By The Funders Network Staff

The Funders Network President and CEO Pat Smith is among more than 30 leaders of philanthropy-serving organizations calling on the philanthropic sector and other institutions to “use all of your moral, civic, and social capital to voice your strong and vigorous support for preserving and strengthening our democratic institutions.”

The letter, titled A Commitment to Building a National Community, was coordinated by the United Philanthropy Forum,  It acknowledges that “much work remains to address the serious threats to our democracy that have been exposed during this election season, and philanthropy has an important role to play.”

Among the calls-to-action are:

  • The administration of free and fair elections.
  • Support for a peaceful transfer of power.
  • Philanthropic leaders and institutions to use all of their moral, civic, and social capital to voice support for preserving and strengthening our democratic institutions.
  • The use of philanthropic financial capital to invest in organizations that are working year-round to improve the key pillars of our democracy, including free and fair elections and systems of representation, an informed and active electorate, and laws to adequately protect all voters’ rights.

“As we head into 2021 and the seating of a new administration and a new Congress, the Forum continues to envision a courageous philanthropic sector that catalyzes a just and equitable society where all can participate and prosper,” reads the letter. “We stand ready to work with the Biden-Harris administration and members of Congress by advocating for legislation and regulations that address inequities across the country, recognize systemic racism, and seek to rectify social injustices. We will also continue to work to strengthen our democracy by supporting a participatory civil society with fair representation for all.

In her keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden in New York City, the Honorable Barbara Jordan (D-TX) spoke about the concept of building a national community:

‘We are a people in a quandary about the present. We are a people in search of our future. We are a people in search of a national community. We are a people trying not only to solve the problems of the present… but we are attempting on a larger scale to fulfill the promise of America. We are attempting to fulfill our national purpose, to create and sustain a society in which all of us are equal.’”

To read the full letter as well as the list of signatories, please visit the original post: A Commitment to Building a National Community.