An Important Update from Root Cause

Dear Root Cause Friend, 

For 20 years, Root Cause has helped drive transformative social change in communities nationwide. Looking back, we’re grateful to have achieved so much, in partnership with so many extraordinary individuals and organizations. 

Over the past several months, nonprofits and public agencies have faced devastating challenges due to the volatile uncertainty of federal funding. Organizations are now forced to make difficult decisions about where to allocate resources and how best to continue their work. Some of our clients have paused or discontinued projects and others are thoughtfully reserving discretionary funds for urgent needs, rather than the capacity building or strategic services that Root Cause offers.  

Since our founding, Root Cause has been focused on improving lives and delivering better outcomes for people in their communities. Through every iteration of our team, we have prioritized learning, evolving, and adapting to meet that goal. It is now clear to us that our current operating model is no longer a sustainable way to deliver the support and impact most needed at this time.

Today, we are writing to share that we have begun winding down operations. Root Cause will not be accepting new projects beyond 2025, and our team will be pursuing new paths — individually and in partnership — towards social change. We believe that this decision will create exciting new opportunities to expand our impact as strategists, capacity builders, facilitators…and humans. 

What this means for clients and partners: Our existing projects and commitments will continue according to their current work plan. If we need to make changes to the team, we will let you know immediately. 

What this means for our team: All of the impact we’ve made as an organization over these 20+ years is because of the incredible, thoughtful work of our team. Each person has brought talent, heart, and deep commitment to social change — and that dedication continues. As we move forward, many of us are eager to keep supporting mission-driven work and would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with clients, partners, and funders — whether as consultants or future team members. We encourage all of you to reach out to us to learn what we’re planning next; and if you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact Erin Rodriguez. 

In Solidarity (to a world of justice and wellbeing for all),

Erin and the Root Cause team