An Open Letter to Nonprofit Leaders

America is under immense pressure. The election results are in, and regardless of how we cast our votes, we're all grappling with what they mean for our country, our finances, and our families. We live in a polarized society—red or blue, with no room for purple. People stand on opposite sides of an ideological line, casting blame and shame at those on the other.

As we look to 2025, we face the expectation of divisive and exclusionary rhetoric emanating from the highest office in the land. Just as gravity pulls water downstream, negativity, too, flows downward. Words once deemed demeaning and unacceptable risk becoming normalized when wielded by those in positions of power.

Yet amid this current of discord, there are those who have the audacity to act as a dam and say, “Not in my workplace.”

These leaders have the courage to choose kindness over bigotry. They see the humanity in every individual and celebrate differences as assets that enrich our country, not detract from it. They commit to restorative leadership and foster belonging for all. They know that investing in the well-being of their teams isn’t just beneficial- it’s essential to moving the mission forward.

If you hold power or influence within a nonprofit, I urge you to be that dam. This kind of leadership propels our mighty missions, nurturing a world that heals, reclaims, and innovates. By contrast, those who choose complacency and “business as usual” will simply be swept away by the prevailing current, maintaining the status quo.

Now is the time to align your intention of fostering a healthy workplace with the tangible impact of creating one. If you don’t know where to start, that’s okay. But the journey cannot stop there. Equip yourself with the resources and knowledge needed to build and sustain an environment grounded in equity—where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. The tools are out there; it’s time to use them.

As a fellow nonprofit leader and worker, my response to allowing divisiveness and othering to become commonplace in our beloved sector is simple: “I’ll be dammed.” Who’s with me?

?--------------------------------------------------------------

If you’re a leader already in this work, drop the resources you’ve found most helpful to you. I’ll go first:

-????????? The Color of Emotional Intelligence by Farrah Harris

-????????? The Psychological Safety Playbook: Lead More Powerfully by Being More Human by Karolin Helbig & Minette Norman

-????????? Building A Pro-Black World: Moving Beyond DE&I Work and Creating Spaces for Black People to Thrive by Nonprofit Quarterly

#nonprofit leadership #notinmyworkplace #Illbedammed