The nonprofit sector exists to serve the common good, yet it often operates at the mercy of political and economic forces beyond its control. Policies that weaken social safety nets, defund critical services, and undermine vulnerable communities are not just challenges — they are existential threats.
Right now, we are witnessing a coordinated effort to roll back the safety net, dismantle essential programs and shift resources away from the most vulnerable. These attacks on social infrastructure— from cuts to health care and food assistance to restrictions on nonprofit advocacy — demand a new level of organized resistance from the independent sector.
As a follow-up, and based on my experience as an activist for nonprofits and social justice, this playbook provides a practical, actionable, strategic framework to help nonprofit leaders move beyond advocacy into organized resistance and power-building. Inspired by Saul Alinsky’s organizing principles, it is a step-by-step guide to mobilizing stakeholders, pressuring decision-makers and ensuring the nonprofit sector becomes a formidable force for change.
Read the entire commentary on Substack In The Center Lane With Herb Paine →
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Commentator Herb Paine examines a crucial but under-explored dimension of the current moment: How the Jewish community responds ethically when Jewish continuity intersects with political power in Israel. -
One piece of Arizona's property politics puzzle involves middle housing (sometimes referred to as missing middle housing to highlight the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings). Commentator Herb Paine examines the concept and its practical implications. -
From Arizona to New York, it appears that a "new housing economy" is emerging, shaped by short-term rentals and backyard units. Commentator Herb Paine explores how this development is testing the balance between personal profit and the public need for homes and stable communities. -
Commentator Herb Paine reflects on what’s truly at stake in Arizona’s 2026 elections — not just who wins, but whether the system that makes winning possible can endure. The elections may be a bellwether for the nation: a test of civic trust, political integrity, and the resilience of democracy in an age of disruption and division. -
Commentator Herb Paine highlights his observations about an all-too-common and increasingly frequent intrusion of extremism into the halls of local governance — from Scottsdale to Tampa.
