We live in an era when division often takes center stage and the challenges we face as a nation can feel overwhelming. But even in the depths of division, there are clear signs of unity — especially about issues that nonprofits are working to address. These points of common ground offer hope and a path forward, reminding us that we are more united than we may think.
The Walton Family Foundation recently commissioned research to better understand the social and environmental issues that bring Americans together across regions, generations, and, yes, political parties. The report, “Americans Unite on Key Issues, Trust Nonprofits for Change,” was developed by Echelon Insights and the Benenson Strategy Group, representing conservative and progressive perspectives, respectively.
Our research found that seven in 10 Americans are united in their desire to tackle three challenges: improving the nation’s education system, protecting vital water resources, and fostering a sense of belonging for all people. Equally encouraging, more than 70 percent believe that nonprofits and philanthropy can and should lead the way in addressing these challenges.
This faith in nonprofits comes with high expectations:
- 83 percent of those surveyed said it’s essential for nonprofits to listen to those affected by their work.
- 93 percent agreed that empowering those most affected is key to making meaningful change.
- 82 percent want nonprofits to bring people together when crafting solutions.
- 81 percent believe nonprofits should be bold when problem-solving.
These cross-partisan insights are invaluable to our foundation and should help inform the nonprofit field’s approach. The problems our nation faces are too big for any one sector or political party to solve on its own. They require people with a range of beliefs and experiences to come together to find answers. That isn’t always easy. But in our work at the Walton Family Foundation, we’ve found that solutions are stronger and more durable when we listen and learn from each other — even when we disagree.
It’s clear that Americans have high expectations for our sector. We certainly don’t have all the answers, but at Walton we’ve seen promising results when individuals and organizations who care about their community work together. Here are a few examples of approaches that I hope will inspire other foundations and nonprofits to make collaboration across differences a strategic priority.
Organize around a shared mission. Uniting even the most diverse group is possible when people recognize their common purpose. We’ve seen this in our work with the Clean River Advisory Council, which is building and strengthening relationships among people, organizations, and communities along the Mississippi River.
Based in the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois, the council gathers a range of voices — business leaders, government officials, artists, and scientists — around one goal: a cleaner, healthier Mississippi River. The initiative led to a grant program, River Connections, that has awarded $368,000 to more than a dozen local groups. The council has also rallied cities for a Clean River Day and is planting 100 trees this fall.
Encourage experiential learning. When people experience life from another’s perspective, they are more open to collaboration and new ideas. For civic leaders in Northwest Arkansas — where a vibrant mountain biking culture and 500-plus miles of trails attract locals and visitors from across the globe — a trip abroad to a bicycle-reliant country gave them new perspective on their region’s tremendous growth and related transportation challenges.
In 2019, a diverse group of people from local municipalities, school districts, and nonprofits traveled to the Netherlands to study how its biking infrastructure serves not just recreation but also daily transportation needs. One participant, Aubrey Patterson, a member of the Bentonville, Ark., city council, describes herself as someone “who happily drives an SUV with remote start for cold mornings.” But the trip changed her views on cycling. In the Netherlands, she says, “the bicycle is the tool to get from one place to another. There are no ‘cyclists’ or ‘noncyclists.’ Almost everyone rides a bike.”
The trip helped build consensus for innovation across the region, including on-street protected bike and pedestrian facilities. The changes in Bentonville include an overhaul of major thoroughfares so that they mimic what’s found in the Netherlands, including bicycle traffic signals. The result is eased congestion and safer transportation for everyone.
Appeal to service and common good. In much of the United States, communities are grappling with a dwindling supply of a vital resource: water. The clock is ticking particularly in the western states, where 40 million people access water in the Colorado River Basin.
Complicating matters is the fact that rules governing the use of the river expire in 2026. The impacts are significant, the interests diverse. Unlike past negotiations, the 30 sovereign tribes in the basin have a seat at the table alongside the federal government and seven states. The tribes are important members of the partnership, informally called the “38 Sovereigns.”
They experience a startling lack of water access. (One-third of Navajo Nation residents do not have running water in their homes.) Tribes also hold significant rights to land surrounding the river. Philanthropy and nonprofits advocated for the inclusion of tribes in the negotiations and supported their work with funding for research and other necessities.
Focus on the next generation. Almost all of us in the social sector are focused on improving things for the next generation. We strive to better lives today while setting in motion durable change for the future. This starts with listening to the next generation. As our research uncovered, younger generations, rightly so, care deeply about addressing our biggest challenges. Seven in 10 of Americans ages 18 to 34 across geographies and political affiliations said they want bold change.
Beyond this research, we are listening to even younger Americans in a partnership with Gallup through our Gen Z Panel, a series of national surveys tracking the attitudes of Gen Z over time. This rigorous, unbiased research offers crucial insights that policymakers, educators, and advocates can use to improve opportunities for young people across the country. And guess what? Our students don’t feel their education is preparing them for their futures.
As we look to the future, we can’t predict exactly what lies ahead for our nation. But I know this: Now is the time for philanthropy and nonprofits to lead.
Organizations like Braven are responding, bringing together educators and employers to better equip young people with the skills and networks to build meaningful careers. Similarly, Collegiate Edu-Nation is helping rural students like those in Roscoe, Tex., secure technical training in high school to meet the needs of local employers, including those in health care, the energy industry and the wind power field.
As we look to the future, we can’t predict exactly what lies ahead for our nation. But I know this: Now is the time for philanthropy and nonprofits to lead. By modeling what it looks like to come together in pursuit of common goals, we can show what unity in action looks like. Americans are ready for this kind of leadership. Our nation’s belief in the power of nonprofits to drive positive change is something that unites us all.
This article was originally published October, 30, 2024 in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.
