Happy New Year!
Let’s face it, turning the calendar to 2026 offered a welcome opportunity to reset after a year that proved difficult for many – if not all – of us. Just about everyone we know, including ourselves, has been personally and professionally affected by the cuts the new administration has made to many vital departments, programs and services.
That impact has cascaded to nonprofits and philanthropy. Many organizations are just trying to stay afloat and do their best to serve their constituents and stakeholders. It has been devastating to watch the damage these cuts have inflicted on the philanthropic sector – not to mention the loss of decorum and common decency in the world where people have been dehumanized and inhumane behavior continues to be normalized.
The easy thing to do these days is dwell on the negative. After all, in the social space, there’s plenty of fodder. Deep federal funding cuts rippling through our sector. A steady stream of headlines defy comprehension. The all-out assault on DEI-focused initiatives.
And yet, as we enter this new year, it’s also important to focus on what hasn’t changed – and what no one – no politician, no talking head, no social media “influencer”, can take away.
The reality is that many of us have had to recalibrate how to approach and talk about DEI. While demonization of the acronym ‘DEI’ has been particularly dispiriting, the underpinning values that built a wave of commitment and progress across philanthropy still holds true – regardless of what acronym or phrasing is used to define it. And, as I wrote in a recent op-ed published in The Fulcrum, there are meaningful ways to reimagine our approach – and, in turn, strengthen our resolve — to building diverse, equitable and inclusive cultures.
The United States is a diverse country – that’s a fact, and is an important part of our identity. We believe that everyone deserves an opportunity. We think living in a society that provides – rather than hoards – the opportunity to be moral, right and fair, labels be damned. At The 360 Group, we’ve lived and realized these values for more than 20 years. And as we have processed the changing climate over the past year, a key epiphany emerged: You can never go wrong by sticking to your values.
Fortunately, we are seeing much of the social sector organizations holding to their values. They continue to value diversity, equity, inclusion and justice –no matter what you want to call it. Our clients are still doing the right things, treating their employees and the people that they serve with respect and dignity – in short, running their enterprises with integrity. In our people-oriented business, we still have faith in the people in philanthropy and that is what is gives us hope in the future.
Helping organizations continue to achieve those gains – and better our community, country and world in the process — is what has fueled our work for all this time.
That hasn’t changed. And never will.
Yes, we are living in a world in which doing the right thing can feel daunting – even frightening. Yet never forget it can also feel incredible, inspiring, and when the stars align, downright transformative.
We’re all in this together. All of us need allies, comrades, supporters and partners. We will not let each other down – or back down in the face of adversity.
So please don’t hesitate to reach out — if your organization – nonprofit, foundation, association or corporate social impact program – needs an ear, we are here for you, as we have been for more than two decades.