Philanthropy’s Power in a Divided America

Written by: Paul D’Alessandro

For many years, the cultural melting pot of America was a source of inspiration for the world. Now, with America fragmenting into distinct partisan identities and loyalties, it heralds a period of division. As Americans become more wedded to partisan identities, they develop stronger preferences about what they do—and do not—support. That has implications for society, including for philanthropy and philanthropists.

The concept of giving back may be universal to all Americans, starting with the lessons taught at Sunday school. But, our ideas on where and how to donate money differ significantly by region, class, age, gender and ideology. For example, the end of Roe v. Wade brought record fundraising for organizations, with donors seeing the light at the end of the tunnel to end the right to abortion and contraception finally.

While Roe v. Wade is the greatest example of success for American values, the divisions in the United States also impact philanthropy through finance. Unfortunately, many dedicated and generous people don't realize that their charity gifts are in financial portfolios aligned with company stocks that potentially support abortion and non-traditional American ideals. As a result, donors must ask questions of nonprofits, which must serve as stewards to ensure pro-life and traditional values.

America Continues to Fragment

In recent decades, American society has grown increasingly divided. Many causes, including political partisanship, income inequality, and non-American values, go counter to those of our Founding Fathers and the history of the United States. People are also less inclined to interact with those who don't share their views. Still, donors can play a role in ensuring nonprofits realign with the Christian values of our nation.

As we know, our human condition is one of frailties. In the United States, if you look at the state of political discourse, it's fair to say that American society is fragmented. Divisions on topics like gun control, healthcare, and immigration run deep. Our echo chambers have created more significant cultural schisms regarding political and social issues than we saw in the 20th Century. But donors can lead the change back to our country's founding values and ideas.

A Fragmented America Means Diversified Giving

This increased fragmentation may seem like a terrible thing for philanthropy. After all, it allows people to focus their donations on causes that are more relevant to them. But, unfortunately, likely, this won't happen. Donations may fall as individuals become increasingly loyal to causes that align with their worldviews. That is unless donors challenge every nonprofit to align its mission, vision, and finances to those of our Christian nation.

Did you know that 60% of Americans believe our nation was intended to be a Christian nation? That's a very heartening statistic because it supports the idea that if philanthropists start to ask nonprofits to understand how donations are spent and where organizational funds are invested, philanthropists can start to push nonprofit leaders to align every aspect of these organizations to ensure traditional American and Christian values.

Philanthropy in an American Divided Society

Ultimately, the rise of a divided America could be good or bad for philanthropy. In an ideal world, people would continue to donate to only nonprofits that espouse genuine American values from our Founding Fathers. This would allow them to make a difference to others in need without judgment. They wouldn't have to worry if their generous donations are invested in ways that actually support so-called progressive or liberal investments. Sadly, if we continue our current path, we will continue to fund and help nonprofits without regard for our country's ideals, virtues, ideals and Christian heritage.

Nonprofits should be wholly bound to their donors' values and founded on our great nation's ideals. Everything charities do, including the investments of their endowments, should align with what it means to be an American Christian nation. The more donors push an originalist view of our society and ensure nonprofits adhere entirely to these ideals, the more generations of children will reject non-traditional ideas and thinking.

The Significant Impact of Division

There are many unknowns as we approach the coming years. What we do know is that it's likely that American society will fragment further—until it doesn’t. At some point, the values of our Christian country will overcome, just as Jesus Christ will always overcome evil. Donors and philanthropists have a significant role in ensuring our great country's future. It starts by asking nonprofits to demonstrate in every respect and regard that they're adhering to the Christian tenets our nation's Founding Fathers created for all of us.  

It's expected that charities demonstrate impact. However, that's not enough. For our nation to bridge the divides, we must return to traditional values. That means donors taking on the role of soldiers for Christ, asking for charities to provide them with a complete financial picture (including investments, endowments, trusts, retirement plans, etc.) so they could ensure nonprofits adhere to the values of our great country. Many nonprofit leaders likely need to realize their organizations are invested in stocks, funds, or pension plans contradicting our nation's values. In short, donors have an opportunity to right these wrongs and continue to push for a values realignment.