​Empowering Communities: The Crucial Role of Nonprofit Leadership in Election Years

Any election year is a dynamic time, but this year seems to be particularly volatile. For those of us working on the ground in communities it can also be terrifying to wake up to the news every day.  Nonprofit leaders know how hard we have all worked to move our nation forward and how much we can lose in this election year.  While I have heard from many folks, “now is the time to get to work” as if you haven’t already been working hard every day, I have also felt the helplessness of not knowing what to do.  During these pivotal times, nonprofit organizations serve as anchors of stability, advocacy, and support amidst the swirling currents of political messaging and shifting policy priorities, it is a heavy burden to carry.

So how do we “get to work”?  We lean into the immense power we hold as individual organizations, collective networks, and community leaders and move the dial by telling our stories. Here are few places I and my clients are putting their energy during this everchanging political landscape.

Advocacy and Policy Influence: Crafting Impactful Narratives
Nonprofit leaders possess a unique opportunity to shape policy and advocate for their communities through the power of storytelling. Dig into those grant writing narratives, testimonials, media language—whatever you have to get the story of your community needs front and center.  Share these with policy makers, voters, community members, local media, churches, and others. By articulating compelling narratives that resonate with policymakers, voters, and your local community you can engage effectively with decision-makers. While this seems like the work we do every day, now is the time when candidates up and down the ballot are looking to connect with voters, as is the media. Sharing your stories can make a difference and influence how folks vote on election day.

Community Education and Engagement: Strengthening Civic Participation
Elections amplify the importance of civic engagement, and nonprofit organizations play a pivotal role in educating and mobilizing voters.  Have a conversation with your staff, Board, and participants. Ask does voter registration and education fit within our mission? In the past this may not have applied but maybe now it does. We are looking at candidates who would strip communities of funding for the arts, housing services, education, and more. Candidates who would take away human rights for the LGBTQ+ community and women, and who would increase the school to prison pipeline and harm immigrants and refugees among many other policies that would destroy communities--especially BIPOC communities. Impactful voter registration initiatives and culturally appropriate and community-based forums for meaningful community discussions are worth examining as an extension of your mission.

Nonprofits can help ensure the most marginalized voices contribute to the electoral process. I truly believe that Desmond Tutu, the anti-apartheid, human rights activist had it right when he said, “Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." What is the little bit of good that your organization can do right now that still aligns with your mission and your budget.

Navigating Uncertainty: Adapting for Sustainability
The ebb and flow of election years bring uncertainty, particularly in funding and regulations. Now is the time to have deep discussions with your leadership on how you will navigate these challenges adeptly. While none of us can see the future, we can believe politicians when they promise to take away funding and support for our work. We can examine trends in funding and support from the Trump presidency and the current administration (a search of the Chronicle of Philanthropy will provide a host of articles to help guide these examinations). We can ask our development staff what they have heard in their networks and prepare a plan to foster resilience and adaptability within our budgets and our programming expectation. This may include diversification of funding, seeking more private dollars, increasing the focus on small monthly donations, being prepared to dip into reserves, bolstering your reserves, increasing your programming to respond to need, and/or a myriad of other sustainable options. Whatever the plan, now is time to discuss how you as a leader will ensure that your nonprofit and your network of fellow nonprofits can continue to serve their communities effectively, regardless of the political climate.

Now is not the time to work in a vacuum. Hold meetings within your network to address the sustainability holistically. How can those of you in your coalitions, networks, etc share resources and ideas to be prepared for negative effects to funding and regulations.


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Promoting Inclusivity and Equity: Building Stronger Communities
At the heart of nonprofit leadership lies the promotion of inclusivity and equity. In this election year, this role becomes even more critical. This is the time to craft messages and strengthen programs that counteract divisive rhetoric and foster unity. Create coalitions, deepen your networks, hold gatherings of community leaders that are in your nonprofit field and those that aren’t. If we can focus on developing power that supports the full needs of the community (think wrap around services and warm hand offs but for community organizations!), we can raise our voice louder than the divisive rhetoric being blasted every day for the next 100 days. As nonprofit leaders we have an expertise in creating and deepening relationships and building partnerships that amplify inclusive initiatives. Together we can craft messages that come from these coalitions and networks in one united voice that cannot be ignored.

Building and Sustaining Trust: The Foundation of Impact
Trust is the bedrock of effective nonprofit work, especially during times of political flux. Now is the time for nonprofits to be transparent and clear on the challenges they will face depending on the outcomes up and down the ballot of the upcoming election.  Truth is a crucial element in maintaining community trust. Being honest and vulnerable about the effects of politics on our work bolsters support and increases trust.  By demonstrating unwavering commitment to your mission, fostering collaborations, and having honest conversation with your communities you can make an impact on how people will experience this lead up to the election and how they will vote.

Weaving a Tapestry of Community Strength
The significance of nonprofit leadership in an election year is profound. Nonprofit leaders are not just advocates and educators; they are the weavers of the community fabric, binding together diverse threads of society into a resilient whole. True leaders are committed to strengthening and uplifting other leaders, equipping them with the tools, strategies, and support needed to guide their organizations and communities through the ever-shifting sands of an election year.

Together, we can strengthen our communities, turning the challenges of election years into opportunities for growth, engagement, and positive change. As we navigate these times, let us remember that it's our collective efforts, our stories, and our shared commitment to community that truly make a difference.

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