Foundations
Here's a look at documents from U.S. foundations
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New AmfAR Awards Give Much-Needed Boost to Aspiring Young HIV Researchers
NEW YORK, July 18 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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New amfAR Awards Give Much-Needed Boost to Aspiring Young HIV Researchers
Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research advance innovative HIV cure and prevention strategies
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, on Thursday announced new funding to four talented young researchers to support innovative strategies aimed at curing or preventing HIV infection. An exceptionally high level of interest among applicants reflects the increasingly competitive funding environment for aspiring postdoctoral
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NEW YORK, July 18 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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New amfAR Awards Give Much-Needed Boost to Aspiring Young HIV Researchers
Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research advance innovative HIV cure and prevention strategies
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, on Thursday announced new funding to four talented young researchers to support innovative strategies aimed at curing or preventing HIV infection. An exceptionally high level of interest among applicants reflects the increasingly competitive funding environment for aspiring postdoctoralscientists.
Named in honor of amfAR's founding chairman, the Mathilde Krim Fellowships in Biomedical Research offer a lifeline to young investigators selected through a rigorous peer-review process, providing $180,000 over two years with the possibility of an additional $50,000 for Phase II support.
"Young researchers infuse the field of HIV research with fresh energy and bold and creative ideas, and our Mathilde Krim Fellowships offer an increasingly rare and critically important source of support for the best and brightest," amfAR Chief Executive Officer Kevin Robert Frost said. "The Fellowships are a central component of amfAR's unique research funding model, which continually rewards and advances innovation."
"These four new Fellows gained high marks from our reviewers for their ingenuity and their well-designed and varied approaches to tackling HIV," amfAR's Director of Research Dr. Andrea Gramatica said. "With close to $1 billion in recent cuts to HIV research at the National Institutes of Health, it's impossible to overstate the importance of amfAR's research grants and fellowships in helping end the global HIV/AIDS epidemic."
A study by Francisco Zapatero Belinchon, PhD, of the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, shows amfAR's willingness to support bold ideas that might be considered too "high risk" by other grant makers. While antiretroviral therapy stops HIV from replicating, it cannot eradicate the hidden reservoir of dormant virus--the main barrier to a cure. Cure researchers have largely focused on waking up dormant virus so that it can be targeted by the immune system, but Dr. Zapatero Belinchon proposes a less conventional "block and lock" approach that aims to lock HIV into a silent state indefinitely, preventing it from ever reactivating. He will use a powerful new tool called "BrecOFF" that combines a protein called Brec1 that finds the part of the genome where HIV hides with "molecular silencers" that shut down HIV activity by modifying how DNA is packaged.
Tianling Ou, PhD, of MIT and Harvard's Broad Institute, proposes a brand-new and extremely promising strategy for solving one of HIV vaccine research's greatest puzzles: how to guide the immune system to mount a powerful response to HIV from the outset. Dr. Ou will use a specialized mouse model to test whether HIV-fighting antibodies produced early in the course of infection can be nudged into becoming much more potent broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) through a series of carefully timed interventions. If successful, the study could provide a pathway to developing protection against HIV using the body's own immune machinery.
Hannah King, PhD, of the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne, Australia, aims to harness the power of checkpoint inhibitors, used successfully in cancer treatment, to reinvigorate exhausted HIV-fighting T cells. To date, this approach has produced inconsistent results. Using cutting-edge single-cell analysis, Dr. King will identify patterns among samples from previous clinical trials to predict who will respond best to this treatment. The goal is to find immune markers or gene signatures that act like fingerprints for a successful response. These insights could make checkpoint therapy safer and more effective for people with HIV and help refine future cure strategies.
Finally, a study by Elizabeth Hastie, MD, of the University of California, San Diego, could integrate gender-affirming care into HIV cure research, addressing an urgent gap in knowledge for a community heavily impacted by HIV: transgender women. Dr. Hastie will examine the impact of hormone therapy, specifically estrogen, on the immune system of transgender women living with HIV. Studies suggest estrogen may influence how certain immune cells respond to the virus, potentially helping control it more effectively. Dr. Hastie hopes to understand whether hormone therapy can enhance antiviral immunity or even reshape HIV's ability to persist in the body.
About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide. Learn more at www.amfAR.org
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Original text here: https://www.amfar.org/press-releases/new-amfar-awards-give-much-needed-boosts-to-aspiring-young-hiv-researchers/
Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson Joins the Election Protection Project Podcast for Season Two Launch
WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson Joins the Election Protection Project Podcast for Season Two Launch
The Election Protection Project Podcast kicked off the season two premiere with Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson.
In the episode, Secretary Watson discusses:
* Mississippi's "TextMyGov"
* Post-election audits
* Watson's upcoming term as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
* What is needed to improve voter ID laws nationwide
"Secretary
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WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following news release:
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Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson Joins the Election Protection Project Podcast for Season Two Launch
The Election Protection Project Podcast kicked off the season two premiere with Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson.
In the episode, Secretary Watson discusses:
* Mississippi's "TextMyGov"
* Post-election audits
* Watson's upcoming term as president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
* What is needed to improve voter ID laws nationwide
"SecretaryWatson has made Mississippi a national model of strong election efforts--where voters trust that it is easier to vote and harder to cheat," said Josh Findlay, host of the Election Protection Podcast. "From modernizing communication with voters to post- election audits, Watson has implemented reforms that strengthen confidence in the process."
You can watch the full interview HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YX3XDW-V1Zc).
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Original text here: https://www.texaspolicy.com/press/mississippi-secretary-of-state-michael-watson-joins-the-election-protection-project-podcast-for-season-two-launch
JED Launches New Programming to Strengthen Mental Health Support in Fraternities and Sororities
NEW YORK, July 18 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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JED Launches New Programming to Strengthen Mental Health Support in Fraternities and Sororities
Initiative offers expert support, evidence-informed guidance to promote young adult emotional health and prevent suicide.
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Fraternities and sororities shape the college experience for hundreds of thousands of students, and they can have a powerful impact on the emotional well-being of their members and the broader campus community. Today, The Jed Foundation (JED) announced the launch of new programming to partner with
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NEW YORK, July 18 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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JED Launches New Programming to Strengthen Mental Health Support in Fraternities and Sororities
Initiative offers expert support, evidence-informed guidance to promote young adult emotional health and prevent suicide.
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Fraternities and sororities shape the college experience for hundreds of thousands of students, and they can have a powerful impact on the emotional well-being of their members and the broader campus community. Today, The Jed Foundation (JED) announced the launch of new programming to partner withGreek-letter organizations to help them transform member mental health.
Drawing on two decades of expertise and a proven comprehensive approach, The JED Greek-Letter Organizations programs provide tailored, evidence-informed guidance to fraternities and sororities committed to promoting emotional well-being and preventing suicide through a two-year technical assistance program or customized consulting. Over the course of the two-year program, JED partners with participating organizations to:
* Assess organizational needs and priorities
* Review, improve, or create policies and procedures
* Enhance substance misuse prevention through a JED-led, customized workshop, developed in partnership with Partnership to End Addiction
* Strengthen hazing prevention via a JED-led workshop, developed in partnership with the Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research
* Train staff, volunteers, alumni, and members using JED-developed workshops that meet their needs, including "You Can Help a Member" and "It's OK to Say Suicide."
* Support implementation tools, strategies, and techniques for measurable youth mental health improvements
* Evaluate progress and develop sustainability plans
Through customized consulting, JED partners with organizations to:
* Review or co-develop policies that strengthen and protect the emotional health of members and students who socialize with fraternal organizations, including crisis intervention, substance misuse and amnesty policies, bullying and cyberbullying, hazing, and sexual assault
* Provide workshops and trainings to address the identified needs of the organization
* Hold one-on-one coaching calls to problem-solve priority issues identities by the organization.
Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity (SigEp), with more than 12,000 undergraduates on 200 campuses, is among the first college fraternities to join this new program. Its mission is Building Balanced Men, achieved through a continuous member development program focused on personal and leadership development in a substance-free environment.
"JED's approach to supporting mental well-being in fraternity and sorority communities will ensure SigEp's policies and core experiences continue to be at the forefront in the prevention of suicide, hazing, and substance misuse," said Brian Warren, CEO of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. "The partnership will enhance our Balanced Men Program, which supports several dimensions of wellness, by helping our members understand themselves, seek balance, build strong relationships, and pursue excellence in their lives. Recommended by SigEp's Mental Health Committee based on JED's proven expertise, this partnership was a natural next step as we evaluate and enhance our experience for undergraduates and volunteers."
The JED Greek-Letter Organizations programs build on JED's recent report, Fraternities and Mental Health: Supporting Emotional Well-Being Among Members and Across Campus, which highlights both the potential positives and the risks of Greek life. The findings, coupled with JED's experience in this area, yielded several key recommendations and themes to enhance the emotional well-being of both fraternity members and other students on campus. While fraternities can provide belonging and social connection -- protective factors for mental health -- they also present significant risks, including substance misuse and sexual misconduct, that impact both members and the broader campus community, highlighting the need for increased awareness and positive response strategies.
"There are more than 1,500 Greek-letter organizations at colleges and universities across the United States, serving approximately 750,000 undergraduate students. These communities have enormous potential to foster connection, resilience, and support," said Dr. Katie Hurley, JED's Senior Director of Clinical Advising and Community Programming. "JED's new program meets fraternities and sororities where they are, helping them build systems of support that are grounded in research, responsive to their unique needs and cultures, and designed to enhance safety and well-being for their members and broader campus communities."
The program is rooted in JED's comprehensive approach, a proven model used across more than 530 colleges and universities nationwide. JED's recent report, A Decade of Improving College Mental Health Systems: JED Campus Impact Report, analyzed a decade of data (2013 to 2023) from JED Campus schools and the Healthy Minds Network survey. Schools that completed JED Campus saw statistically significant improvements in student mental health at the end of the program. Students were:
* 25% less likely to report a suicide attempt
* 13% less likely to report suicide planning
* 10% less likely to report suicidal ideation
Students also had improved average anxiety and depression scores, and were more likely to stay in school and graduate.
Fees for The JED Greek-Letter Organizations programs vary depending on organizational needs and scope. Sliding-scale options and grant support may be available.
For more information, contact greek@jedfoundation.org.
About The Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. We're partnering with high schools, colleges, and school districts to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We're equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We're encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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Original text here: https://jedfoundation.org/jed-launches-new-programming-to-strengthen-mental-health-support-in-fraternities-and-sororities/
Wellcome responds to first healthy babies born in the UK thanks to mitochondrial donation
LONDON, England, July 17 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
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Wellcome responds to first healthy babies born in the UK thanks to mitochondrial donation
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Beth Thompson, Executive Director for Policy & Partnerships at Wellcome, said:
"This is a remarkable scientific achievement, which has been years in the making and we are overjoyed for the families of the eight children born so far.
"The pioneering work behind mitochondrial donation is a powerful example of how discovery research can change lives. The UK has led the way and has demonstrated the
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LONDON, England, July 17 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
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Wellcome responds to first healthy babies born in the UK thanks to mitochondrial donation
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Beth Thompson, Executive Director for Policy & Partnerships at Wellcome, said:
"This is a remarkable scientific achievement, which has been years in the making and we are overjoyed for the families of the eight children born so far.
"The pioneering work behind mitochondrial donation is a powerful example of how discovery research can change lives. The UK has led the way and has demonstrated theimportance of science grounded in close and careful co-ordination between researchers, funders and regulators - and, very importantly, working closely with families affected.
"Wellcome has proudly supported this work since the earliest days, including advocating for legislation and licensing. As the science progresses, we will continue championing brave investment in science and for policy and regulation to keep pace. The success of this research should inspire us move forward on other updates, opening the way for further innovation. The groundwork for review of Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, for example, has been done, it now needs to move forward. We must ensure the UK stays a world leader in life sciences."
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Original text here: https://wellcome.org/news/wellcome-responds-first-healthy-babies-born-uk-thanks-mitochondrial-donation
Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 winners announced
LONDON, England, July 17 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
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Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 winners announced
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Wellcome unveiled the winners of its 2025 Photography Prize at a ceremony held at the Francis Crick Institute in London. Three outstanding image makers, UK-based artist Sujata Setia, Bangladeshi documentary and street photographer Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, and UK-based electron microscopy specialist and science photographer Steve Gschmeissner, were each awarded a PS10,000 prize. The winning images reflect how science and health shape people's
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, July 17 -- Wellcome, a charitable foundation, posted the following news release:
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Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 winners announced
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Wellcome unveiled the winners of its 2025 Photography Prize at a ceremony held at the Francis Crick Institute in London. Three outstanding image makers, UK-based artist Sujata Setia, Bangladeshi documentary and street photographer Mithail Afrige Chowdhury, and UK-based electron microscopy specialist and science photographer Steve Gschmeissner, were each awarded a PS10,000 prize. The winning images reflect how science and health shape people'slives in complex and deeply personal ways, from the hidden toll of domestic abuse to the everyday realities of climate migration, to the microscopic processes that underpin heart disease.
Now in its 28th year, the Wellcome Photography Prize celebrates compelling imagery at the intersection of science, health and human experience. From documentary photography to microscopy and medical imaging, it highlights diverse perspectives on global health and the vital role of visual storytelling in creating a healthier future.
At the ceremony, the remaining finalists were each presented with a PS1,000 prize, with a total of PS52,000 awarded. The event was hosted by Professor Danielle George CBE, engineer, astrophysicist, science communicator and television presenter.
The top 25 entries are on display in the Wellcome Photography Prize 2025 exhibition, which is free and open to the public at the Francis Crick Institute, running from 17 July to 18 October 2025.
Lara Clements, Associate Director, Engagement, Wellcome says: "The Wellcome Photography Prize offers image-makers a platform to showcase the impact of science and health on lives around the world. This year's winning works stood out not only for their technical accomplishment, but for the care and collaboration behind them. Sujata Setia's portraits raised powerful questions around dignity, confidentiality and sensitivity. Mithail Afrige Chowdhury's image exemplified the value of being embedded in the community and explored themes of adaptation, illusion and fantasy in a compelling way. Steve Gschmeissner's biomedical image impressed us with its precision and raised important questions about how scientific imagery is shared and understood by the public. We hope audiences will find the winners' work moving, educational and inspiring, and enjoy the full exhibition at the Francis Crick Institute."
The Winners
In the Storytelling Series category, Sujata Setia was recognised for A Thousand Cuts, a deeply collaborative portrait project developed with survivors of domestic abuse within South Asian communities. Each image is a composite of personal testimony, visual symbolism, and traditional craft. Setia worked with the women and with the charity SHEWISE to create portraits that protected anonymity without erasing identity, applying the Indian paper-cutting technique sanjhi to overlay each photograph. The results are intimate, powerful reflections on generational trauma, silence, survival, and the politics of representation. From the account of a woman forced into marriage twice by her father and left with lasting PTSD, to a mother determined to break the cycle of violence for her daughter, the series captures how abuse can become ingrained and normalised, and how art can offer a means of reclaiming narrative.
Sujata Setia says : "This is a monumental recognition. A Thousand Cuts being selected for Wellcome Photography Prize affirms that health cannot be separated from the histories that shape it. And that domestic abuse is never a singular event; it leaves a direct, trans-generational imprint on health. As a child who grew up in a home where violence was a daily occurrence, I carry that trauma like another limb. This recognition validates not just my story, but the invisible, intangible, yet deeply scarring legacy of gender-based abuse. Domestic abuse is one of the most widespread global crimes; and yet remains among the least publicly acknowledged health crises. I hope this moment becomes a catalyst for deeper dialogue and scholarship around the interrelation between domestic abuse and health. That is our collective hope."
Mithail Afrige Chowdhury was awarded the Striking Solo Photography prize for Urban Travel, a deceptively gentle image of a mother and daughter on a rooftop picnic in Dhaka. With few parks left in the city due to rapid urbanisation, this staged moment, a simple attempt to give a child a taste of nature, becomes an act of resilience. Nearly half of Dhaka's population today are climate migrants, displaced by increasingly extreme weather, and Chowdhury's work highlights the everyday consequences of these shifts: the loss of green space, of childhood rituals, of breath. The photograph is tender, composed, and yet filled with tension, a portrait of care and adaptation under invisible pressures.
Mithail Afrige Chowdhury says : "When I got the news, the first thing I did was charge my camera--not to take a photo, but to restart something I thought I'd lost. I won't dwell on personal or professional hardships, but this moment means more than I can say. I made this image two years ago, as part of a major project on climate change, urban sustainability, and public health.Then life intervened, and fear slowly pulled me away from the work I loved. But now, I can wake up with an objective. Because someone has my back. And that makes all the difference. Awards can feel technical but this recognition from Wellcome feels deeply human."
The winner of The Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging was announced as Steve Gschmeissner, whose electron microscopy image Cholesterol in the Liver reveals cholesterol crystals (shown in blue) forming inside lipid-laden liver cells (purple). These microscopic shifts, invisible to the naked eye, can have deadly consequences: when cholesterol hardens from liquid to crystal, it damages blood vessels and contributes to heart disease and strokes. Gschmeissner's colourised SEM image transforms this biological process into something visually striking, part data, part artwork. With a career spanning over four decades, and more than 10,000 images published in scientific journals, stamp collections, fashion collaborations, and music albums, his work exemplifies how imaging can bridge science and culture.
Steve Gschmeissner says : "When I discovered that Wellcome had reintroduced the Marvels of Scientific and Medical Imaging category, I was delighted to enter such a prestigious competition. I was thrilled to be shortlisted, and winning first prize is undoubtedly one of the highlights of my 50-year career of trying to bring the wonders of the microscopic world to all."
This year's prize drew submissions from over 100 countries. The Top 25 entries featured over 30 individuals from 18 countries, spanning Bangladesh, Brazil, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Myanmar, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, the UK, USA and beyond.
The winners were selected by an international judging panel comprising leading voices from photography, science, health and journalism. The panel was chaired by Melanie Keen, Director of Wellcome Collection, and included Caroline Hunter, Picture Editor at The Guardian; Daniella Zalcman, Photographer and Founder of Women Photograph; Benjamin Ryan, Independent Science Journalist; Elizabeth Wathuti, Environmental and Climate Activist; Esmita Charani, Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town; Helen Fisher, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at King's College London; Noah Green, Science Educator at the Beautiful Biology Initiative; and Mark Lythgoe, Director of the UCL Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging.
Wellcome Photography Prize Exhibition
Curated by Laurie Britton Newell and Ligaya Salazar, the Wellcome Photography Prize exhibition features images that reflect a wide spectrum of health experiences, from everyday routines to global challenges. Using techniques such as portraiture, cyanotypes, drone photography, and light and electron microscopy, the image makers show how health is lived, documented and researched around the world.
Many of the works respond to Wellcome's core focus areas, mental health, climate and health, infectious disease and discovery research. Together, they reveal how these issues overlap and take shape in different cultural and geographic contexts. The result is a layered and often unexpected portrait of health today, told through voices and perspectives that are frequently overlooked.
Among this year's highlights are Marks of Majesty: Vanessa by Julia Comita and Stephanie Francis, a portrait honouring the life and choices of a person impacted by breast cancer who opted for aesthetic flat closure, challenging assumptions around gender, illness and identity. Beautiful Disaster by Alexandru Radu Popescu shows a lake of toxic mining waste in Romania that continues to expand each year, an image of both striking beauty and environmental damage. Resilience Artist by Pyaephyo Thetpaing captures a craftsman in Myanmar who creates lacquerware using his foot, offering a broader reflection on health, disability and the role of cultural tradition in healing.
In the scientific imaging category, Ice and Fire Chronics by Ingrid Augusto, Kildare Rocha de Miranda and Vania da Silva Vieira shows the structure of the parasite that causes Chagas disease, which affects millions across the Americas. Blooming Barrier by Lucy Holland presents goblet cells inside the gut of a child with Hirschsprung's disease, offering insight into how cell structures influence lifelong digestive health. From Butterflies to Humans by Amaia Alcalde Anton reveals the brain of a butterfly mid-metamorphosis, part of a study into neurogenesis with implications for human brain development.
In addition to the Top 25 entries, the exhibition also features Things We Left Unseen, a youth-led photography project developed by Cape Town-based public health organisation Eh!woza. Created in collaboration with young people in the township of Khayelitsha, the project explores health, stigma, and daily life through the eyes of a generation growing up with high HIV and TB burdens, but also with hope and agency.
The exhibition is hosted at the Francis Crick Institute, reflecting a shared commitment to making science more visible through culture.
Ali Bailey, Director of Communications and Public Engagement at the Francis Crick Institute, said : "We are delighted to host the top images from the Wellcome Photography Prize, showcasing the power of visual storytelling in health and science. The images explore a number of themes that resonate with Crick research, from the health effects of air pollution to neurogenesis. We hope visitors will be moved by the stories behind these incredible photos and also inspired by how beautiful science can be."
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Original text here: https://wellcome.org/news/wellcome-photography-prize-2025-winners-announced
Prosperity Now Statement on FHFA Credit Score Policy Changes
WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) issued the following agency statement on July 15, 2025:
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Prosperity Now Statement on FHFA Credit Score Policy Changes
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) recent announcement on preserving Tri-Merge credit reports while approving the use of VantageScore 4.0 marks a significant policy development in mortgage lending. Prosperity Now appreciates the Agency's focus on improving access to home financing and reducing costs for consumers.
Implementation details will be key. Any changes to credit
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 17 -- Prosperity Now (formerly the Corporation for Enterprise Development) issued the following agency statement on July 15, 2025:
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Prosperity Now Statement on FHFA Credit Score Policy Changes
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) recent announcement on preserving Tri-Merge credit reports while approving the use of VantageScore 4.0 marks a significant policy development in mortgage lending. Prosperity Now appreciates the Agency's focus on improving access to home financing and reducing costs for consumers.
Implementation details will be key. Any changes to creditscoring frameworks--particularly in a market this complex--require clear coordination, consistent guidance, and transparency to ensure stability for lenders, investors, and borrowers alike.
For households striving toward financial stability in today's high-cost housing market, predictability in lending and pricing is essential. Expanding access to credit is a worthy goal, and the path to get there must be clear, actionable, and grounded in how the market operates.
We look forward to additional guidance from FHFA and the GSEs in the weeks ahead. Prosperity Now remains committed to advancing data-driven solutions that increase financial access, protect consumers, and support a resilient, well-functioning housing finance system.
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Original text here: https://www.prosperitynow.org/news-and-insights/prosperity-now-statement-on-fhfa-credit-score-policy-changes
[Category: Economics]
Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Rises for Third Straight Month
WASHINGTON, July 17 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation posted the following news release:
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Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Rises for Third Straight Month
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Washington, DC, July 17, 2025 - The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) today released its July 2025 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI), revealing a third consecutive month of increasing confidence in the equipment finance market. The index, which provides a qualitative assessment from key executives within the $1.3 trillion sector, climbed to 61.6 in July, up
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, July 17 -- The Equipment Leasing and Finance Foundation posted the following news release:
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Equipment Finance Industry Confidence Rises for Third Straight Month
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Washington, DC, July 17, 2025 - The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (the Foundation) today released its July 2025 Monthly Confidence Index for the Equipment Finance Industry (MCI-EFI), revealing a third consecutive month of increasing confidence in the equipment finance market. The index, which provides a qualitative assessment from key executives within the $1.3 trillion sector, climbed to 61.6 in July, upfrom 58.2 in June.
Providing an executive perspective on the MCI-EFI's findings and the outlook ahead, Jeffry Elliott, CLFP, CEO of Elevex Capital and Equipment Leasing & Finance Association Treasurer, shares his outlook: "As we navigate the second half of 2025, concerns around inflationary pressures driven by escalating tariffs and the economic drag from intensified immigration enforcement are becoming increasingly pronounced. These forces are not only straining supply chains, but also constraining labor availability--two critical components for productivity and growth in the commercial equipment finance sector."
Elliot added, "However, there is a silver lining on the horizon. The push for onshoring and domestic manufacturing, while not an immediate remedy, holds long-term promise. As companies reconfigure supply chains and invest in U.S.-based production, we anticipate a resurgence in demand for equipment financing--particularly in automation, logistics, and infrastructure. Looking ahead, the groundwork being laid today for a more self-reliant industrial base could usher in a new era of opportunity for the equipment finance industry."
July 2025 Survey Results:
* Business Conditions - When assessing the next four months, 37.5% of responding executives believe business conditions will improve (up from 29.6% in June). The majority, 58.3%, believe business conditions will remain the same (down from 59.3% in June) and 4.2% believe business conditions will worsen (down from 1% in June).
* Capex Demand - For the next four months, 37.5% of the survey respondents believe demand for leases and loans to fund capital expenditures (capex) will increase (up from 29.6% in June). 58.3% expect demand to remain the same (up from 55.6%), and 4.2% believe demand will decline (down from 14.8% in June).
* Access to Capital - Over the next four months, 16.7% of respondents expect greater access to capital to fund equipment acquisitions, a decrease from 18.5% in June. The majority, 70.8%, anticipate the "same" access to capital to fund business, down from 81.5% the previous month. 8.3% expect "less" access to capital, up from none in June.
* Employment - Regarding employment over the next four months, 8% of executives expect to hire more employees, a decrease from 33.3% in June. 70.8% foresee no change in headcount (up from 66.7% last month), and 8.3% expect to hire fewer employees, up from none in June.
* U.S. Economy - 8.3% of leadership evaluate the current U.S. economy as "excellent," up from none in June. 91.7% assess it as "fair," down from 96.3% last month, with none evaluating it as "poor" (down from 3.7% in June).
* Economic Outlook - Over the next six months, 41.7% of respondents believe that U.S. economic conditions will "get better," a notable increase from 29.6% in June. Additionally, 41.7% expect the U.S. economy to "stay the same" (down from 51.9%), and 16.7% believe economic conditions will worsen, a slight decrease from 18.5% last month.
* Business Development Spending - Over the next six months, 25% of respondents believe their company will increase spending on business development activities, up from 18.5% in June. 75% believe there will be "no change" in business development spending (down from 77.8%), with none believing there will be a decrease in spending (down from 3.7% last month).
July 2025 MCI-EFI Survey Comments from Industry Executive Leadership:
Bank, Small Ticket
"I am optimistic about the commercial equipment leasing and finance industry because of the results. Specifically, 2025 has been a strong year of origination growth and portfolio performance that is within guidance and improving. While sentiment has been low, it is improving to better align with what I actually see happening in the market. I am cautiously optimistic that 2025 will be a solid year for the industry." David Normandin, CLFP, President and Chief Executive Officer, Wintrust Specialty Finance
Independent, Small Ticket
"Tariffs do not appear to be driving inflation as many economists projected. Any fed funds rate reduction would help increase economic activity." James D. Jenks, CEO, Global Finance and Leasing Services, LLC
To access more details and read the full survey results, visit the MCI-EFI web page.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to advance the $1.3 trillion equipment finance sector by producing data-forward research and market outlooks, as well as cultivating the next-generation workforce through Campus to Career programs, including curriculum development and collegiate scholarships. Founded in 1989 and 100% funded through charitable donations, the Foundation drives innovation and career development for the future of the industry. www.leasefoundation.org
Media Contact: Kelli Nienaber, knienaber@leasefoundation.org
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Original text here: https://www.leasefoundation.org/news_item/equipment-finance-industry-confidence-rises-for-third-straight-month/
