Login with FacebookFuture of Nonprofits & Rhetoric of the sector
I was on a panel with the Paul Light, Lester Salamon and Peter Frumkin hosted by Bill Schambra at the Bradley Center in Washington DC.
The discussion moved to how will metrics and effectiveness be shaped by the new economic conditions. I spoke about GreatNonprofits and how we believe that the new yardstick will be how responsive nonprofits are to needs in their communities. And this responsiveness can be seen in the stories about them by their stakeholders - how they are making a difference, how they are responding to the needs of their constituents, and how they are improving their programs in response to constituent feedback. Peter Frumkin then shared his theory that nonprofits that have been using the “rhetoric of reason and rationale” may begin using the “rhetoric of emotion” - using appeals to "morality" or "obligation" to maintain and attract donors. I agree with his prediction. During these difficult economic times, when all of us knows someone who has or is at risk of losing their jobs, it's much easier for us to relate to the appeals to our conscience and our heart. That's not to say that there is no room for "expert" evaluations and quantitative metrics. It's about degree and balance of the heart and the head.
by Perla N.
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