How are we spreading hope?

Are you hopeful?

Maybe I’m naive, but I feel hopeful. (And I'm not even talking about the election.. but C'MON NEVADA)

It may seem that hope doesn’t sell.

It doesn’t get clicks.

It doesn’t “beat the algorithm”.

So we give up on it.

We give up on inspiration.

We tone down any optimism and positivity.

It seems so, well, tone deaf to be hopeful.

When the day-to-day of keeping the nonprofit afloat can seem insurmountable.

When hundreds of thousands are dead, millions out of work, federal aid is stalled, and political polarization reaching a boiling point.

Yes. These are all truths.

But I believe that we are stronger than we think.

We are the sector that constantly experiences budget cuts and gets slammed by every recession, every financial meltdown.

We fight for and serve the people who are hit hardest by the pandemic, by systemic racism, by the holes in the safety net, by violence, by structural inequity.

Yes, it’s the inevitable, harsh truth that many of us will not make it through.

The sector will shrink. Many will lose their jobs, and nonprofits will close.

But we have have to fight.

The problem is forces that are aligned to shut us down, to keep up quiet, and to divide us, make us cynical and make us NUMB.

WE are the people who cannot give up and give in.

We work for a better future every single day, and we haven’t lost that hope yet.

The hope for the future that we are fighting for.

We cannot afford to go numb. Not ever, but not now.

So the question becomes - where do we go from here?

Here is my advice on how we can, together, keep moving forward, to build optimism, and to increase hope:

Look for the helpers. I love the famous quote from Mr. Rogers that is intended for children: "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." I interpret that to mean find pockets of joy.

Stop grieving the past. Grieving the past - although that is very normal and necessary - it’s about how we best move forward. This might seem insensitive, but the status quo - the way things were - is the most dangerous obstacle to

Grieving those we have lost is different. I’m talking about the danger of focusing on the “way things were” - getting “back to normal” - nope.

Love on the people who are already with you. Stop focusing so much on getting new donors and new supporters and new sponsors and new eyeballs! Too often we ignore those who have raised their hand and said "Hey I'm here! I want to be involved!"

If you think you are loving on them, see how much more you could be doing.

Focus on what makes you different and unique.

Showcase your resilience, resourcefulness, and innovation.

Don’t hide the problem. Nonprofits are in the business of solving problems. Let’s talk about the problems we are solving and how the pandemic has affected us

And don’t use the excuse that you aren’t technically a first responder

Expose the gaping holes in the safety net. You are doing twice the work, serving 10x the clients, with half the staff. Why are we so afraid to talk about the reality on the ground? People are struggling. This is important.

Your communications need to be urgent because your mission is urgent.

We’ve been dealing with these issues for decades - all in different ways, but I am seeing more collaboration and best of all - more willingness to fall down and then to get back up. To move forward imperfectly but to move forward.

Give people an opportunity to join you. People still want to give back.

When all seems hopeless, how are we spreading hope?

Spreading hope doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand and pretending that all is well.

It does not mean ignoring the injustices and inequity around us.

It means not giving up. Not becoming cynical

Not shrugging our shoulders and saying nothing else matters.

Do what you can!

Share your stories on social media and tag me and I’ll share them out.

We have the opportunity to create the next normal.

Let's do it together.