columbia University, which agreed to pay over US$220 million, and Brown University, which said it will pay US$50 million. Both accepted certain government demands. Settlement talks with Harvard University are ongoing.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hestia Women's Giving Circle celebrates 20th anniversary
PETOSKEY — When the Hestia Women's Giving Circle was first founded in Northern Michigan in 2005, they had fewer than 15 members. Twenty years later, their membership is nearing 90 and they have awarded more than $900,000 in grant funding. According to their website, Hestia's founding members were driven by a desire 'to support local organizations serving women and girls.' 'I was working at Planned Parenthood at the time and a number of us who were associated with Planned Parenthood became acquainted with the concept of giving circles, and specifically women's giving circles,' said founding member Martha Lancaster. 'So we looked at forming one for this community. It took a little while to get going, and we eventually settled on the model that we have now.' Giving circles operate in a way where members pool their resources to support various charitable causes, sometimes focusing on a specific issue. 'We wanted to specifically fund programs that benefited women and girls locally and with a special emphasis on protecting reproductive freedom,' Lancaster said. Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you More: Hestia Women's Giving Circle seeks applications for grant cycle Over the years, their grant funding has benefitted local nonprofits in ways both big and small, ranging from contributing to the Women's Resource Center of Northern Michigan's Empowering Bright Futures capital project to helping send girls on the Petoskey Youth Advisory Council to a statewide conference. 'Sometimes it can be a small $1,500 grant or as large as a $15,000 grant,' said chair Karen Strough-Donnelly. 'But it just depends on what the focus is and the priorities we have as an organization.' Strough-Donnelly is fairly new to Hestia. She attended her first meeting about four years ago. 'That's where I started learning so much more about our community and the things that the community needed, especially for women and girls, and really believe in the concept behind what we're doing,' she said. 'Our dues money is what funds these grants, so it only comes from dues money. There is no administrative monies to run what we do.' This year, the group plans to award 20 grants from around 30 applications. 'The other thing I'm really proud about is our grant process,' Lancaster said. 'We do a really thoughtful look at the applicants. We ask for data, especially if they were funded before we ask for a report on how they used the funds in the past. We contact them and ask more questions and make sure they know what they're doing.' With 20 years and nearly $1 million worth of grants behind them, Hestia is looking to the future. They recently completed a strategic planning process to focus on ways to recruit new members and continue to grow the impact they can have in the community. 'We're working hard to try and get the word out,' said Strough-Donnelly. 'The more members we can get, the more dues money we can collect and the more we can give.' Those interested in learning more about Hestia can attend their annual member reception and grant presentations from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 at Pond Hill Farm. They can also find information at or on the group's social media. — Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@ This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Hestia Women's Giving Circle celebrates 20th anniversary in 2025
Washington Post
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Judge blocks administration from enforcing anti-diversity and anti-transgender executive orders
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in California has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing anti-diversity and anti-transgender executive orders in grant funding requirements that LGBTQ+ organizations say are unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar said Monday that the federal government cannot force recipients to halt programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion or acknowledge the existence of transgender people in order to receive grant funding. The order will remain in effect while the legal case continues, although government lawyers will likely appeal.
Washington Post
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Harvard says it won't abandon ‘core' principles to meet Department of Education demands
BOSTON — Harvard University responded Monday to recent threats from the Education Department to halt its grant funding, highlighting reforms it was undertaking but warning it won't budge on 'its core, legally-protected principles' over fears of retaliation. A letter from Harvard President Alan Garber detailed how the institution had made significant changes to its leadership and governance over the past year and a half. Among the reforms, Garber said, was a broad 'strategy to combat antisemitism and other bigotry.'
