Overview

• 826 Boston declined a $250,000 AmeriCorps grant, representing 7% of its budget, to avoid complying with DEI restrictions mandated by a Trump administration executive order.
• The organization’s board voted unanimously to forgo the funding, citing concerns about compromising its values and mission to support diverse student voices.
• As a result of the funding loss, 826 Boston can now afford only five tutors for the upcoming year, significantly impacting its operations.
• Executive Director Corey Yarbrough publicly explained the decision in a video, emphasizing the importance of standing by the nonprofit’s principles despite financial challenges.
• AmeriCorps itself faces turmoil, with its leadership placed on leave by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, while other institutions, such as Harvard, navigate similar DEI-related funding conflicts.