Carry the Torch for Civil Society and Democracy
It’s hard to watch the degradation of civil society and shared values. Most recently we witnessed the death of two human beings at the hands of those expected to protect us; but examples are plentiful about how boundaries and norms are being crossed in ways we never expected. And, frankly, have not experienced before in our country.
Even in the face of our upside-down world, philanthropy has a role to play in ensuring norms of decency, equity, and fairness are extended to all in our nation. And nonprofits are — and always are — on the front lines of much of this work.
One way that the philanthropic sector can help nonprofits to be as effective and impactful as possible is by embracing the Doing Good Better ideals. A partnership between CNJG and the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, DGB is a systems-change movement to reimagine relationships among funders, nonprofits, and even government, to create shared power rooted in collaboration, mutual trust, and respect. Breaking this movement into bite-size and achievable components, we identified four goals that funders can put into practice that can make an immediate difference in addressing power dynamics between nonprofits and funders, and maximize nonprofit impact. We’ve shared them before, but they are worth repeating:
Last year, the DGB working group created a self-assessment tool to help funders consider how their current policies and practices align with these goals. I encourage you to use the reflection tool to help you evaluate how your current grantmaking practices are aligned with the above goals, and consider how your organization might shift your practices to better support your grantees and nonprofit partners. And don’t just share the tool with your staff, challenge your board to complete the assessment and analyze your practices through the lens of these goals. This year, our team of DGB champions is hoping to share the message with CNJG members’ boards. If you’re interested in hosting us at your board meeting, let me know.
Shared facts, data, and information are critical for decision-making, analysis, problem-solving and innovation that ultimately improve people’s lives and support thriving communities. I want to encourage you to ask your grantees and nonprofit partners to share their voice through the Center’s New Jersey Nonprofit Trends and Outlook Survey. This important survey is open to all NJ nonprofits, and the resulting report, as all previous reports have done, will provide critical data and information to inform our collective work. The deadline for the survey is February 9.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy released a new report yesterday, “A Sector in Crisis: How US Nonprofits and Foundations are Responding to Threats.” Among their three key findings are the following: extraordinary threats to the nonprofit sector, foundations initial response, and foundations’ role in supporting the nonprofit sector. I was particularly surprised as I read the report that “approximately 20 percent of foundation leaders interviewed do not believe foundations have much responsibility to help nonprofits navigate in the current context.” I hope you will read the report to come up with your own conclusions, and as you do, consider another foundation leader’s take on the report, reflecting four principles of interpretation for the piece. It is a powerful, must read.
As we move through these difficult times, I’m cautiously comforted by Professor Timothy Snyder’s twenty lessons from the 20th century adapted in his seminal book, “On Tyranny” which serves as a set of instructions based on real facts and recent history so we can guard against the unraveling of democracy and civil society. Two lessons stand out for associations and nonprofits, “remember professional ethics” and “contribute to good causes.” CNJG’s professional ethics and values are embedded in our strategic plan’s mission to “support and elevate NJ’s philanthropic community through shared learning, collaborative and trusting relationships, network building, and leadership.” Our strategic plan, led to the crafting of our policy agenda which calls out five priorities loud and clear, including a well-resourced nonprofit sector and a healthy democracy and engaged communities/civic engagement.
Organizations like CNJG, the New Jersey Center for Nonprofits, and CEP, are on the front lines of helping us maintain our professional ethics. Your philanthropic organization is too.
Embracing the Doing Good Better movement, encouraging your nonprofit partners to take the Center’s annual survey, and understanding the implications of the CEP’s recent report, are perhaps small - but if done as a community of funders - mighty ways that New Jersey’s philanthropic sector can carry the torch for civil society and democracy.
We can’t sit this one out. There is too much at stake.
In community,
Theresa Jacks, President and CEO
Council of New Jersey Grantmakers