Defending Independent Sector

To the Editor:

The recent column by Pablo Eisenberg about Independent Sector (“What Independent Sector Should Look For in a New CEO,” September 19) reflects the narrow views of an ivory-tower academic who appears to know little about managing and leading a complex community. He clearly knows even less about the inner workings of today’s Independent Sector, which I have found to be even more dynamic and aggressive in conducting trusted research and shaping and winning policy battles on behalf of the entire charitable nonprofit community than was possible even in its early years.

Independent Sector’s board is diverse and engaged, and takes the time to debate diverse points of view and gather the facts before setting a course of action that will best serve the interests of the sector and our organization’s mission and vision.

As an active, dues-paying member of Independent Sector for many years, we have participated in and appreciate the many heated debates in the board room and in our membership meetings where the end result has been positive action. Independent Sector has been enormously successful in finding the common ground where the charitable community can take joint action without catering either to special interests or what Professor Eisenberg would call “the lowest common denominator.”

Contrary to his statement, it is not Independent Sector’s mission to — and it should not try to — represent the views or interests of either labor unions or business trade associations.

It is much easier to stand outside and criticize without the benefit of the facts than it is to be an active participant in shaping the policies and actions of an organization that even Mr. Eisenberg agrees is critical to the health and vitality of the nonprofit sector. At the same time, I could hardly argue with his excellent list of qualifications for Independent Sector’s next president. I encourage critics and supporters to join us in what I agree is a huge challenge: finding a strong new leader who can help us make sure that Independent Sector, and the nonprofit community, remain a powerful force for the good of all.

Edward H. Able
Chief Executive Officer
American Association of Museums
Washington

To the Editor:

As chairperson of Independent Sector, I share Pablo Eisenberg’s evaluation of how important the search for the organization’s next leader is. But I strongly disagree with his assessment of the current organization. In fact, we are proud to have an engaged membership, a very involved board, and an excellent staff that work very hard to promote the entire independent sector and its work to enrich communities around the world. And together we have achieved signif-icant and far-reaching results.

The board is taking the search and selection of IS’s next president very seriously. We have appointed an exceptional search committee, chaired by Raul Yzaguirre, president of the National Council of La Raza, and including the heads of the American Heart Association, Ford Foundation, National Council of Churches, Aetna Foundation, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics, Jobs for the Future, Chicago Community Trust, BBB Wise Giving Alliance, and Prudential Foundation.

Pablo Eisenberg’s discussion of the many qualities we will be seeking in the search process are testimony to the enormousness of the shoes this individual will need to fill and to the critical importance of Independent Sector’s work on behalf of all of the organizations of our sector.

John Seffrin
Chief Executive Officer
American Cancer Society
Atlanta
Chairperson
Independent Sector
Washington