Staying Committed to Social Justice and Advocacy in Times of Political Crisis – Nonprofit Quarterly

Strategic Report on Nonprofit Resilience and Commitment to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Navigating Political Turbulence to Uphold the 2030 Agenda

Nonprofit organizations face significant challenges in maintaining their commitment to social justice and advocacy amidst a volatile political climate. This report outlines strategic recommendations for these organizations to remain steadfast in their missions, with a specific focus on aligning their practices with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The current environment threatens progress on key goals, making it imperative for civil society to reinforce its dedication to creating a more equitable and sustainable world.

Core Recommendations for Aligning Nonprofit Practices with SDGs

To ensure continued progress towards the 2030 Agenda, justice-rooted organizations should adopt the following strategies:

1. Foster Internal Dialogue to Strengthen Commitment to SDG 16

   Maintaining internal alignment and transparency is crucial for building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions, a core target of SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Organizations should:

   • Conduct regular internal discussions to assess and openly define the organization’s position on advocacy and public engagement.
   • Empower staff and board members by grappling with the complexities of the organization’s strategic response to external pressures.
   • Use this internal dialogue as a mechanism to reinforce institutional values and resist simplistic, harmful external narratives.

2. Advance SDG 10 and SDG 5 through Continuous Internal Education

   A deep understanding of systemic inequalities is fundamental to achieving SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality). Even if an organization limits its public advocacy, it must prioritize internal capacity building.

   • Invest in ongoing learning for staff and board members on how issues of race, class, gender, and other identities intersect with the organization’s mission.
   • Integrate educational components into routine meetings, retreats, and internal forums.
   • Deepen the organization’s understanding of how its programs impact diverse constituents, thereby strengthening its ability to effectively reduce inequalities.

3. Uphold SDG 8 and SDG 10 through Equitable Internal Policies

   Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices are not merely internal policies; they are direct contributions to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Retreating from these commitments poses a significant risk to organizational integrity and progress on these goals.

   • Maintain and strengthen equitable policies related to hiring, professional development, and promotion.
   • Recognize that DEI work is legally sound and essential for protecting civil rights and ensuring equal opportunity.
   • Understand that abandoning DEI initiatives undermines organizational innovation, talent retention, and relevance, thereby hindering contributions to sustainable economic growth and social equity.

4. Leverage SDG 17 for Collective Impact and Advocacy

   SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) emphasizes the importance of collaboration. In times of turbulence, building strong coalitions is a critical strategy for resilience and collective power.

   • Actively participate in organizational networks, conferences, and coalitions to build solidarity with allied organizations.
   • Pool resources, share legal guidance, and coordinate advocacy efforts to demonstrate collective strength.
   • Work in partnership to respond to threats more effectively than any single organization could alone, thereby protecting the shared mission of advancing the SDGs.

5. Clarify Organizational Roles in Advancing SDG 16

   To maintain focus and institutional integrity, it is important to clarify the organization’s specific role in promoting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), while acknowledging the broader political commitments of its stakeholders.

   • Recognize that an organization may not serve as the primary political home for every staff and board member.
   • Create space for open discussion about the various ways individuals can manifest their values and political commitments, both within and outside the organization.
   • This clarity prevents organizational defensiveness and allows the institution to focus on its unique contributions to building a just and peaceful society, while empowering individuals to engage in broader advocacy efforts.

Conclusion: Collective Action for a Sustainable Future

The nonprofit sector’s unwavering commitment to social justice is a powerful force for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. By implementing these strategies, organizations can protect their missions, support their communities, and stand in solidarity against efforts to silence dissent. This collective action is essential for advancing the 2030 Agenda and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article connects to SDG 5 by emphasizing the need for internal learning and practices related to gender identity. It explicitly advises organizations to “double down on your internal learning about how race, class, gender, and other forms of identity interact with your organizational mission.” This focus on understanding and addressing gender as a component of social justice and equity aligns with the goal of achieving gender equality.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  This is a central theme of the article. It directly addresses the challenges faced by organizations working on social and racial justice, particularly those “led by BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized communities.” The entire discussion revolves around maintaining commitment to practices that reduce inequality, such as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and fighting against the “racial justice and equity backlash.”

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article is fundamentally about strengthening nonprofit institutions so they can continue their work for justice in a hostile political climate. It discusses protecting organizations from being “publicly attacked or defunded,” upholding civil rights laws, and ensuring these institutions can continue their advocacy work. The advice to “Join coordinated advocacy efforts” and stand against efforts to silence dissent speaks directly to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article strongly advocates for collaboration and partnerships as a strategy for survival and strength. Suggestion 4, “Lean into organizational networks and coalitions,” is a direct call to action that embodies the spirit of SDG 17. The text advises organizations to “work in solidarity rather than isolation” and “Pool resources” to achieve collective strength, highlighting the importance of civil society partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article’s focus on protecting LGBTQ+ communities and its call to learn about “gender, and other forms of identity” directly supports the principle of ending discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation.
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The advice to “not retreat from the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices” and to continue “hiring, developing, and promoting staff equitably” directly supports this target by ensuring equal opportunities within nonprofit organizations.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article’s focus on supporting organizations “led by BIPOC, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized communities” is a direct effort to empower and ensure the inclusion of these groups.
   • Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices. The article’s strong defense of DEI practices and its reminder that “Federal laws that provide equal opportunity and protect civil rights remain” aligns perfectly with this target. It advocates for maintaining organizational policies that ensure equal opportunity.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. The article discusses the need for nonprofits to continue their advocacy and “speaking out” as their “collective mission,” which is an exercise of fundamental freedoms. It highlights the threat of being bullied into silence and the importance of resisting it.
   • Target 16.B: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development. The article explicitly warns against abandoning DEI and reminds readers that ignoring civil rights laws “remains illegal.” This is a direct call to uphold and enforce non-discriminatory policies within organizations.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. Suggestion 4 is entirely dedicated to this target, advising organizations to “Lean into organizational networks and coalitions,” “Work in coalition with peer organizations to demonstrate collective strength,” and “Pool resources.” This describes the formation of effective civil society partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators:

• Indicator for Targets 5.5 and 10.3:

  The article implies that a key measure of progress is the continued implementation of equitable internal policies. An indicator can be formulated as the “Number and percentage of organizations that maintain or strengthen their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and practices regarding hiring, development, and promotion.” The article stresses, “This is not the time to preemptively undo progress your organization has made.”

• Indicator for Target 16.B:

  Progress can be measured by adherence to existing laws. An implied indicator is the “Level of compliance with federal and local non-discriminatory and civil rights laws within the nonprofit sector.” The article reinforces this by stating that “ignoring them remains illegal.”

• Indicator for Target 17.17:

  The article provides a direct, quantifiable example that can be used as an indicator. The indicator is the “Number of organizations participating in joint advocacy efforts, coalitions, and partnerships.” The article gives a concrete data point: “Over 3,000 nonprofits cosigned an open letter,” which serves as a perfect example of this indicator in practice.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nonprofitquarterly.org