Nonprofit work is more important than ever.
Nonprofits have always been the backbone of communities, providing comfort and essential care; offering programs and services that make communities good places to visit, live and work; employing members of the community; and providing training and education that helps people find and keep jobs. Nonprofits are also often the first, last or only source of help for people in distress.

For too long, nonprofits have been chronically under-funded, and it’s long past time that changed. Proposed fiscal and social policies for the incoming Congress and administration are being formulated now, with enormous stakes for our state and nation, and especially for vulnerable, marginalized and disenfranchised people. Our voices, our advocacy, and our programs are absolutely essential. This was the case before November 5, and it’s even truer now.

To our partners in philanthropy: please provide the support and flexibility that will allow nonprofits to remain nimble and respond swiftly to rapidly changing developments. Unrestricted support, multi-year commitments, streamlined application/reporting requirements, and respect for the expertise of nonprofits and the broader community, can provide much-needed space for nonprofits to be the problem-solvers our society needs.  

Election season isn’t over. 
In less than a year, New Jerseyans will be electing a new governor and lieutenant governor, and all 80 state assembly seats and hundreds of local races will also be contested. There’s a lot at stake here – as much as in the federal elections – so get involved. Remember that as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, we need to be nonpartisan.

• Know what you and your organization can do (it’s a lot!) – and what it can’t.
• Understand your rights to advocate and lobby – and USE them.
• Know the differences between public policy education or advocacy, both of which are permissible without limit for 501(c)(3) organizations; lobbying, which is permissible within certain (fairly generous) limits for 501(c)(3) public charities; and partisan politics or electioneering, which are prohibited for 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Get your board to champion advocacy as a core part of your organization’s mission.
• What you can do personally is not the same as what your organization can do (or what you can do under its auspices). Know the boundaries and be sure to keep them clear and separate.
• The New Jersey Center for Nonprofits can provide more information to help you navigate these rules.

Nonprofits have been an integral part of some of the most important social advances in our nation’s history.
We have a vital role in shaping the landscape we wish to see. We need to pace ourselves and take care of each other, but we can’t become paralyzed, numb, or complacent. Together, with stamina, solidarity, and perseverance, we can prevail.

Keep an open mind and open line of communication.
As we try to bridge the gaps that divide us, it seems almost trite to say that communication is critical. But constructive communication is about quality and not just quantity, and about listening as much as talking. We can engage in dialogue in ways that recognize our own frames and honor the perspectives of others.

Verify before you share.
Some of the greatest strengths of social media are also some of its greatest dangers. Through social media, we can find fresh, unfiltered views, news and ideas, and spark dialogue. But social media can also fuel and magnify the worst vitriol, exacerbate anxiety and negativity, and transform rumors, misconceptions and myths into perceived truths. Be skeptical and double-check what you see and hear, and support quality journalism and reputable news sources.

Practice self-care.
Take breaks from social media or the news. Listen to music, enjoy your loved ones, and play with your pets. Seek supportive networks, counseling, or other assistance to cope with stress and preserve and fortify your mental health. For nonprofit leaders, listening and providing space for staff well-being is absolutely crucial.

There is a lot more to talk about, and much more to do. We’ll be jump-starting some of these conversations at our December 4 conference. And the Center will soon be offering online and in-person spaces to talk and forge solutions to the issues that we as a society, a state, and as nonprofits, face.

We hope we’ll see you at one or more of these events in the coming months, and that you’ll let us know what you’re doing, how you’re faring, and how we can help. Please keep the lines of communication open. We stand ready to move forward with you.

With gratitude from your New Jersey Center for Nonprofits team,

Linda Czipo
Debbie Duncan
Cathy Hawn
Danielle Robinson
Doug Schoenberger
Rosalía Velázquez
Emma Wagner