Our understanding and perspective of phenomena or events are vastly improved, maybe even perfect, only after they have happened. This year, 2020, is 20/20 — the year that everything we should have known became obvious.

Let’s start with the following priorities.

1. Centering anti-racism.

Why were decades of advocacy needed to make this a priority? Our organizations need to address diversity, equity, and inclusion, and do much more — we need to center anti-racism in everything we do.

2. Prioritizing mental health and wellness.

Nonprofit organizations play an essential role in all communities, and often at the expense of the mental health and well-being of the people who work in, volunteer for, and lead them. It is time to prioritize the mental health and wellness of people in nonprofits by recognizing their vital role in communities, by showing them respect, and by funding organizations adequately so they can take care of their workforces.

3. Having a seat at federal, state and local policy tables.

Nonprofits need to be at the federal, state, and local policy tables. Government dollars are our dollars, and nonprofits should have a say in where they go and how they are used.

4. Investing in the organization is emergency preparedness.

It’s not enough to just get by. We have to educate organizational leaders, funders, donors, community members, government leaders and administrators, and volunteer board members about what it takes to run a nonprofit enterprise, and the importance of ensuring that it has a strong business operation and the resources to invest in itself and in its people.

5. Honoring nonprofits and nonprofit workers as essential.

Nonprofits are essential to the basic functioning of communities and economies, and to meeting the basic needs of our neighbors, yet they are largely invisible.

Read the full article about the year everything nonprofits should have known became obvious by Meghan McVety and Jason Alexander at Generocity.