Born and raised in Parkchester, Bronx, Sean Martin, nonprofit fundraiser, advocate, podcast host, and author of the forthcoming memoir, “Beyond the Bronx,” recently spoke with Amsterdam News about the landscape for nonprofits under the Trump administration.
Martin believes that in large cities like New York, with culturally and economically diverse constituents, nonprofit funding remains deeply inequitable. With growing federal pushback against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, these disparities are at risk of deepening. Communities which need the most support are being left behind.
After graduating from LaGuardia High School, Martin attended Bronx Community College and then received his undergraduate degree in economics from Ithaca College. Martin started his career in marketing, which suited his personality. He explained, “ I’m a natural people person. I’m a natural connector. I love engaging with people. So I’ve always been in the field of sales and marketing.”
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Martin was forced to pivot in 2017, but made the best of it. “I finally took a chance on myself,” he said. “I took some money we [my family] were supposed to buy a home with, and started my own business in the durable medical equipment industry, specifically here in the New York City area — and it took off.”
Martin’s success was the catalyst for another pivot. “I was feeling empty. I had made it out. I live in a suburban neighborhood, but I wasn’t feeling good about life.”
Martin decided his calling was to help those in need, people like him who grew up poor and working class in New York City. “I decided that my true purpose in life was to take all the things that I’ve learned, and go back to neighborhoods like the one that I’m from.”
Martin launched a podcast, “The Real Mentors,” aimed at teaching core principles of success for those who are underserved, or who lack resources, opportunities, or the connections possessed by the more privileged. “Success leaves a blueprint, and it leaves clues, but if no one shares those clues with you, you’re gonna probably get lost along the way.” Martin explained. “Entrepreneurs donate their time and their knowledge as well, to come and speak to different organizations, primarily of color here in the New York City area.”
Martin’s new line of work brought him into contact with nonprofits, making him even more sensitive to the challenges they currently face. The Trump administration has given a number of indicators that support for many nonprofits, particularly those in the cultural space, will be retracted, including:
- Placing 80% of staff at National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) on administrative leave
- Abruptly seizing leadership of the Kennedy Center
- Canceling the Challenger Grant, which funded programs for underserved communities.
- Canceling millions of dollars in previously awarded grants for arts and culture organizations
- Indicating a potential 80% grant reduction to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
- Issuing an executive order aimed at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture labeling some of its programming “divisive ideology.”
Further, massive tariffs will negatively impact many art galleries and a new requirement demanding those seeking NEA funding agree not to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, or “gender ideology,” jeopardizes production and casting decisions for a number of projects.
Martin suggests self-sufficiency as one response to the cuts in nonprofit arts funding. “I would ask people of color, since when did we start counting on the government to solve our problems and do right by us? By taking that approach, we can empower ourselves.We are resilient, and we will come out of the other side stronger.”
He also believes Blacks and other people of color should turn to the private sector for funding. “There are so many different avenues in the private sector, creative ways that starting a business can integrate the capitalist system for good. If you start a business and you’re in the community, why not take a few percentage points to donate back to the community or the charity of your choice?”
Martin applied that philosophy to local nonprofit KR3TS (Keep Rising To The Top), a 34-year-old organization based in Harlem providing comprehensive support for dancers. After developing a relationship with the founder and head, Violeta Galagarza, Martin leveraged his own resources and relationships to help the group. “I called in some favors. We were able to finance and fund the building of a new 1000-plus square foot, beautiful hardwood sprung dance floor for these dancers.”
Pointing to his own professional background, Martin believes better marketing can also benefit organizations seeking other avenues for funding. “You have resources in everyday individuals, and we’ve just got to do a better job about promoting it. Nonprofits are often locally-based and word doesn’t necessarily get out. Marketing can always be improved upon.”
Ultimately, Martin believes the resilience and creativity of the Black community and other communities of color will be key to their survival of what promises to be a radical restructuring of society along racial, ethnic, class, and gender lines. “The reality is, many people are going to be affected by these changes,” said Martin. “But if we take a victim’s mentality, we’re gonna slide backwards. So why not put our energy toward finding more creative ways to find funding? Let’s look at obstacles as challenges.”