This is way beyond college admissions
Yesterday’s Supreme Court decision on affirmative action, as expected as it was, gutted me. A lot has been said, and I just want to offer a cautionary note, especially since many of my readers are in the nonprofit sector.
This piece begins to explore how the decision can affect nonprofits and philanthropy, as it relates to board composition, program design and grantmaking.
As an independent contractor, I have enough distance from institutions to see that they can be inherently conservative, focused on self-preservation. What that looks like in principle now – a political party choosing to endorse a mediocre incumbent over an insurgent, or a nonprofit chasing funds and engaging in mission drift.
Even before this ruling, we are often in danger of preserving our organizations at the risk of hurting our broader goals. A mad scramble “to be careful” is inevitable. But it’s also avoidable. Let’s not dismantle the little progress we have made on DEI, on board diversity and on advancing racial justice. The world we want to see is so close, and that’s why it’s being challenged. So hold on to your vision for that world, where we can feel safe and thrive.
In solidarity,
Sayu