Nonprofit Leadership

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28 Days

October 6, 2026


Well, we’ve arrived at October and the fall season. And with it, 28 days are left until midterm elections and voters across the country decide who will control Congress, statehouses, and local offices for the next two years. If the past several months have made anything clear, it’s that the right to vote—and the systems that protect it—cannot be taken for granted.


The threats to voting rights ([link removed]) are real and documented. But as Mrs. Who in Madeleine L’Engle ([link removed]) ’s A Wrinkle in Time said, “Euripides. Nothing is hopeless; we must hope for everything.” Indeed, we must hope for everything, despite the known risks, because there are opportunities, too.


Take, for instance, the 36 million eligible Latine voters. They represent one of the most significant untapped forces in American electoral politics ([link removed]) , a force that might very well impact the midterms and change the political landscape. Yet much of this relies on narrative impact. Organizers working to mobilize voters, particularly those disaffected voters ([link removed]) , are learning that the path back to civic participation leads through trust, not messaging. Amid the challenges facing us this election cycle, some reformers are asking whether this moment calls for restoration of what was or reconstruction of something better ([link removed]) .


Let me be clear: None of this is simple. The infrastructure of American democracy is—and will continue to be—under stress. Yet the stress reveals which institutions, movements, and communities are holding, and which will need reinforcement as we move ahead, whatever the outcome.

In solidarity,


Coty Poynter

Senior Editor

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** Must-Read Articles
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Democracy Advocates Warn of Growing Threats to Voting Rights

by María Constanza Costa

“[Allowing a federal agency such as the Postal Service to play a gatekeeping role in the delivery of ballots would fundamentally alter the balance of power established by the Constitution.”
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Latine Voters Could Swing the Midterms—and Here’s How

by Sofía Jarrín

“[T]he Hispanic vote is not a monolith. Many Latine people see the economy and health care as more crucial issues than immigration reform, but the strength of 36 million Latine eligible voters has the power to move the needle.”
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Restoration or Reconstruction? A Window of Opportunity for Election Reform

by Joe Goldman

“Above all, reconstruction requires courage—the courage to start moving toward what’s possible before it feels realistic.”
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How Progressive Movements Can Speak to Disaffected Voters

by Coty Poynter

“If there are cracks in [Trump’s core voters’] belief systems…then it is here that nonprofits and other organizations that advocate for democracy can make meaningful gains.”
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Nonprofit Leadership offers timely civic news, equity-centered insights, and innovative frameworks for leaders building a just and thriving civil society. This newsletter delivers field wisdom, leadership strategies, and practical tools to help you lead with intention and create sustainable impact in your organization and community.

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