Dear John,

Today the Chronicle of Philanthropy debuts a major new effort to help you better understand how America’s nonprofits and foundations are working to heal the nation’s divides.

When you dive into The Commons, you’ll learn the multitude of ways people and organizations are bringing communities together and getting things done.

You’ll also discover how philanthropy can do more to throw its support behind what works — and, just as important, how it can avoid creating or deepening fissures. And you’ll find tools that will help you in your own work.

We’re exploring how fractures over race, gender, geography, income levels, and all the many other facets of our culture and society are threatening progress and the nation’s stability. After all, until the nation can come together to talk and act, it won’t matter how many billions of dollars donors pour into good causes or how many hours of smart, strategic work nonprofits undertake to keep their communities vibrant.

Among the items you’ll find online today: Essays from a dozen philanthropists, activists, and big thinkers — some advocates, some critics, and some donors. You’ll also find a deeply reported profile of a community activist in the Appalachians who’s bridging divides — and challenging elitism in philanthropy — research about how to talk to donors and the public in ways that navigate society’s fissures, and a data-driven view from a neuroscientist whose research shows that Americans are more united than you might think.

As we build The Commons, we’re approaching it with the rigor and intensity that you expect from the Chronicle.

Led by Chronicle senior editor Drew Lindsay, our journalists are asking tough questions about what really makes a difference, promoting thoughtful conversations, and encouraging new ideas.

The Commons is the result of discussions I have had with leaders at multiple nonprofits and foundations. As I asked them what the Chronicle could do to help them the most, they told me they longed to find a place where people of widely divergent perspectives could exchange ideas that lead to change — without all the shouting.

Creating The Commons is our answer to that call — and demonstrates how we have evolved in the past year as we have joined the growing cadre of nonprofit newsrooms redefining how journalism can better engage communities in social change.

To build The Commons, we have drawn on research, ideas, and much more from experts around the country.

We’re grateful to them and to three foundations that believed in our project from the start: the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Einhorn Collaborative, and JPB Foundation. As with all of our philanthropic supporters, they do not see any of our work until it is published, nor do they have any input on our coverage.

The strength of The Commons depends on feedback from you. Let us know what think about this issue and explore the inviting new space on Philanthropy.com/TheCommons, where we’ve gathered many more offerings.

And if you’re interested in writing for The Commons or sharing other perspectives, we’re eager to hear from you.

Send us a note at TheCommons@philanthropy.com.






Stacy Palmer
CEO, Chronicle of Philanthropy

P.S. The best way to keep up with everything we post in The Commons — and elsewhere on our site — is to follow Philanthropy Today or join the LinkedIn Group.

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