Building Bridges Versus Building Power: A False Choice
Credit: Sunnychicka/Shuttershock
In a new article from Inside Philanthropy, David Callahan shows the need for both bridge-building and power-building. He makes the case for investing in rural America and highlights Rural Democracy’s success.
“The Rural Democracy Initiative has been on the vanguard of this work since its creation in 2018, now supporting more than 150 organizations. But while RDI is authentically nonpartisan, it is keenly focused on building political power. It has both a 501c3 and 501c4 arm, giving it a range of ways to advance the interests of rural America — including playing an active role in elections. This is the type of work that funders should prioritize as they look to both confront authoritarianism and find an exit from hyper-polarization.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Callahan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Inside Philanthropy. He has written extensively on trends in philanthropy, as well as American politics and public policy. His books include "The Givers: Wealth, Power, and Philanthropy in a New Gilded Age."
