#abolition#BlackMastodon#BlackTwiiter#NonProfits#Capitalism
Yesterday @majorlinux made an observation after years of raising money for charities through gaming: "The fact that charities exist because Capitalists horde all the wealth leaving the working class to pick up the slack by begging one another to donate while simultaneously providing the Capitalists to make themselves look good isn't great." Today I will talk about the nonprofit industrial compelx (NPIC). 1/8
#abolition#BlackMastodon#BlackTwiiter#NonProfits#Capitalism Usually abolition work is focusing on dismantling the prison industrial complex (PIC). But as groups start trying to rethink how to create safety, the question always comes up as to how to fund the work. In the US the thinking is you have to create a 501(c)(3) in order to raise money and then apply for grant funding. But capitalists create foundations (the source of grant funding) to shield their wealth from taxation. 2/ 8
#abolition#BlackMastodon#BlackTwiiter#NonProfits#Capitalism So rather than pay taxes so that communities can be properly supported by their own local governments, foundations put the money into charitable entities, thereby shielding it and then get a tax credit for giving it away! The question becomes if a grassroots group is really trying to radically change how their communities will be treated, will foundations be willing to fund such ideas? 3/8
#abolition#BlackMastodon#BlackTwiiter#NonProfits#Capitalism In a book that’s been out for a while, but I’m just getting to : THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE FUNDED, edited by INCITE! A collection of grassroots organizers wrote about how foundations co-opt and otherwise use their grants as a way to restrict the real work grassroots organizations do. The organizational leaders discussed how they ended up wasting time and resources “professionalizing” their work as demanded by the foundations. 4/8
#abolition#BlackMastodon#BlackTwiiter#NonProfits#Capitalism Examples: asking them to get office space and permanent staff they didn’t need. The “professionalization” push of the corporate foundations has created a category of nonprofit workers who are “professional managers.” Their whole effort revolves around keeping a high paying CEO or ED job in the sector as opposed to actually focusing on delivering services. I’ve seen good programs destroyed by nonprofit professionals EDs. 5/8
Your images on social media are lovely, but they need descriptions — for blind friends and family, for a public account you manage, for when you tag public accounts in a picture.
Every where a picture goes, an image description goes with it.
This is also known as alternative text. When uploading on Mastodon, there is a field available that will appear. Add details of what is going on in the picture — at least the who and what. #AltText#Marketing#Communications#NonProfits
Celebrating the first Cyber Civil Defense Summit, read more about why I fund @CyberpeaceInst as part of #CyberCivilDefense. They are helping in protecting our most vulnerable public infrastructure: #nonprofits and the people they serve.
Staffer: [telling me about the time required to gather electeds' social handles manually]
Me: Manually?? You can run a report in our legislative tracker for all their info, including social. We're paying $8-effing-k for that effing platform.
Staffer: [blank stare]
Me: No worries. Next time. Do it next time.
Dear #Nonprofits,
I want you to embrace your tech stack and enmesh yourself with it like a lover. Become one. Revel in that shit.
In the Before Times, we could get away with manual futziness. Ain't nobody have time for that now. We're all traumatized and don't need the aggravation.
Research shows that orphanage founders, tour companies and mission organizations often benefit most when the goal of serving vulnerable children is not accomplished.
Further, Western missionaries and volunteers are encouraged to behave toward “orphans” in ways that further increase their risk of abuse.
Here's more about what experts call the “orphan industrial complex”:
If you’re looking to donate to organizations for Maui Relief, WCK is already there working hand in hand with locals.
“WCK’s Relief Team reached #Maui with hundreds of sandwiches that were quickly delivered to emergency workers fighting the blaze near #Lahaina. We are now visiting shelters and rural communities on Maui and the Big Island and will continue to identify and fill meal needs.”
It's an exciting day for #nonprofits like Unicorn Riot that are registered in Minnesota as each donation made thru GiveMN's portal on #GTMD23 gives us a chance at the Golden Ticket & other giveaways! 🤑
As always, Vu from NonprofitAF, is spot on with their analysis:
"If this is a test, our sector as a whole is failing. We are failing to apply all the DEI lessons we’ve been learning regarding power, privilege, oppression, equity, and justice. We continue to intellectualize, equivocate, and engage in both-siding while a genocide happens on our watch, funded by our tax dollars."
I wrote this Nonprofit Quarterly article for fellow nonprofit social media/digital staff who are trying to explain to their higher-ups, non-digital staff or board the state of social media platforms and why our strategies require different thinking beyond the usual focus on campaigns and need more focus on safety, accessibility, and inclusion:
Instead of every donation you make gives you a chance to win a vacation that "offers you the opportunity to escape to a world of wellness and tranquility..."
Highlight one of the biggest lifts your community is making right now. Give the details on your work, not the vacation spot.
Center your community all year, and you won't need to gamify your year end asks for support.