Americans Must Push Charities to Lobby

To the Editor:

In his opinion article, “Grant Makers Must Focus on Government’s Role” (February 17), Mark Rosenman was absolutely correct to say that nonprofit organizations must speak out about how the President’s proposals damage our sector, and our democracy. For example, rural areas are typically undercapitalized. The loss of services that would result from the President’s proposed budget are compounded by the loss of federal employees, some of the highest-wage jobs in our area. This will further weaken our already tenuous rural economy.

However, it is not enough to prod foundations into action. The ultimate check on government is the people. In a democratic society, a citizen is not a consumer, but, as Harry Boyte [founder of the Center for Democracy and Citizenship at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities] puts it, a “co-creator of democracy.” An active citizenry is necessary to ensure the government is responsive and acts responsibly.

The nonprofit organizations we support, the nonprofit organizations we give our resources — time, talents, and treasures — to, reflect our values. Thomas Jefferson and Tom Paine reminded us that it is incumbent on every one of us to speak out and take action to take on the state when necessary, to keep the state in check, and to make sure its values reflect the basic, common values of the people as a whole.

In a functional democracy, nonprofit organizations offer an opportunity to give collective voice to those values. I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Rosenman that nonprofit organizations “need to move to the offense — to talk about long-term visions of government and of society, and to build the infrastructure to realize them.” But it is necessary for each of us as individuals to make sure our nonprofits do that. When our values are under assault by politics, our organizations can no longer afford to “stay out of politics.”

Terry Fernsler
Development Director
Columbia-Pacific Resource Conservation & Economic Development District
Montesano, Wash.