The Commons from the Chronicle of Philanthropy
Dear John,
We are days away from an election in which the stakes seem high. Yet reporting for The Commons, I find that many nonprofits and grant makers working to close America’s divides are looking beyond November 5. They believe that no matter the outcome next week, bitter fault lines will remain that reach nearly every corner of philanthropy.
Consider this: In a Chronicle of Philanthropy survey of nonprofit leaders earlier this year, two-thirds said polarization affects their work.
So what will you do on November 6? Here, we highlight three stories from The Commons that offer ideas. In one, nonprofit leaders come together from across the ideological spectrum to help one another in what amounts to an old-fashioned barn-raising. A second offers tips for navigating powder-keg topics that come up in conversations with donors and staff.
And finally, three nonprofit leaders share their personal experiences at the helm of organizations lashed by polarization’s storms. Each talks about an untenable dilemma — to uphold their organization’s mission and values even though doing so threatened its finances and its very survival.
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| INNOVATION | | Can 50 Nonprofits Really Build Something Together? A Hopeful Idea Begins to Spread | | Inside an effort dubbed “mutual aid on steroids” that’s getting a tryout in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, and Lexington, Kentucky. | | Read More ► |
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| LEADING | | To Hell and Back: Polarization and the Nonprofit Leader | | Three leaders whose organizations were battered by the country's divisions talk about the risks they faced and the tough choices they had to make. | | Read More ► |
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| TIPS | | Advice to Keep Tough Conversations Civil | | A primer for the nonprofit professional who has to keep things cool when temperatures are rising. | | Read More ► |
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What Do We Mean When We Talk About Community?
Another way to prepare for November 6: Join our next episode of The Commons in Conversation on October 30, with Amy McIssac of Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement. Amy leads a project examining how Americans use and respond to language that describes our civic values, ideals, and practices. She will talk about words that bring us together and drive us apart — including terms common in philanthropy such as “community,” “democracy,” and “racial equity.”
The event is free; registration is required to watch. Register here.
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| In the meantime, I invite you to visit The Commons and keep up with everything there by signing up for our weekly LinkedIn newsletter.
Sincerely,
Drew Lindsay
Senior Editor
Chronicle of Philanthropy
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