“This is not about ending foreign aid, but restructuring assistance to serve U.S. interests and ensure money spent on aid programs actually reaches people in need,” said a State Department spokesperson in an emailed statement.
“I don’t think we’re under any illusion that the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund is going to close the entirety of the gap,” said Walter Kerr, co-executive director of the nonprofit Unlock Aid.
Unlock Aid, which advocates for U.S. Agency for International Development reforms, started the Foreign Aid Bridge Fund last week.
Though they know they can never replace all the money lost due to the Trump administration's freeze on foreign assistance, nonprofits are fundraising to help organizations struggling with the cuts.
Founders Pledge and The Life You Can Save said just the nonprofits they have previously supported face almost $100 million in funding shortfalls because of the freeze.
