GOOD NEWS: Dance or Die
Good News: An enewsletter for donors and nonprofits
on strategic planning, governance, fundraising, and executive leadership.
Dance or Die
Whether it is Jimmy Kimmel standing up after being abruptly cancelled and then reinstated by his employer and government because of his spoken words, the winning Ryder Cup Captain Luke Donald explaining that his team does not compete for money, or Lady Gaga singing and dancing in support of her LGBTQ fan base, it seems clear that we live in a time when taking a position for what we believe matters more than ever. The days of blowing with the wind, uttering a lot of words but saying nothing, and curating a vanilla persona meant to offend no one seem to be vanishing. As the marketing slogan goes, “Define yourself or be defined by others.”
The same can be true about your foundation or nonprofit. As has been the case for these three recent examples, the result of speaking up and acting with courage can be quite therapeutic and beneficial.
By speaking our minds and acting with conviction we better understand who is one our side and who isn't. Whether establishing your giving priorities, conducting a campaign or building a board (perhaps the most important of all), we need to know who we are, who our friends are, what we stand for, and where we draw the line.
Consider these statements from each of the aforementioned public figures taking a stand for what they believe in, regardless of the temporary personal cost to them and those who care about them:
Lady Gaga at the 02 in London September 2025
"It was many years ago that I came here with my first ever arena tour and that you came. I remember it was such a crazy show because we only had a few days to prepare and all sorts of things went wrong. I feel so humbled and so grateful that over 15 years later, almost 20 years into my career, I'm still here able to perform. You always remind me with our community and our life that discipline and hard work and caring about your craft really matters. I try to do the simple things every day to keep myself whole - to sing, to write, to play piano, to practice. Because sometimes when I just feel like I'm not sure what to do I just practice the simple things."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEPmi1C0Sho
Luke Donald, Ryder Cup Captain Team Europe, September 2025
"We come to you as a team defined by history, by unity, and by belief that we are playing for something far greater than ourselves. The Ryder Cup means so much to each and every one of us. It is unlike anything else in our sport. It is not about prize money or world ranking points. It's about pride. It's about representing your flag, your shirt, and the legacy you leave behind. We play for our families, our teammates, our countries, our continent, and for the generations before us that made this event what it is today. Our European legacy is rooted in resilience, in togetherness, and in proving people wrong. Time and again, we've shown that when we come together as one with a shared purpose, we can achieve remarkable things."
https://youtu.be/E9AQ18T5C9M?si=O6v5bmU0kvWTqcW3
Jimmy Kimmel, September 24, 2025
"This show is not important. What is important is that we get to live in a country that allows us to have a show like this. I've had the opportunity to meet and spend time with comedians and talk show hosts from countries like Russia and countries in the Middle East who tell me that they would be thrown in prison for making fun of those in power, or worse than being thrown in prison. They know how lucky we are here. Our freedom to speak is what they admire most about this country. And that is something, I'm embarrassed to say, I took for granted until they pulled my friend Stephen off the air and tried to coerce the affiliates who run our show in your cities to take my show off the air. That's not legal. That's not American. That is un-American and it is so dangerous."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1tjh_ZO_tY
I’m all for building bridges whenever possible but sometimes it is clear that compromise simply isn’t in the cards. Knowing when to meet someone more than half way and when to stand our ground is much more art than science. So take your positions thoughtfully, tell everyone about them, and be prepared to confront those who won't agree when necessary.
Ongoing Learning for TTG
Excited to announce that in September I completed 21/64's Certified Advisor program for philanthropic advisors. Many thanks to my instructors and cohort members for an excellent refresher and enhancement on facilitating important conversations about philanthropy!
https://2164.net/advisors/
