You may have heard the piece of advice, “don’t sacrifice the good at the altar of perfection.” In other words, too strong a commitment to the highest quality work can lead one to produce nothing at all. As we watch the increasing push for nonprofits to lean towards supposedly more neutral or balanced subjects, we think this could be a mistake. The need to avoid partisan efforts does not—and should not—mean trying to go a-political.
It is easy to conflate or confuse political communications with those that are partisan.
Political | Action, communications or efforts that connect to, deal with or encourage activity related to power, how it is used, distributed and transformed into opportunities.
Nonprofits need to be political at this moment and your mission is often inherently political. Think about reproductive rights, immigration, gender equity, animal rights, educational funding, health equity…the list goes on. There is no way to work on these issues without engaging with themes of power, its distribution and the opportunities or constraints it places on different groups in our society. Nonprofits are often by nature political.
Partisan | Activity or communication which calls out specific candidates or parties, or lobbies directly for (or against) them.
You can make a political statement related to your work, and should do so enthusiastically. Choosing to align publicly on political issues related to your cause can foster community and build a culture around a specific set of values that directly connect to advancing your organization’s mission. You should openly leverage your political stances to find and grow supporters, community and allies.
After the attempted assassination of former President Trump, a number of philanthropic organizations published statements calling on the sector to find common ground, arguing that it is time to come together. It is easy to read this call-to-action as a rebuke—to downplay political values in the name of peace and extend a hand to those with very different political goals. Let’s be real: Your hands are full. In this moment the way we find common ground must be by simultaneously reemphasizing the humanity of your political opponents while fully laying out the arguments for why their policies do not lead where you want to go:
- Political violence is never legitimate. That’s why we support stronger gun control laws.
- No matter who you vote for, or what party you support, every individual should have control over the medical decisions that impact their health. That’s why we support protecting reproductive rights.
- Voting is an American right, no matter your ideology, party or position. That’s why we support protections against gerrymandering, and increasing vote-by-mail ballots. No one should be kept from exercising their right to influence their future.
With renewed energy and fervor pouring into this high profile competition after President Biden withdrew his candidacy, now is the time to go all in. Organizations should capitalize on this change by clearly and compellingly making the case for the future you are building. Bring it alive, engage in the challenging debates that strengthen our democratic system and provide a clear sense for your audiences of what’s at stake. This is a competitive election and we will all feel the impact of its results. Make the case now for the kind of politics your