Charities, Funds Must Unify Efforts

To the Editor:

Many thanks for Edward Skloot’s thoughtful opinion piece (“Foundations Must Meet the Era’s Challenges,” November 15). In particular, his call for coordination of efforts by charities and funders in addressing the new national realities and priorities following September 11 is crucially important.

Unless we can come together to promote a common agenda, we will miss the opportunity to make a real impact in shaping — and not just reacting to — the national response to this disaster.

Moreover, unless we clearly incorporate advocacy into this agenda, we will miss the opportunity to change what now appear to be the likely policy impacts of the current focus on fighting war and terrorism.

Mr. Skloot predicts that “we can forget about” government funds for a host of new social-policy initiatives. However, if we embrace advocacy as part of our common strategy, this need not happen. We should not simply accept the withdrawal of funds to meet critical social needs. Indeed, these needs are now more important than ever, as more and more people lose their jobs as a result of the economic downturn.

The response to September 11 must at the very least incorporate a commitment to address social injustice. The horror of the devastation the attacks wreaked does not take away the everyday horror of homelessness and hunger in the midst of plenty. Indeed, the September 11 catastrophe confirms that our world is more interdependent than ever, and that it is imperative to find a way for all to share the planet in peace.

While terrorism must be condemned and fought, gross social injustice must also be condemned and eliminated.

Together, funders and grantees should lead the way in articulating a more just and peaceful vision of the world and proactively advocating policies and initiatives to make that vision a reality.

Maria Foscarinis
Executive Director
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
Washington