What if Jeff Bezos Used Food Banks? An Examination of How NPOs Subsidize Affluence

Man sitting on a pile of gold coins, reading a newspaper.

How would you feel if I told you that Jeff Bezos got his groceries for free from a food bank?

If he did, it would probably shock and anger you, right? These feelings come up because we as a society assume that nonprofits exist to support those who are unable to access the services they need, and in our country, one of the biggest barriers to access is wealth. So, it is safe to assume that NPOs do not exist to help people like Jeff Bezos.

The (White) Elephant in the (Board) Room: How White Board Members Can Step Up By Stepping Aside

Close up of hands gesturing as if the person is explaining something

Welcome back, white board members, to the next step in your RE board development work! (note: be sure to read my last blog on racial equity and boards before launching into this one) So much of our effort to change our boards focuses on diversifying the board composition and bringing in more BIPOC members. But today, I want to take a closer look at the other demographic already in the room: the white board members. And, as part of my commitment to offer practical strategies in these blogs, I included a step-by-step activity for you to engage in.

Actually, We’re Just Getting Started: Considerations for Crafting Solidarity Statements

Cardboard sign on asphalt that reads: To be silent is to be complicit.

It seems like every day there’s another statement from a historically white led organization (HWL) stating that they “stand with BLM.” Overall, it is good that there is a swell of consciousness and awareness of systemic racism among HWLs. There are many white leaders out there who are really paying attention with heightened urgency and truly want to make change. In the grand scheme of things, this has the potential to be such an impactful shift of our NPO sector to really identify and uproot racism in our systems.

“If You Like It Then You Shoulda Put a RE-ng On It!” Moving Nonprofit Boards Towards Real Racial Equity (RE) Commitments

Wedding bands on volcanic rock.

Lately, it seems like every meeting I have with an Executive Director ends with them asking, “how do I bring my board along on my org’s racial equity journey?” I get it. I was an ED, I work with and for boards, and I’ve served on boards of all kinds. It’s hard. Boards are designed to play a specific role in the function of nonprofits. They guide visioning and planning and oversee the macro-level organizational functions; they hire, assess, and (if needed) fire the ED; they fundraise; they network; they donate their skills and expertise. This is often a group of highly passionate, highly skilled volunteers who believe deeply in the mission of the organization.

Dear White People (Who Want to Support BIPOC Colleagues at Work)

Two women working on laptops

There is so much pain and suffering in our country right now, especially in BIPOC communities. It pervades all aspects of our daily lives, including work. For those of us fortunate to still be employed, we spend most of our waking hours doing our jobs. And, there is an unspoken and unrealistic expectation that we draw a curtain between the work that we are doing and the lives we are living. The pervasiveness of racism can make this separation harder to maintain for BIPOC than white folks. Many BIPOC colleagues of mine report feeling feeling tired, overwhelmed, exhausted, scared, frustrated…and this can impact focus and productivity at work.

Overstretched: Finding the Right Fit for Your Racial Equity Rubber Band

Various color and size rubber bands on a light blue background

The other day, I was trying to wrap a rubber band around a box that was just too big for the band. I stretched it and stretched it and sure enough, it snapped. But, for some reason, I started crying. It wasn’t because the sound scared me or I hurt myself; rather, I was sad because like that overstretched rubber band, I have been feeling so overstretched lately, too.