Good evening, everyone:

A great deal has been spoken and written about the moral and practical reprehensibility of political violence and of exploiting those acts for the purpose of political posturing. There is no question that the American public as a whole believes that neither has a role in our society. Full stop.

What has been less noted is the temptation to implicate organizations that have nothing to do with the perpetration of gun violence – organizations that certain elected officials believe stand as symbols of a progressive policy ecology that fuels antipathy toward the conservative movement. Specifically, statements have suggested that some philanthropic organizations are complicit – it is no coincidence that those singled out are heavily endowed, publicly identifiable, and unequivocally committed to bringing about a more equitable and just society for all Americans.

It shouldn’t need saying, but this impulse to condemn is inalterably contrary to what the country needs right now. Not only does it dial up the thermostat, but it also fails to recognize the beneficial ballast provided by these foundations – and countless other foundations and nonprofit organizations working across the ideological spectrum – in safeguarding and fortifying the capacities of cities, towns, and villages across the country to promote and fortify systems of mutual aid and support.

The nonprofit sector is a leavening agent, helping strengthen the health, vitality, and sustainability of the places we call home . . . contributing to our ability to connect to the needs of our neighbors and to people we may never have met . . . investing in people, ideas, and activities that help people become part of the social and economic mainstream.

It is a sector that seeks to address head-on the drivers of alienation, division, and violence. It is a sector that explores ways of bridging across difference. It is a sector that elevates pragmatic problem-solving.

As the saying goes, if you’ve met one foundation (or nonprofit), you’ve met one foundation. There is value in organizations pursuing their distinct beliefs and missions, and it is an inevitable consequence that some may disagree with those priorities. In fact, such divergence often serves as an indicator of each organization's effectiveness. But the path forward is to recognize, and embrace, that this full spectrum of methods and aspirations is indispensable bedrock for our nation’s traditions of reasoned discourse and shared purpose.  And the key to our future health as a nation.

Rip

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