Chick-fill-A has decided to change its position about funding anti-gay groups and this change, according to the Christian Science Monitor, "highlights the risks companies and nonprofits take when they take public stances on divisive social issues". The article then noted the impact on Komen for the Cure when the organization announced its plan not to support Planned Parenthood which then saw "participation in its annual breast cancer walks drop in some areas. In San Francisco, registration for this month’s walk was down 50 percent from last year."
Nonprofit values and the communications of these values (i.e. positions) are simultaneously governance and business planning issues. It is the nonprofit Board that defines the core values of a nonprofit. It is the business plan that identifies the communication strategy (among other strategies) that will promote these values. Do I believe a nonprofit should flaunt its values high and low? Absolutely! Do I believe a nonprofit should fully evaluate the consequence of flaunting its values on funders and consumers? Absolutely.
Chick-fill-A was clear about its values but perhaps not so clear about when to talk about these values. The lesson (aside from not having values that are "ist" in any way): calculate the cost of when you talk about it -- it may achieve mission or then again, maybe not. For Chick-fill-A...hm..
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