"Why are you giving up your power?"

I remember the first time I heard one of the many community organizers I admire ask leaders this question. 

"My" donors were in that room. My first thought was, "Shit. They aren't going to like that."

You can probably guess... they were totally fine, I was fine, and that organizer became such a valued teacher. It was uncomfortable.  It was objectionable, even. But it wasn't harmful.  It was a question.  And it created emotional ownership and a group of leaders who knew that they were going to grow from this experience organizing for the justice they envisioned.

Laura and I started learning and adopting the community organizing principles that were working to connect people, create leaders and build power for change.  The question "why are we giving up our power" is the one I come back to the most.

Y'all, with donors and supporters, we have power!  As nonprofit fundraisers and leaders we have knowledge, proximity, access and skin-in-the-game. Donors benefit from being in right relationship with us. I know I benefit from the org's I support and I see it every day with SVA clients' donors. Consider for yourself: what points of power do you have? And do you notice them and name them?

If not, it's ok... we aren't usually taught this unless we have an organizer in our lives ;) (thanks Deb!) You can start now.  

Here's how:

1. NOTICE how you talk to yourself and others now.

We have a lot to complain about.  We have a lot of injustices to rage over. We have a lot of things that are hard. Is that what you think and talk about?

2. ASK where you/we have power. Name it. Access? Proximity? Knowledge? Numbers? Lived Experience? Long-game approach? Moral authority? Values alignment? Once we notice where we have power we can start leveraging it to create change.

3. PRACTICE a fast follow of noting the hard things, which are real and likely here to stay, with a quick repetition of the places we have power.  Just say the words - out loud or to yourself. Sounds like: The administration is making our work impossible. And we still have the people numbers on our side and stories to tell. 

Try putting this into practice with your team or community and notice whether it shifts anything over a month of practice. 

I still give up my power all the time.  To my kids (ha), to authority figures (oops), to donors and influencers. For me it sounds like "everything is stacked against ____ in this sector, and it's so hard to make change." That's true, but what's also true is that we have human stories, lived experience, and deep connections in this sector and a long history of working together for the long haul. We have the power to outlast and usher in change. Because we have to. 

And the nice thing about power is that when we forget to use it, we still have that muscle memory. And trust me, this world is always going to give us a chance to practice again.

Flex your muscles, friends, and tell me about where you're claiming your power here and anywhere you see me IRL! 

Here's one way I remind myself about my power. This is my first competition deadlift at 300lbs. My friend was there and told me to give it a try and I shocked myself with this big pull. I don't do that every day but I'm definitely not giving that power away. Both the power to TRY IT and the power to be able to do more than I thought I could because a friend was backing me.  

I hope you won't give up your power either. ❤️ We need you out here. 

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