Giving Compass' Take:

• Brian Gallagher argues that the United States needs the return of nonpartisan civil society to stabilize the divided nation. 

• How can funders help to build trust in existing civil society institutions? Who benefits from the destruction of these institutions? 

• Read more about building civil society in the U.S.

Today, America is a nation divided.

In this environment, the reputation and uniqueness of American civil society groups are weakening. Wealthy individuals are setting up foundations to advance political agendas and take advantage of tax laws. Some groups hide behind shell nonprofits to promote messages that drag Americans to the extremes, while others advocate for the weakening of the Johnson Amendment meant to separate nonprofits from electoral politics. The recent discussion over the charitable tax deduction—a vital way for Americans to easily support their communities—even became partisan. And citizens are struggling to divest politics from every conversation and issue.

As Americans’ distrust of institutions and nonprofits grows, it’s hurting our communities and what’s made US civil society unique. An individual’s first response to a civil society group shouldn’t be, “What’s their true agenda?” but “They’re here to help us.” If we continue to build a more politically and socially divisive culture—one where we live in an “I” culture, rather than a “we” culture—we’ll let that American exceptionalism slip further and further from our grasp.

We can’t take that political independence for granted any longer. Whether we are civil society leaders, donors, or concerned community members, let’s stand up for transparency and honesty, and hold groups accountable for their actions. Let’s make sure that outside influences stay out of the board room. And let’s keep our decision-making and society’s focus on what’s best for all of us. We had it before, and we can find it again.

America and the world need strong, non-political civil societies. We need a renewed civic order based on the principles and promise that created the vibrant civil society Alexis de Tocqueville identified in the United States. If we accomplish that, we’ll once again recognize the unique model that the United States exported around the world for the betterment of all people everywhere.

Read the full article about strong, nonpartisan civil society by Brian Gallagher at Stanford Social Innovation Review.