Risk, Reward . . . and Nonprofit Heritage

During my recent debate with Pablo Eisenberg, and in numerous follow-up discussions, the concept of risk has come up.

Do we risk the ire of Congress and/or taxpayers by suggesting that we remove barriers to partisan political participation by nonprofits? Would we risk being subverted if we enter the inky world of politics, possibly becoming just another K Street influence peddling group? Like the old adage “when I fed the poor they called me a saint, but when I asked why they are poor, they call me a communist,” is the possibility of being labeled an “insert your worst fear here” label too much of a risk for us to take?

It seems that the risk of the unknown, or the very real chance that we could loose our way in the legislative labyrinth, is what keeps many of my colleagues in the nonprofit sector from considering this admittedly huge step. Cool…let’s talk about risk.

1. The Risk of Taking Action. To be sure-there are risks involved in many of the actions I have advocated….real risk. But I ask you to ask yourself…if we make up close to 10% of the workforce in just about every city and state, and close to 10% of the economy and we have millions of volunteers who might side with us, wouldn’t it be equally risky for any politician to threaten us, or any corporate foundation to punish us for having the audacity to seek an equal playing field? Look…we are already waist deep in the corporate and political arenas. We take their money, we wear their logos, we keep a lid on potentially explosive social issues and, if you get down to brass tacks, we clean up after them. If we are to ever, as Pablo and others have suggested, provide real checks and balances to the system, we better get something in our checking account. In my book, that MUST be political capital.

2. The Risk of NOT Taking Action. Simply put-we are getting our asses kicked right now. Human services groups like DCCK are JUST treading water. Most groups can hear an echo in the vaults where their cash reserves use to be stored. Many of our best corporate sponsors are packing up their foundations and moving overseas, along with their jobs…and there are 80 MILLION people getting old in America. I say this over and over…but this is big-league ball folks, and we are WAY down in runs as it is. Sitting still, playing by the rules (which were designed to keep us right where we are!!!) or wishing for change won’t pay the bills, nor prepare us for the task ahead. When you look into our shared future, then the risk of the status quo FAR outweighs the risk of standing together and having our voices heard.

3. Our Legacy. You want to talk about risk? Harriet Tubman--all 4 foot, 10 inches and 98 pounds of her, who dragged hundreds out of the south to freedom--SHE took risks. Dr. King--who had his house BOMBED as his children lay asleep--HE took risks. Mahatma Gandhi--who served numerous prison terms--HE took risks. Our country’s founders--who would have most likely been hung if we had lost the revolution--THEY took risks.

These men and women…and countless others we look to for inspiration--we do their memories NO honor when we talk about the risk of “maybe” losing our funds, or “possibly” catching heat from politicians. Our legacy demands more from us. REALLY.

Now…think again about the risks you are taking right now. If the aforementioned leaders appeared before you in a midnight apparition, would you be able to tell them to pull up a chair, so you could tell them all the bold shit you are undertaking?

Or would you plead like Scrooge for another chance when you realized how MUCH we have to do.

Yeah…that’s what I thought. Me too.

A Hot Day in DC (Video)

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