Greetings, readers!

Before we get into this week’s Leadership newsletter, we have a special announcement. Next week, NPQ will be launching our new suite of newsletters, reimagined and curated to offer a broader range of ideas and tools to better serve our readers. But fret not! The Leadership newsletter will remain. You’ll still get the latest civic news and leadership strategies NPQ has to offer every Tuesday, only with a new, refreshed look. Stay tuned for more from our team about this update, including a preview of the other new newsletters that might pique your interest!

Today, let’s focus on the public’s trust in the nonprofit sector.

Last week, the Trump administration’s Internal Revenue Service declared its non-intention to enforce the so-called Johnson Amendment when it comes to churches and other houses of worship—which are, generally, nonprofits. Broadly speaking, the Johnson Amendment prohibits nonprofits from engaging in partisan politics.

While some media outlets have characterized this as being about the ability of church leaders to endorse political candidates, this is a myopic reading of events. The implications are yet to be seen, but this is likely to have a profound impact on religious nonprofits, the whole nonprofit sector, and, indeed, American politics, with consequences of the decision ranging from religious institutions becoming effectively funnels for dark money into politics to the potential overturning of the Johnson Amendment, erasing the line that has kept nonprofits separate from partisan politics for decades.

Unproven scenarios aside, the decision more immediately affects the level of trust that Americans have for nonprofits—a level that has, historically and recently, outpaced most other US institutions. We look at the relevant release of Independent Sector’s annual report on trust in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, which found that despite our political polarization, public trust in nonprofits remains high—though concerns grow about government influence and wealthy donors’ motives. Then, The Boston Foundation’s Candace Burton reflects on why participatory grantmaking is worth the investment of, among other things, time, in a time that feels so urgent.

Finally, we invite you to join our campaign, #WetheCivic, which seeks to lift up the voices and tell the stories of us, our sector, and its importance in maintaining the fabric of American democracy and the dreams of justice and equity.

As always, we love to hear from you. I do, especially! Email Isaiah at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Isaiah Thompson
Leadership Editor, NPQ