April 2, 2024
Welcome to The Commons!
With this issue, the Chronicle of Philanthropy debuts a major new effort to help you better understand how America’s nonprofits and foundations are working to heal the nation’s divides.
Online and in print, The Commons is examining the multitude of ways people and organizations are bringing communities together and getting things done. We’re also exploring how philanthropy can do more to throw its support behind what works — and, just as important, how it can avoid creating or deepening fissures.
Nothing is more important to the social sector and to our democracy. Nonprofits and foundations are working mightily to curb climate change, advance equity, improve education, and achieve so much more, but until the nation can come together to talk and act, it won’t matter how many billions of dollars donors pour into good causes or how many hours of smart, strategic work nonprofits undertake to keep their communities vibrant.
The Commons is the first of many dedicated sections of coverage the Chronicle will unveil in the years ahead, and it is the result of conversations I have had with leaders at multiple nonprofits and foundations. As I asked them what the Chronicle could do to help them the most, they told me they longed to find a place where people of widely divergent perspectives could exchange ideas that lead to change — without all the shouting.
Building The Commons is our answer to that call — and demonstrates how we have evolved in the past year as we have joined the growing cadre of nonprofit newsrooms redefining how journalism can better engage communities in social change. Our commitment to you is that we’ll show the nonprofit world we can disagree without disagreement curdling into discord.
To build The Commons, we have drawn on research, ideas, and much more from experts around the country.
We’re grateful to them and to three foundations that believed in our project from the start: the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, and the JPB Foundation. As with all of our philanthropic supporters, they do not see any of our work until it is published, nor do they have any input on the input on our coverage.
The strength of The Commons depends on feedback from you. Let us know what think about this issue and explore the inviting new space on Philanthropy.com/TheCommons where we gathered many more offerings. And if you’re interested in writing for The Commons or sharing other perspectives, we’re eager to hear from you.
Send us a note at TheCommons@philanthropy.com.
Stacy Palmer
CEO, the Chronicle of Philanthropy
P.S. The best way to keep up with everything we post in The Commons — and elsewhere on our site — is to follow Philanthropy Today. As a subscriber, you get this daily newsletter at no cost. Sign up now.