This chapter explores how gender equity programmes at US universities navigated the overlapping crises in 2020–21, including the COVID-19 pandemic and national political and racial unrest. Based on 46 interviews, we examine how pre-existing equity programmes in the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE Programme and institutional geopolitical context shaped university responses to these crises. Our thematic analysis shows that ADVANCE teams in institutions with well-integrated gender equity initiatives and recent data collection were better able to incorporate gender equity into university leadership crisis response plans. At the same time, teams in politically conservative regions faced increased resistance and less integration of equity into their institution’s responses. We highlight how crises can present opportunities for social change or exacerbate challenges, depending on institutional and political contexts.