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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