It's 1 a.m.
The coffee is cold. The grant report is due Friday. And we've had a breakthrough. Or a breakdown. Hard to tell.
We're a quarter of the way through the 21st century, and our first act is ending. The impact sector spent it telling better stories, writing tighter proposals, building fancier dashboards, and justifying overhead. In other words, we got very, very good at surviving.
This past year, Due East teamed up with visionary nonprofit leaders, funders, board chairs, agency heads, and folks on the front lines of social and environmental change as they try to make our world a better place.
Somewhere amidst the overwhelm, apathy, anger, fatigue and fear that AI will end the world in the next decade, we forgot what we're surviving for.
So here it is: the things we think and rarely say out loud.
What we believe
Vision first. A sector without a shared picture of the future is just a lot of very busy people. Let's agree on the destination before choosing the route.
Treat the symptoms as we search for the cure. Direct service meets today's needs. Systems change goes after root causes. Making us choose is a false choice. Stay focused on finding the cure, and save lives in the meantime.
Communities are the best architects of their own solutions. The rest of us listen and bring the skills, resources and connections to move them forward.
Money matters. Leading change takes resources that match what we’re up against. It’s not purely benevolence but how you fund something you expect to win. As Jerry would say, show me the money.
Together, or not at all. A flotilla of nonprofits, agencies, companies and neighbors rowing the same direction through rough seas beats a thousand lone boats.
Take the work seriously. Not ourselves. Burned-out people don't build better futures. This is hard and perseverance is the key to progress. Joy, courage, passion, fun, rest and hope are the fuel.
If not us, then who? If not now, then when? Community, government, nonprofit, coalition: name who's best placed to lead, then help them do it. Raise your voice. Share your ideas. Nobody's riding in to save us. Let's get to work.
Who's coming with us?
Jerry Maguire walked out of the office with a goldfish and exactly one believer. We're hoping for a few more.
Act Two of the 21st century starts now. It needs funders who fund like they mean it, leaders who can rally people behind a shared vision, and partners willing to set egos aside and work together.
We are starting this conversation with our network. Consider this your invitation to pull up a chair. Show us your vision. We'll bring the coffee.
So here’s the invitation. Answer the question that keeps coming back empty: If you could do it differently, where would you start? [Tell us →] We’ll read every answer.
In 2027, we’re taking this further: a year of rethinking how this work gets done, out in the open, with a small group of leaders from across sectors at the table. What you tell us will help shape it. More soon.
Due East: stuck on the idea that the impact sector can be remade to win.
Inspired by Acumen's manifesto, Vu Le at Nonprofit AF, Lorna Smith at Horizons National, and Kevin Smith at For Goodness Sakes.
