For our privileged major donors, there is a call for action

Dear Diary,

Recent events have repeated historic tragedies featuring racism, police brutality, inequity and injustice. Many have spoken out and the streets have been paved by protesters all over the world. The world has unified in protest because the killing of innocent Black lives is outrageous; and the young, old, Black, White, Latin, straight, queer, and indigenous people of this world want justice and change.

The way that history is repeating itself is unfortunate and cruel. As a millennial, I always thought 2020 would look like The Jetsons, a popular cartoon series that premiered in the '60s and I thoroughly enjoyed in the ‘90s. In the series set in the future, there are flying cars, robots, and aliens living peacefully amongst humans.

Now, in 2020, we have humans trying to safely live amongst humans, without judgement. Everyone is in survival mode thanks to a pandemic, civil discord, poor leadership, zero accountability, and an economic downturn.

Then, there are those who are living comfortably surrounded by their privilege, which we in the nonprofit world have sought after for support to sustain our missions and programs. Today, I think we have to go to them for something different – their support for justice. It is time for our privileged major donors and prospects to leverage their connections, and put their privilege to action. They can change our communities, and carry the voices of the unheard to many in leadership who want to turn a blind eye. These donors must act now. And using social media to release a statement is not action.

Action is a verb and comes to light when one engages in tough conversations with peers, and takes impactful steps for the betterment of others. Action is when the privileged call their representatives; protest; form a network for change in which they use their money and their voices to amplify resources and progress.

Here are some ways they can act now:

1. Work internally to be an example externally. The question must be raised at their companies – is my organization actually diverse, equitable, and inclusive (from the bottom to the top of the chain), and are there plans in place for it.

2. Get uncomfortable by reading, listening, and analyzing what matters. And you as a fundraiser and connector must step up to the plate, ready to have these guiding conversations with them.

3. Listen to what protesters, researchers, and scholars are asking for in regards to systemic change because money is only an immediate answer – donations are a quick fix to a deeply rooted and continuous problem.

4. See this as our problem, not just the Black communities’ problem because we all have to live together and share this world.

There is so much that our privileged major donors can do, and I challenge you to engage them in thinking through their role as change makers because their time is now.

Until next time, July 15th!