Politics have a way of oozing into every aspect of our lives these days, so why should the nonprofit world be any exception?
compiled by Jim Bush, Jessica Browning, and Nikki Rach
Among organizations like the ACLU or the NRA, there is little need to balance staff and donor beliefs because they are most likely aligned. But what about a food bank, a hospital foundation, or an independent school—nonprofits that should be apolitical? If politics transcend or thwart mission impact, the outcome could be disastrous for the organization and the causes they serve.
Studies show that nonprofit professionals, as a whole, tend to lean to the left politically, while many of the major donors that support their work lean to the right. This imbalance can create a natural tension—and an agenda many donors aren’t interested in funding.
Colleges and universities have grappled with this conflict for decades, but in the past few years, we’ve seen it become an issue across other nonprofit sectors as well. We believe the split has long been in existence, but it has become more pronounced recently as our country and our citizens have become more polarized.
As the number of donors nationwide continues to drop the stakes are high (Hadero, 2021). We, as nonprofit professionals on both sides of the aisle, must avoid the politicization of our organizations or risk alienation from donors who want to support apolitical organizations.
How can we avoid creating a political divide in our organizations?
As fundraising professionals, how can we balance the ideologies of those we work with and those who fund our work? We offer the following five suggestions. These recommendations may sound like common sense, but we have recently seen too many organizations stumble because they’ve failed to follow them. Let their missteps be a lesson.
#I. Focus on the mission…not polarizing topics.
This may seem like the most obvious recommendation, but it is often the hardest to follow.
An animal shelter we partnered with recently launched a capital campaign to build a new shelter. The homeless pet population had soared, and they were having trouble finding space for the dogs and cats in their care. In the midst of the campaign, shelter staff felt that it was important to establish a committee focused on implementing green energy practices.
Board members and donors—even those who value environmental stewardship—questioned the actions as irrelevant. The time and attention staff actions took away from the campaign efforts jeopardized the work of the volunteers and the investment of the donors. And they risked alienating donors who didn’t share their beliefs.
#2. Become truly donor-centric.
For years, the term “donor-centric” has been thrown around so often that it’s become white noise. Yet, the most effective and well-funded organizations practice this principle daily. We’re not saying that donors should run the show or even use the nonprofit to advance their own personal agendas.
To illustrate the point, we worked with a national historic preservation organization that enjoys significant support from wealthy donors, most of whom are conservative and over the age of 70. As the organization prepared for a campaign, one of the priorities the staff advocated for was the use of new technology platforms like virtual reality and smartphone apps to bring historic sites to life. The priority failed to secure traction and major funding because their donor base didn’t understand it—and didn’t trust “big tech” in general. Seeing the staff embrace technology so fervently also threatened the donors’ confidence in them.
Remember to invite donors to share what’s important to them and look for ways to truly align their philanthropic priorities with your goals. Involve them in the discussions, particularly during strategic planning sessions. Never try to pitch a pet project to a donor without knowing their philanthropic passions.
#3. Keep your personal agenda to yourself.
AFP Code of Ethics encourages us to put philanthropic mission above personal gain.
We recently saw the importance of this advice first-hand when a new president arrived on the campus of a midwestern university we worked with. The president brought new energy, new ideas, and excitement for the university’s future. They came from an institution where the topic of diversity, equity, and inclusion was critically important to trustees, alumni, students, and the community surrounding the university.
The new president quickly introduced DEI initiatives—out of context and without much discussion—as one of the university’s key capital campaign priorities. The campaign study revealed a disconnect between donors and the president’s actions.
Many trustees and key donors believed that the new president was pushing their own agenda at the expense of the programs they had championed for decades. Feeling their input was no longer important to the administration, they considered seeking another cause. Intensive cultivation and relationship-building were required to repair the relationship in advance of the university’s campaign.
#4. Never lie or obfuscate the truth.
We tell our clients that nothing is as important as honoring the donor. That includes staying away from hot topics.
If you lie to your donors, you run the risk of eroding any trust you have with them. Instead, if a donor asks for party affiliation or your views on a politically charged topic, politely steer the conversation in a different direction, or tell the donor it’s the organization’s policy not to promote any political viewpoint. And remember that promoting a political view on behalf of a nonprofit can jeopardize an organization’s 501(c)(3) status.
#5. Educate, don’t persuade.
To maintain an apolitical environment within an organization, always approach potentially divisive topics with care. If a new program truly advances the mission but could be seen as having political bias, spend time educating your board and donors on its importance.
We saw a situation play out recently when one of our community service partners was updating its mission. While staff leaders and board members were reviewing the current mission statement, a heated discussion arose around existing language that progressive staff members found offensive. Fortunately, staff and board members had built a relationship of mutual trust over the years. The discussion became an opportunity to open minds on both sides. Had that respect not been present, the situation could easily have resulted in either the donor or the staff members severing their relationship with the organization.
In our divided world today, it’s critical that we strive to maintain political neutrality. This means focusing on our missions and not on personal agendas. It’s listening to our donors—the investors that make our work possible. When we follow these best practices, we are far more likely to build a cohesive and highly functioning organization.
About the Authors
Jim Bush, Winkler Group Principal and President, has been a fundraiser for more than 30 years. Recognized as an expert in his field, he’s helped nonprofits, universities, and healthcare systems raise more than $300 million and increase their organizational capacity through strategic planning. A noted lecturer, trainer, and teacher, Jim’s articles on fundraising have been published in leading nonprofit journals. He serves on the Giving USA Editorial Review Board and holds a bachelor’s degree from Elon University.
Jessica Browning, Winkler Group Principal and Executive Vice President, has helped lead nonprofit organizations for more than 25 years. An award-winning case statement writer, Jessica is a specialist in donor communications and a former member of the Giving USA Editorial Review Board. Jessica received a B.A. from Duke University as well as an M.A. and M.B.A. from the College of William & Mary.
Nikki Rach, Vice President of Client Services, is widely regarded as a thought leader in the field of professional fundraising. Nikki Rach brings over 25 years of experience as a successful fundraiser and nonprofit executive to Winkler Group clients. A graduate of Concordia University, Ms. Rach is also an active community volunteer.
References
Hadero, H. (2021, July 27). Share of households donating to charity drops to lowest level in nearly 20 years. Chronicle of Philanthropy. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/only-half-of-american-households-donate-to-charity
