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Paul Light in Pathways to Nonprofit Excellence paints a grim portrait of the nonprofit industry when he presents evidence that the public does not have confidence in the sector, and what confidence it holds is waning. In the latter days of the last century, the public read about United Way, Red Cross and Nature Conservancy scandals. This century began with press scrutiny of Habitat for Humanity and Congressional investigations into excessive nonprofit executive salaries.
Light did a follow-up study in 2008. Americans remain skeptical of nonprofit organizations. Only 64% had either a great deal (16%) or fair amount (48%) of confidence in charitable organizations. Not only did respondents believe that the charitable sector wastes resources, the survey also indicated a sharp decline in the effectiveness rating. In 2003, 34% of the sample thought nonprofit agencies were doing a very good job of helping people. The "very good" rating dropped to 25% in 2008.
Light suggests two general methods of regaining public confidence and giving cogent answers to the bottom-line questions: become more business-like or become more nonprofit--like. There are problems with each alternative.
Next: Struggle for the Soul of the Nonprofit Sector
Light suggests two general methods of regaining public confidence and giving cogent answers to the bottom-line questions: become more business-like or become more nonprofit--like. There are problems with each alternative.
Next: Struggle for the Soul of the Nonprofit Sector
8 comments:
In our "good purposes," we fear the disenfranchised. We honor law and order above human need, and so we easily look to the failure of our society, to stories of poverty, to stories of violence. And those stories too easily turn us in the wrong direction, in defense of the well-heeled against those less fortunate.
Consider when Jesus said “you fed me, sheltered me, clothed me, visited me”, he was not emphasizing the damnation of those who failed to help, but was assuring those who were scared of the poor that he, Jesus, was the poor, and by helping them, they helped him.
Consider the strangeness regarding the foot-washing scene in John's gospel,the "sacrament that wasn't," and what a beautiful sacrament it could be. Kings of England used to practice it, but it was too humbling, too intimate, too disturbing between strangers, too humbling between friends. This parable was never close to being a sacrament, but how much closer has it ever been to being our practice? And yet it could be; it so easily could be.
We all want to do good; we all want to help; we all want to do what we can. Maybe if we consider who we are doing it for, if we consider we don't offer to share with a stranger, but with someone we know: maybe that would make it easier. Maybe fearless helping could truly be a new definition of "greatness" in non profits.
Sorry I meant to send this to you also.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122999068109728409.html
The report was interesting btw.
Carol,
So many great concepts: 1) we fear the disenfranchised, 2) the disenfranchised are Jesus, both then and now, and 3) fearless helping could be a new definition of greatness for nonprofits.
I don't believe "we all want to do good; we all want to help; we all want to do what we can". Those who like to stay in the "real world" most of the time are too self-interested. Those of us who prefer religious and therefore "other world" are frightened to death to reach out in love. We don't love our next door neighbor, much less the disenfranchised. We don't even love ourselves very much. How do we fit in the God of Love? Not very well, I beginning to suspect.
In a couple of more posts, I will try to weave in the parable from Luke 16. I bet you will have some especially cogent thoughts about the dishonest manager.
Mike I WANT to believe in the servant spirit. In my non-profit experience, the disenfranchised as well many of the "helpers" taught me so much about hope and goodness.
I really enjoy your blog. I look forward to future posts. Dishonest managers.... grrr!
Carol,
Something you said has been ringing around in my brain for the last couple of days. I believe there might be a syllogism hiding in your comments:
(Some, many, all) people fear the disenfranchised.
The disenfranchised are Jesus, both then and now.
(Some, many, all) people fear Jesus.
If there is any truth to this, why do you think we fear the God who is Love?
I believe that the fear of God mirrors our fear of love’s power. I believe that our deepest fear is that we can love beyond measure just like God. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to love and be loved? Actually, who are we not to be powerful in our love? We are children of God. Children of power.
Exactly. Future blog material.
I look forward to reading it
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