By A. Chowdhury, MSW student at the University of Houston who has a deep conviction in the principles of equality, social justice, and advocacy for people’s rights

By prioritizing equity in fundraising efforts, organizers can ensure that these communities receive the necessary support, helping to bridge the resource gap and promote fairness. Aligning fundraising efforts with the organization’s mission and values will help to ensure that the organization’s actions are consistent with its principles during fundraising.

Dear Capitalists in America, 

The relationship between nonprofit fundraising, social justice, and advocating is complex and contentious in our current social environment. 

My view on this friction arose when I witnessed a heated discussion at a recent annual fundraising event about how far capitalists will go to satisfy their self-righteous desires–even pushing non-profit organizations to exploit recipients’ storytelling.  

That discussion highlighted the lengths capitalists, like yourself, will demand fundraisers go to, prioritizing profit over integrity. 

You leverage people’s stories for personal and financial gain, primarily when representing marginalized communities. 

If you, as a capitalist, are reading this, you may be tempted to label me “ungrateful” or even suggest ceasing your “philanthropic” efforts. However, I urge you to consider the historical context of wealth and its distribution in America. 

And, not to rain on your parade, but how much of it is yours? The property you hold so near and dearly! 

For all individuals, regardless of their capitalist identity, I encourage you to look beyond personal interests and consider the more significant implications of your actions on social justice and equity. By doing so, you can contribute to building a more just and equitable society for all. 

This emphasis on collective responsibility promotes a more inclusive approach to addressing social issues.

My journey through poverty, involvement with social justice issues through the Master of Social Work (MSW) program, and my recent nonprofit experience have all given me a unique perspective. They have shown me how societal structures can continue to exploit, tokenize, and marginalize people in poverty. 

For example, consider this scenario: a prominent nonprofit organization hosted an annual fundraising event. At this event, a significant number of donors represented the dominant class. To create an impactful narrative, the host presented a woman of color, stating, “Your donation not only helped us, but we helped her – not only once, but the entire year during Hurricane Harvey!” 

Showcasing one person of color as a token – speaking for her and using her as a prop – is problematic on many levels between the power dynamics, monetary exchange, and societal degradation. These practices call for a change that respects individual dignity and promotes equity.

My experience of poverty, involvement with social justice issues through the MSW program, and recent nonprofit experience demonstrated to me how societal structures continue to exploit, tokenize, and marginalize people in poverty. And these experiences have shaped my understanding and fueled my passion for advocating for a more just and equitable society.

Let’s dive into the example of this woman of color at the event even more deeply. 

Karl Marx introduced us all to the theory of exploitation. He described exploitation as the theft of economic power in all class-based societies by forcing the working or exploited class to sell their labor for meager wages. When capitalists control resources, such as factories, they often exploit workers. Workers are paid less than the value of goods or services they produce. In recent years, Marx’s theories regarding exploitation may seem flawed, but applying the concept of ‘re-fixing’ to specific stories can help us understand the general definition of exploitation.

Jonathan Wolf explains that using the concept of re-fixing helps us understand exploitation as broader than Marx’s theory of exploitation. We modify the actual definition to fit a specific circumstance in real-life examples. In our example of women of color being showcased in a fundraising event, “re-fixing” could involve expanding the concept of exploitation to her race or gender being used to raise funds. She was presented to appeal to donors to gain sympathy and raise more funds without concern for diminishing her self-dignity.

It should anger people when capitalists use tokenism to benefit their self-righteous purposes at the expense of marginalized people. This reveals societal inequality, as narratives are crafted solely to serve the dominant interest. Additionally, using marginalized people’s presence to promote diversity undermines inclusivity and diversity.

This brings us to my final point about learning to act more humanely. Many people use ethics subjectively when it benefits them or helps them advance their agenda. In our scenario, one person’s storytelling generates thousands of dollars, which must provide more assistance to marginalized people. But if the evidence shows we are raising these funds by showing only one person of color, and when it comes to redistribution, we put that money elsewhere, then I beg to differ. 

The question before us is, where do we go from here? Do we simply hope for the best and assume that our fundraising practices will improve over time? This approach is passive and unlikely to result in meaningful change. However, by proactively addressing issues of tokenism and implementing policies that genuinely celebrate diversity, organizations can pave the way for a more inclusive future.

One step is actively involving marginalized individuals in the conversation, seeking their feedback on improving existing fundraising activities. This engagement can help identify areas where tokenism may exist and develop strategies to eliminate it. By empowering individuals from all backgrounds during the fundraising process, organizations can create a more inclusive and equitable environment that respects diversity and leverages it as a strength. This approach cultivates genuine inclusivity and helps ensure that all voices are heard and valued.

Solutions like this are why I started to appreciate many of the Community-Centric Fundraising values. But, if I were to pick one, what stands out to me the most is how fundraising should be grounded in race, equity, and social justice. 

When fundraising practices include race, equity, and social justice, they can address systemic inequalities in resource distribution. History has shown that marginalized communities often have less access to resources, and the ability to access them worsens during crises like the pandemic.

By prioritizing equity in fundraising efforts, organizers can ensure that these communities receive the necessary support, helping to bridge the resource gap and promote fairness. Aligning fundraising efforts with the organization’s mission and values will help to ensure that the organization’s actions are consistent with its principles during fundraising.

So, when you start your fall or winter fundraising, empower yourself to discuss the wealth gap disparities and consider how you tell your organizational story. This is a crucial step in our journey towards a more equitable society, and your role in this discussion is of utmost importance. 

Capitalists in America: please examine whether your organizations are engaging in tokenism. Consider your organization’s potential negative impact on racialized people, equity, and social justice during fundraising efforts. Remaining silent on this issue can be seen as an endorsement of such practices. 

Capitalists in America: actively verify the organization’s financials to ensure that funds are distributed equitably rather than just highlighting one racial identity for appearances. Participate in the event-organizing process to ensure marginalized individuals have a voice in shaping fundraising events, empowering these communities, and preserving their dignity.

Sincerely,

Asif Chowdhury