A Network of Mutuality & Why Interdependence is the Future of Nonprofits
Injustice anywhere, Dr. Martin Luther King advised, is a threat to justice everywhere. We are bound together in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. What affects one directly, affects all indirectly.
These words, spoken in a different era describe much of what we are feeling and processing today: the work of justice is never isolated. It is a collective endeavor, a forest of interconnected lives and efforts, where the strength of one depends on the health of the whole.
The nonprofit sector, just like a forest, thrives on interdependence.
But what happens when the ecosystem undergoes a seismic shift, like the recently changes in federal funding? When the winds of politics change direction (as they inevitably do), the ground beneath us feels less stable, and the climate of our work becomes more unpredictable. We are all processing this. And the impact is compounded, as in recent years the social sector has undergone heavy shifts: policy changes, reduction in donors, talent migration, and ideological battles which have left many of us reeling … and quite frankly, exhausted.
Yet, as writer Rebecca Solnit reminds us, hope is not found in the denial of the darkness but the belief that what we do matters, even when the results are not immediate or obvious. Hope is the understanding that the future is unwritten, and that our actions—no matter how small—ripple outward in ways we cannot always see. In this moment of uncertainty, we are called not to despair but to reimagine. To think not in terms of isolated policy-based struggles but in the language of social change ecology—a phrase that I use to recognize the interconnectedness of all efforts and the long-term impact of our collective community work.
The forest as a metaphor for resilience
Trees, as Peter Wohlleben writes in The Hidden Life of Trees, are deeply social beings. Beneath our feet they are sharing resources, communicating through underground networks, and supporting one another in times of stress. So cool!
A tree alone is vulnerable, but a forest creates its own climate – it moderates extremes, storing water, and fostering life. In this ecosystem, even sick trees are nourished until they recover, because every tree is vital to the community.
The nonprofit sector, too, is a forest.
Our strength lies not in individual organizations but in the networks we build, the resources we share, and the collective resilience we create. When one mission area struggles, the rest of the ecosystem must rally to support it. When policies threaten to uproot our work, we must lean on one another to stay grounded.
And when the winds of change blow hard, we must remember that our roots are already intertwined, whether we know it or not.
The ripple effects of action
History teaches us that the most profound changes often come from actions whose consequences are not immediately visible. Daniel Ellsberg’s release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 did more than expose government secrets; it inspired Edward Snowden decades later to challenge mass surveillance. The anti-nuclear movements of the 1970s, though they did not stop every power plant, gave rise to new models of activism that continue to shape movements today.
In the same way, the work we do now—whether it’s advocating for policy change, supporting marginalized communities, or rethinking our own organizational practices—will have ripple effects far beyond our immediate goals. We may not see the full impact of our efforts in our lifetimes, but that does not mean they are in vain. As Solnit urges in her writing: “You do what you can. What you’ve done may do more than you can imagine for generations to come.”
All change results in loss
The philosopher and teacher Bayo Akomolafe invites us to not jump to problem-solving mode but rather to “grieve, to cultivate bewilderment and to fall apart together.” I think about this often. And in a sector fueled by urgency and solution-oriented action, this feels deeply counterintuitive.
Yet, there is profound wisdom in allowing ourselves to feel the weight of what is lost–whether it’s funding, trust, or the vision of a more just world. Grief, as Akómoláfé suggests, is not a sign of weakness but a gateway to deeper and novel understanding. To a path we have not yet traversed.
For nonprofits, this means creating spaces where staff, volunteers, and communities can process the emotional toll of their work. It means acknowledging that burnout is not a personal failure but a systemic issue rooted in incongruence between values and actions. By embracing grief and bewilderment, we open ourselves to new possibilities. It is within this realm where actual transformation can begin.
Cracks in the systems as an invitation into something new
In this moment of despair, we are called to reimagine what it means to do nonprofit work. I say this not to simply get us through surviving this political climate. I want us to pull in the direction of building something we’ve never really had: an acknowledged web of interdependent relationships.
I want us to know that our actions, no matter how small, contribute to a larger ecosystem of change. Here are areas that I think we can begin with:
(1) Think in terms of ecosystems:
You are more than your individual mission. Just as a forest thrives on interdependence, so too does the nonprofit sector. We must move beyond siloed efforts and build networks of mutual support. This means sharing resources, collaborating across organizations, and advocating for systemic change that benefits the entire sector.
(2) Embrace the long-game:
Social change is not a sprint. Nor is it a marathon. It’s a relay race. We must resist the temptation to measure success in short-term KPIs and instead focus on the long-term impact of our work and be willing to pass the baton to your peers when your fuel tank is running low. This requires patience, persistence, and an openness to lean on each other.
(3) Strategically set boundaries:
Pick 2-3 key issues you deeply care about and nurture your attention there. You can't track everything occurring in a global world … but also you don’t have to (see point above!). Increase your impact through sustained focus, not doom-scrolling and scattered action.
(4) Find your political home:
A "political home" as adrienne maree brown describes it is a space where your values align and your voice can create real change. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few resources that are sure to lead you to the many more!
- National Resources -
🟦 Building Movement Project: Supports nonprofits in advancing social justice by strengthening leadership + equity practices
🟦 Fund the People and Rusty Stahl: shares very regular content on supporting the national nonprofit workforce
🟦 Radical Communicators Network (RadComms): brings together MarComms folks to network and bring about lasting social change
🟦 Alliance for Justice: empowers nonprofits to engage in advocacy and use their voice to shape policy; see their regular webinars: https://lnkd.in/gd9rDSMs 🟦 Community-Centric Fundraising: a movement of social change professionals who prioritize equity and social justice in their work
🟦 Advocacy 101 Webinar by Rachel D'Souza: watch, share & discuss with your team:
- Texas Focused Resources -
🟪 Texas Organizing Project: Builds power for marginalized communities through grassroots organizing and civic engagement
🟪 Texas Freedom Network: Fights for progressive values, including education equity, LGBTQ+ rights, and social justice
🟪 MOVE Texas: Empowers young Texans to participate in democracy through voter engagement + advocacy
🟪 Every Texan: Advocates for policies that expand access to health care, education, and economic opportunity
🟪 OneVoice of Central Texas: Amplifies the voices of Central Texans to influence regional decision-making
🟪 Texas 2036: Uses data-driven solutions to address long-term challenges facing Texas
🟪 Asian Texans for Justice: Advocates for the rights and representation of Asian American communities in Texas
🟪 Texas Advocacy Project, Inc. Project: Provides free legal services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault
🟪 The Texas Tribune weekly podcast, Tribcast: https://lnkd.in/gT-6J9vS
The future we create ahead
The challenges we face are real, but they are not insurmountable.
Like a forest weathering a wild storm, we have the capacity to adapt, to hold each other up when we're underresourced and to thrive. But this requires us to think differently—to see ourselves not as isolated trees but as part of a larger system.
As we navigate this changing landscape, let us acknowledge this ‘inescapable network of mutuality.’ Our work is not just about surviving the present but about constructing a future where justice, equity, and compassion are the roots that hold us all together. Among nonprofit and social sector practitioners, I think we are much further down this path than many of us realize!
And in that beautiful interdependence also lies our greatest power.
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Michelle Flores Vryn, CFRE is a nonprofit fundraiser, writer and consultant. She is recognized as an engaging speaker, teacher and writer on how to accelerate nonprofit impact through sustainable growth. You can reach out to her for speaking engagements and trainings.
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn and routinely check out her [re]generative nonprofit blog for more insights on the social sector.
