Op-Ed Mischaracterizes Conservatives and Their Role in Nonprofits
The author perpetuates a dangerous “us vs. them” mentality that only deepens divides.
May 30, 2025 | Read Time: 2 minutes
To the Editor:
In a recent op-ed, “You Need Conservatives. Here’s How to Engage Them in Your Mission” (May 14), Pearce Godwin urges nonprofits to reframe their language and attitude to win over conservative supporters. But in doing so, he advances a reductive and patronizing view of both conservatives and nonprofits.
According to Godwin, “Nonprofits will fail in their mission if they muster support only from people who think — and vote — like they do” and must do more to court conservatives. But in more than a decade of working with nonprofits, I’ve yet to hear a single leader suggest that they are only interested in appealing to liberals.
What’s more, many conservatives are already deeply engaged with nonprofits — as board members, donors, and recipients of services. They’re instrumental in creating positive social change across many causes, not just those with values that Godwin identifies as “especially salient for conservatives.” To suggest otherwise discounts the contributions so many make to civil society.
Godwin also presents a dangerous and myopic caricature of conservatives that perpetuates the us vs. them mindset he wants nonprofit leaders to fight. If all conservatives are actually as narrow-minded as he suggests, then why even bother trying to work with them?
For example, Godwin recommends that nonprofit leaders exchange words such as “inclusion” for “belonging” or “justice” for “fairness,” to avoid triggering conservatives. Modifying language is a slippery slope for organizations that rely on clear expression to do their work effectively. It’s also insulting to suggest that conservatives’ vocabulary doesn’t already include words such as “justice,” “racist,” and “equity.” Moreover, anyone turned off by just seeing the word “racist” is unlikely to be moved to support a nonprofit because it uses a word like “discriminatory” instead.
Over all, Godwin portrays conservatives as fragile and vulnerable, so ostracized from the concept of social good that they won’t engage with an organization helping their community. This is simply untrue. In many cases, conservatives and liberals work side-by-side to advance community well-being and social justice.
Godwin also discounts the many liberals, including me, who already visit conservative turf such as “football games and church,” as he suggests. Once again, he’s painting a stereotypical picture and perpetuating divides.
Nonprofit leaders should not try to disingenuously mold their mission to appeal to conservatives. These organizations exist to support people on all sides of the political spectrum. Ultimately, Godwin should recognize that nonprofits don’t just belong to liberals. They belong to everyone.
Brian Bayer
Nonprofit Consultant
Pittsburgh, Penn.