Rocking 2009
So…as you’ve probably seen, we’ve been tearing it up over here in Historyville, USA, as we ushered in a crazy bold new era with our new President. I love this city!!!
And DCCK was smack in the middle of it all, and we got some choice coverage of our work and the vision for change we’ve been driving for 20 years. Please check out the DCCK homepage if you haven’t for a full roster of what’s going DOWN in DC. But I got a sweet little treat today, as we prepare to launch a new V3 Campaign initiative—a note that the Nonprofit Street blog listed the V3 campaign as one of the top three events for nonprofits in 2008.
And we’re going to pushy it even harder in 09. That’s why we are launching the Nonprofits Are Businesses initiative today. I know it sounds obvious to most of us on the inside, but in reality, for most of the people in the country, nonprofits are viewed as “lesser thans” when it comes to our economy….and it’s ALL about the economy right now. Nonprofits are in the legislative crosshairs today. We’re fatted calves. Our untaxed assets (property) and the new wave of family foundations and donor advice funds are massive targets for starving treasuries and the elected officials who are charged with replenishing them.
Simply put—we must make the case that we are giants of the economy. In fact—we should be viewed as almost equal, if not better investments than traditional businesses in every community. With some serious thought, we might really re-align our tax codes and redesign how cash flows. We could totally change the dynamic that forces newly minted college grads to choose between making money and doing good. The future is the hybrid—-with the ethics and values of nonprofits trumping the failed dogma of “get rich or die trying” that has permeated our economy (and business schools) for far too long.
That’s what the Nonprofits Are Businesses intiative is ALL about…making the case. We’ve added economic impact studies to the V3 Campaign Value Page, which details the growing number of reports that provide clear evidence of the role we play. We’re also asking colleagues to send in pictures of themselves or their clients with signs that detail what they do to drive the local economy. Heck…we’ve even created a button you can put on your homepage, so that you can make the case everytime folks come a calling. So…if you want that kind of dialogue, if you believe that we must usher in a new era of nonprofit inclusion, if you think we need to elect a new generation of politicians—then JOIN the V3 Campaign. NOW.
Today we take it up to 11.
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January 29th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Very well said. The ethics and values of nonprofits are whats needed in these times. A hybrid model would be key. You can never reach any level of success without understanding the meaning of contributing to the common good.