Comments on: Radio Ga Ga 2: The role of nonprofits in constructing a better world http://www.island94.org/2008/08/radio-ga-ga-2-the-role-of-nonprofits-in-constructing-a-better-world/ Ben Sheldon's lost & found Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:05:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: revecca http://www.island94.org/2008/08/radio-ga-ga-2-the-role-of-nonprofits-in-constructing-a-better-world/#comment-184 revecca Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184 This is a great conversation that challenges the placebo effect of many non-profits. Let me know if I am translating this right (6:38-7:50). You propose that non-profits should be re-engineered to not only offer services but also to include political activism. This would place non-profits as an intermediary between the needs of the community and government programs. Love the book link but maybe you could expound a little bit about how this shift might affect the funding sources for non-profits. As a "millennial" definitely looking to work for serious social change I wonder what you really mean about "other avenues"? ps: totally back the necessity of human element This is a great conversation that challenges the placebo effect of many non-profits. Let me know if I am translating this right (6:38–7:50). You propose that non-profits should be re-engineered to not only offer services but also to include political activism. This would place non-profits as an intermediary between the needs of the community and government programs. Love the book link but maybe you could expound a little bit about how this shift might affect the funding sources for non-profits.
As a “millennial” definitely looking to work for serious social change I wonder what you really mean about “other avenues”?
ps: totally back the necessity of human element

]]> By: ben http://www.island94.org/2008/08/radio-ga-ga-2-the-role-of-nonprofits-in-constructing-a-better-world/#comment-185 ben Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-185 @revecca Thanks for the chance to clarify. The essence of what we're saying is that "the nonprofit", as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, is structurally limited by law and regulation to perform a narrow service-based role. And (most realistically) that will not and cannot change. Unfortunately, especially among my own peer groups (the millenials), the *idea* of the nonprofit has taken on a much grander society-changing role that is, for the most part a frustrating and nonexistent fantasy (perhaps too strong a language for the actuality, but that's the flavor of it). In terms of moving forward, Jules and I are saying that we need to (1) more widely recognize the limited scope and role of the nonprofit, (2) make sure that we are meeting day-to-day needs (the services that nonprofits provide), AND (3) look towards the future and reforming society as a whole (through a something else). I'm not there yet in terms of what that "something else" will look like, but I think creating dialogue around these types of issues is the first step towards creating it. @revecca Thanks for the chance to clarify.

The essence of what we’re saying is that “the nonprofit”, as a 501©3 tax-exempt organization, is structurally limited by law and regulation to perform a narrow service-based role. And (most realistically) that will not and cannot change. Unfortunately, especially among my own peer groups (the millenials), the *idea* of the nonprofit has taken on a much grander society-changing role that is, for the most part a frustrating and nonexistent fantasy (perhaps too strong a language for the actuality, but that’s the flavor of it).

In terms of moving forward, Jules and I are saying that we need to (1) more widely recognize the limited scope and role of the nonprofit, (2) make sure that we are meeting day-to-day needs (the services that nonprofits provide), AND (3) look towards the future and reforming society as a whole (through a something else).

I’m not there yet in terms of what that “something else” will look like, but I think creating dialogue around these types of issues is the first step towards creating it.

]]> By: Angelina http://www.island94.org/2008/08/radio-ga-ga-2-the-role-of-nonprofits-in-constructing-a-better-world/#comment-188 Angelina Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-188 Agreed on all terms and really enjoyed listening to this broadcast. Agreed on all terms and really enjoyed listening to this broadcast.

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