Penny Abeywardena

Head Behind the Headlines

Kudos James Dobson?

The thing about "Top" 10 or 50 or whatever lists is that they force the darnedest combinations. The NonProfit Times (NPT) just released their 9th annual Power and Influence list and I found it both hilarious and depressing to see James Dobson, Founder & Chair of the infamous Focus on the Family on a list with heroes of mine. How in the world did Mr. Intolerant end up next to the likes of Nan Aron, the founder & President of Alliance for Justice or Lorie Slutsky, President of New York Community Trust?

NPT narrowed a field of 200+ potential honorees down to 50 by focusing on those who represent the best from the "leadership at rank-and-file charities- you know, the groups that actually do the hard work." Dobson is honored because "nobody is better at dancing along the tightrope of 501(c)(3) status and the political process. What he and the organization do is closely watched for guidance by other evangelical organizations and by federal regulators." Ha! Yep that sounds like something to be celebrated for. And let's not talk about the "hard work" that Dobson and Co. do for our communities- religion in schools, "reparative therapy" for homosexuality and ah, the list of do-gooding goes on.

It's sad to see that Dobson came to be in the company of nonprofit leaders who use their power and influence to demand openness and accountability by the nation's philanthropic sector, or who empower communities through strategic funding of neighborhood groups combating society's inequities. This is the sort of "power and influence" I want celebrated.

Take Rick Cohen, a DMI blogger and someone described as "incorruptible." NPT chose him because he "leads an organization (the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy) where the research on foundation and other giving practices does the talking. ((His) work takes guts because it often bites the hand that feeds it." Kudos Mr. Cohen.

How about Lori Slutsky of New York Community Trust? Ms. Slutsky runs the largest community foundation in the country and successfully directs a deliberate and effective strategy of promoting "a charitable sector that knows the neighborhoods, the various populations and how to coordinate a community's survival." Kudos Ms. Slutsky.

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Posted at 8:00 AM, Aug 06, 2006 in The Head Behind the Headlines
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