Who is your “we”?

Depending on the context, you can use the pronoun “we” when referring to just you and a friend – or to all the humans on Earth. But most of the time, even when using the term broadly, we may not be as inclusive as we think we are. Even those of us who are trained nonprofit professionals! People who choose our words carefully!

For example, I might say, “We all want a vibrant and safe downtown,” but am I really thinking about what would make a homeless family feel safe downtown?

Or I could say: “We all want life to get back to normal after COVID.” But am I thinking about those families who were struggling even before the pandemic? Is “back to normal” really the goal? And what about families who lost someone to COVID? What would ever feel normal for them?

Who is the “we” that Louisville nonprofits represent?

“Building a Bigger We” means thinking more intentionally about who you see as the “we” you identify with – and broadening it. It means intentionally working to ensure that you are including people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, genders, abilities, and ages in your vision of “we.”

In Louisville, nonprofit organizations are champions of helping build a better community for everyone. At least we think we are – but too often, our staffs, our boards, our volunteers, and our donors are not as diverse and inclusive as they should be.

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence borrowed the phrase “a bigger we” from John A. Powell (who prefers to use lowercase letters) of the Othering and Belonging Institute in Berkeley, CA. Our board – the most diverse board we’ve ever had – and staff have devoted countless hours over the past 20 months to expand our “we” through understanding how to build a more just and equitable organization. CNPE’s goal is to help other nonprofits expand the way they see “we” in their daily lives.

Who “we” are at The Center for Nonprofit Excellence

CNPE’s board had already begun working on a new strategic plan when Louisville faced two important challenges – a global pandemic and unprecedented reckoning on racial equity after Breonna Taylor was shot and killed by police. We represent nonprofits that were marching with protestors, nonprofits who were trying to figure out how to help families access online school without internet service, nonprofits that were reinventing food pantry distribution, and nonprofits that partner with city government.

Challenged by the things happening in our city, and informed by the work of powell and others, CNPE realized the moment called for an expanded mission and a bold set of values.

Historically, our work has always been around helping nonprofit organizations in the Louisville area and Southern Indiana – our primary “we” – function at peak capacity. We provide professional development opportunities, including running the School for Fundraising and Engagement and hosting the Community Activation Network (CAN). We provide a “BoardMatch” service – an online platform that helps nonprofits find board members. We provide strategic planning facilitation, consulting, and advice on best practices for organizations that are doing good throughout our community.

But we recognized that this is a moment that calls for more – it calls for an organization like ours to be actively anti-racist, to think intentionally every day about the ways we can broaden our “we.”

Our new values are simple and clear: Love, Equity, Learning, and Courage.

Our vision: a just and equitable community that supports and emboldens nonprofits to ensure everyone has the resources and opportunities to thrive.

Our mission: accelerating the success of nonprofits through capacity building, connections, and community support to amplify the good work of the sector.

Reflections on building a better community with nonprofits

In the coming months, you will experience how CNPE’s new values, vision, and mission will elevate nonprofits and strengthen our connection to one another. One of those places will be in this blog, where we will talk about what a “bigger we” can look like here in Louisville.

Sometimes we will be sharing reflections from our staff or board. Sometimes we will be sharing success stories from CNPE members and partners. But the goal is to get you thinking about who you mean when you say “we” – and how you can broaden that definition.

That’s something “we” can all do!