OPINION COMMENTARY:

Your senator greets you with a smile and makes you feel so important that you contribute to his campaign, only to learn that he doesn’t need your money; he’s a shoo-in for re-election. John Carroll urges people to direct their giving to competitive political races and social missions that serve their local communities.

Collaboration between academics and government agencies is essential for advancing our understanding of public policy issues. Noelwah Netusil and Marie Walkiewicz describe how to overcome barriers that can hinder these efforts and limit their effectiveness.

Recognizing pitfalls that can impede their missions is crucial for nonprofit organizations. Larry Gilson advises on how nonprofits can address challenges such as navigating philanthropic deserts, managing dynamics with funders, mitigating risks associated with scaling, and more.

Nonprofits struggle to harness the influence of grassroots donors. Henry Carroll and Taylor Greenthal recommend leveraging political fundraising strategies and collaborative efforts to efficiently build a broad grassroots donor base, ensuring successful navigation of the digital fundraising transformation.