Rusty Stahl’s Post

I predict that, by the end of this decade (if not before), it will be crystal clear to funders that the future of effective, equitable grantmaking will center around investing in the workforce of nonprofit grantees. Although nonprofit leaders don’t have the “hard power” (direct decisionmaking authority) to bring about this change, they DO have “soft power” (indirect influence) over how funders perceive this forthcoming reality . But nonprofits only have that soft power if they USE it. Otherwise, that potential power just lies dormant and voiceless. The more often nonprofit executive directors tell their funders why they want and need support to invest in their staff and people-systems, the more power nonprofits have to secure these investments. You can’t get it if you don’t ask for it. Here’s an important side benefit: As more and more of you nonprofit leaders raise these talent justice needs with your funders, it benefits not only your individual org, but ALL nonprofits in that community. Here’s how: As more and more nonprofit leaders talk about investing in staff, it becomes clear to funders that this is an issue across many grantees, across the whole sector. And it becomes clear that the funders need to not just respond to individual asks, but to proactively learn what is needed across the field, and take broader action in a supportive and responsive fashion. Now is the moment for nonprofit leaders to stop being afraid to talk about your staffing needs with funders! Now is the time to be bold and forthright about it. Now is the time to be strategically vulnerable with your partners in philanthropy. Your funders will thank you for it. Your board will thank you for it. Most importantly, your staff will thank you for it. If you want to read more on this, check out my new essay, “To Ensure Nonprofit Well-Being, Invest in Wages, Workload, and Working Conditions”. It’s a guest post for Center for Effective Philanthropy blog. https://lnkd.in/eguhhFhX