Nonprofits Get Ready: The Obama New Deal is Coming!

Scott Mills, Ph.D.



During his weekly address on Saturday, President Elect Obama announced his plan to create a new public works program of a scope that hasn't been since the Franklin Roosevelt.  Roosevelt announced his plan saying,

"Throughout the nation men and women, forgotten in the political philosophy of the Government, look to us here for guidance and for more equitable opportunity to share in the distribution of national wealth… I pledge myself to a new deal for the American people. This is more than a political campaign. It is a call to arms."

Considering the serious state of disrepair of much of the U.S. infrastructure is in, this sounds like a great idea.   But how much of an impact will this kind of a plan have on people that are loaded with debt and overly skilled for the types of jobs that seem to be offered? And are the necessary structures, particularly from the nonprofit world that will be called on train millions of people, in place?

It seems unlikely that this plan will bring back many of the skilled labor jobs that have been lost across the country since the recession began.  But coupled with a larger economic strategy, the plan holds promise.  The real challenge is how to get millions of people trained and dispatched to do this work?  The nonprofit sector holds the greatest potential for this type of effort.  Many nonprofit organizations have significant relationships with people in need as well all as training programs in place.   But the majority of nonprofits I have been in conversation with lately are not looking ahead to the future but rather reeling from the current economic crisis.

If the nonprofit sector is to be able to play the vital role that is must in Obama's job program, not to mention the national service plan that he has earlier proposed for students, they need to begin to prepare.   With a current leadership deficit, they must plan to train new leaders and support the old.  They must take a serious look at their organizational infrastructures and update to handle greater capacity.  And they must be prepared to offer massive training and support to their already overworked staffs.

This is an amazing time for the nonprofit world to take a place of prominence in our country and offer serious leadership.   But it will take preparation and imagination.   What is your organization doing to get ready for the Obama Revolution?  We want to hear your thoughts!