Blog from the Big Chair

By Rob Meiksins, CEO
 
Last week I blogged about the scary unknowns the Trump Presidency represents for nonprofits in Milwaukee. I asked some agency execs to join me in a conversation about that topic on December 14, at a session titled The Nonprofit Sector under a Trump Presidency.

About 17 agencies took part in the conversation. They ranged in size from under $100,000 in annual budget to several million. There were arts, social service, animal rights, and a professional association. Most were from Milwaukee, but two people came from Madison (thanks!).

The focus of the session changed somewhat when Marcus White came to speak. Although speaking for himself at this session, in his day job Marcus is Vice President for Civic Engagement at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation. He shared things he had learned and heard at a conference held by Independent Sector last month. (Thanks to Marcus for coming so early in the morning and for helping the group move their thinking to a higher and more encompassing level!) 

Setting the Context: What Are the Scary Unknowns?
 
We started by asking what was on the minds of the people in the room regarding the new administration. Mainly, people shared the scary unknown as it relates to the mission of their particular organization. People in animal rights were afraid of what this might mean to the safety of animals. People in ecological causes were afraid of cuts to EPA.  A few other notes/questions included:

• What might be the changes proposed to the tax code, and will that change the dynamic of donations to the sector? 
  Some participants noted that there are reliable studies showing that donors are likely to continue giving even if the deductibility of that gift is reduced or removed. On the other hand, this may only be true of people who give smaller amounts; larger gifts are often driven by the desire for a deduction.
  
  
• The explosion of bigotry.
  The conversation really ended in a call for the nonprofit sector to work on the dignity approach, not just for boys and men of color, where that approach is often the basis for plans to improve quality of life, but in all aspects of our work. We need to extend that approach of dignity to all of our clients and to each other within our organizations, setting the tone of respect. 
  
  
• What will fear do?
  ​If we have the fear of the scary unknown, what will be the reaction of nonprofits? The impulse to crawl into our little holes, do our work as diligently as possible and not make any waves? Will we get even more territorial about our limited funds and refuse to work together to address the larger issues? Our only fear is of fear itself.

 
Some other questions rose that were unanswered — and very compelling:

• Can we look at the power dynamic that we as service providers automatically have in place? What are the hoops we make people jump through? Do we need that?
  
  
• Do we as a sector have a role in shaping the nation’s culture? Can we play a greater role going forward by setting a good example?
  
  
• How do we affect the issue of fake news and the development of preconceived notions people have of the “other”?
  
  
• If people become involved in something by invitation, how do we make sure we are reaching across the divide and inviting people to help us build what the nonprofit sector can do?

 
What's Next For Milwaukee Nonprofits

Everyone in the room was coming from their own viewpoint, their own world within the sector, and I’m sure took very different things from what we talked about. So what follows is my opinion.
 
The changes we see might involve the states having greater freedom to implement policies. For example, it might now be okay for states to require drug testing in order for people to receive food stamps or other such support. If that’s the case, then it is likely that people will not apply for that benefit, knowing they will fail the drug test. This, in turn, means there will be greater demand on food pantries and meal programs. So, it will behoove us to watch for what the Wisconsin legislature might want to do as states are given more control.
 
Whether or not our President-elect actually intended it, now people feel they can rip off the mask and be bigoted. There seems to be a flood of events and incidents demonstrating that people are feeling the freedom to be as ugly as they want with the “other.” That other may be a difference of religion or color of skin, or even political belief. If that’s true, then the nonprofit sector may have to move beyond being the social safety net, a role we’re pretty comfortable with. Now we’re potentially going to have to be more active and be the protector.
 
To that end, the third thing I see as a take-away from our meeting is that we’ve got to be the voice. Previous administrations have worked hard to protect and provide for those who are disadvantaged in some way. It is likely that we’re going to have to take that on, in our sector. So we’ve got to be the ones who go to legislators and to regional administrators of federal programs and tell the story of the people we serve. It’s going to be up to us to find ways to bridge the gaps between people by humanizing them through the stories we can tell because of the work that we do. 
 
So what’s next? That’s going to be up to you. Let the fear of the scary unknown send you scurrying into a hole to work as diligently as possible? Or will you take the challenge and become the voice of the people and communities you serve in Milwaukee? I hope it’s the latter.  And I hope you’ll let us know how we can help you.  We have some ideas that we’ll be rolling out, but if you have a great idea for NPC, let me know by commenting here.

Blog from the Big Chair

By Rob Meiksins, CEO
 
So, yeah. Life just changed. Whether you like our new president or not, whether you voted for him or not, Donald Trump is now everyone's President-elect. Life just changed for us who work in the nonprofit sector. So now what?
 
I've been trying to keep my ears open as I move around town and talk to people in the sector. But it's almost like people are holding their collective breaths and waiting. It's like that moment in the movie when you know something is about to happen, but you don't know what, so the whole audience sits, eyes glued to the screen, waiting to be scared. That's the theme here: the scary unknown.
 
Yesterday I was talking with the board president of a nonprofit in the health field. For them, the call to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act represents a potential sea change — and worse, a tidal wave. If it is repealed, they don't know how many people won't be able to afford health care anymore, and how people will pay for the care they need. He envisioned hordes of uninsured people swarming the local clinics seeking free or low-cost. Munch’s painting The Scream comes to mind. It's all an unknown, and for many people, the unknown is scary. 
 
I heard the same thing from people who work in nonprofits providing social services and education for youth. They don't know what's going to happen now: Is public education dead in the water? Will we go totally choice and charter? That's probably overstatement for effect, but still — the unknown is scary.
 
For me, the big scary unknown is whether much of the nonprofit sector's funding is at risk: Government represents the second largest source of income for nonprofits nationwide, according to a report published by the Urban Institute (cited on the Foundation Center's Grantspace website). It makes up 32% of nonprofit income. Will we start seeing government funding for nonprofits dry up as government is shrunk in size and taxes are reduced? That's a scary unknown for me.
 
So now what, nonprofit Milwaukee? 
 
Here are some ideas:

1. Volunteer: Our Volunteer Milwaukee program staff tell me they're getting lots of calls from people who are shocked and dismayed — and feel the need to get involved in their community more than ever before. They’re worried for people who are less fortunate, worried that the support programs will be in danger. They feel they have to roll up their sleeves and get to work. For them, the scary unknown serves as a call to action. If you’re one of these people, if you feel like getting involved, go to our Volunteer Milwaukee website and connect yourself to a way to help. 

2. Put volunteers to work: If you work at a nonprofit, this is an opportunity to get more work done. Tap into the surge in residents' desire to do something to help — create more ways for volunteers to pitch in to advance your mission, and post those opportunities at the Volunteer Milwaukee site. 
 
3. Become an advocate for what you feel is important: We can't sit back and wait for the wave of the scary unknown to happen. Get out and talk to your local, state, and federal legislators about the issues you care about. Tell them what you think is important. Then tell them again, and again, because they may not hear it the first two times. Sign up to get emails from websites alerting you when your phone calls or letters will make the most difference. Numerous sites exist for all political perspectives; moveon.org is one example, with a Democratic perspective.

4. Organize a volunteer project for your company or community group. To get information about group volunteering opportunities join NPC's Business Volunteer Council, or contact Debbie Knepke. 
 
5. Join the conversation. One way to get rid of the scary unknown is to start articulating what we're afraid of. Put it on the table and talk about it. An acting teacher I knew in New York City had a phrase: it's not scary territory, it's unfamiliar territory. Let's turn the scary into the unfamiliar. Let's plan for the future. Do some visioning about what might be coming at us based on what we know of the people who are going to be making decisions about our country for the next few years.

Let's talk. If you're an agency exec, join me for a conversation, The Nonprofit Sector Under A Trump Presidency, on December 14, early in the morning. It's free - learn more and register here.

As NPC finalizes its budget for 2017, we need to hear from you about what's going on in your world, so that we'll understand what we need to do to help you. The discussion on December 14 is a great time to do that, so please participate!