Reconnecting the Nonprofit Sector to Democracy, Equity, and Justice Sabbatical

About this grant

In 2001, Independent Sector created a research fellowship to address the value of the nonprofit sector in sustaining democracy, equity and justice.Second-year funding will provide continued support for the fellowship to help build the capacity of human service organizations committed to changing public policy and public institutions through increased democratic participation. The project will draw on an advisory panel of 15 local, state and national leaders that will make up a virtual nationwide network of local leaders. The project will provide the nonprofit sector and philanthropy with information to further advance the concept of nonprofit participation in democracy.During the first year of the fellowship, activities included participating in important nonprofit gatherings, conferences and meetings to interview participants and understand their perspectives on the role of the sector; gathering information through conversations with nonprofit leaders in seven states; conducting a series of informal conversations with sector leaders; and preparing and circulating a paper on the current thinking of nonprofit executives regarding the role of charity in U.S. society and an outline for nonprofit action to strengthen democracy, equity and justice in the United States.