In 2019, Michelle Man wrote about why democracy matters to all social purpose organizations. Right now, every cause and campaign is being undermined because large segments of the population aren’t being heard, their views aren’t influencing decision-making, and power is concentrated in the hands of a minority. Democracy affects every aspect of our lives and all charitable organizations have a vested interest in defending it.

The UK democracy sector—made up of individuals and organizations working to strengthen democracy—is failing to meet the task. It is small, under-funded, fragmented, and characterized by duplication, reinventing of the wheel, and persistent gaps. With only two weeks until potentially the largest and most complex set of UK elections ever, there is no large-scale coordinated activity in place to support electors to participate. The democracy sector urgently needs to work together more effectively.

Many people in the charity sector will recognize these challenges, largely because funding dynamics often work against coordination and collaboration. However, individual actors lack the insight and resources to tackle complex and systemic issues. Improved coordination and collaboration can increase efficiency and lead to better outcomes, due to better information and more creativity and innovation. Whether it’s building a thriving democracy or tackling homelessness, if we’re to achieve our charitable missions, we need to find ways to be more open and collaborative.

Read the full article about The UK Democracy Handbook by Michelle Man at Think NPC.