Kirra L. Jarratt, Chief Executive Officer, DC Bar Foundation

The message of the film resonated with me immediately, and then it became - what is my responsibility in this conversation? As a funder, as a grantee, as a leader. How do I change the narrative around this in our communications? What words don't we use anymore? What do we include in our annual report? What questions do we ask as we set strategy and are in conversation with colleagues? It made me really think hard about how I may be perpetuating the problem and what role I can play within my networks to change the conversation and to spur action.

As I've gotten started, I'm finding it's hard because the focus on 10% overhead or less is entrenched. But without investment in our core capacities, how are we ever going to raise funds in a way that's transformational rather than incremental? Now, I'm focused on that question for our organization. I want to increase our private fundraising beyond 2% annually so that we have the resources our mission and vision demand. We're never going to put ourselves out of business with these staggering problems we're addressing if we're only growing by 2%. Transformational, systemic change requires more.

Chiara Frechette, Nonprofit Programs Director, Spur Local

For us at Spur Local, Dan Pallotta's Ted Talk is one of our favorites. In the small nonprofit capacity-building space, we know how much the narrative of "more overhead must mean less impact" can affect nonprofits' ability to both stabilize and/or grow their reach. The examples highlighted in the film shared how large household nonprofit names were impacted by this myth of overhead and for us, it is making us think more about how we share the broader message that the movie highlights and ground examples locally so that donors can better understand how their dollar can make an exponential difference in our DMV community. Depending on the type of services local organizations offer, we know that some grassroots organizations’ budgets have higher percentages of “overhead,” because they are just now paying staff for the first time, or overhead is all that exists as they set up operations for services they have have been volunteering in the past. The movie affirms our work in the nonprofit capacity building space and shares just how important efficient and effective internal operations can be to a nonprofit's impact. It was also an Amen moment to be in a space with so many that understand the reality of funding for capacity building/operations and to begin talking about how to start conversations with funders and community members that will lead to a narrative shift.

We're excited by the possibility of partnering with Thread to share with our network of over 400+ small DMV based nonprofits as a tool for further conversation with them, their boards and potential funders. As we think of the ability to amplify the need that the film highlights, we are energized by the potential conversation, especially in support of trust-based philanthropy, that this will invite.

Adam Levner, Nonprofit Consultant and Leadership Coach, Tilt/Shift LLC

Amen to UnCharitable. It's a powerful telling of a tiring truth for nonprofits: that efforts to do good, impactful work are hamstrung by myths about overhead. The film felt like a validation of the frustration I'd experienced for years. Frustration over having to navigate arbitrary and counterproductive restrictions on funding and the challenges of reporting on expenses in a way that balanced two truths -- that we had real and significant expenses (mostly people) that no one wanted to fund, and that we were good stewards of the funds we raised to support our mission.

I was also struck by: (1) the scale of the harm caused by overhead myths, as many efforts to create large-scale change die on the vine for want of the ability to spend money on the things that businesses know are essential for growth -- staff, infrastructure, marketing, etc.; and (2) the realization that I, too, had fallen for manipulated narratives about “greedy nonprofits with lavish spending.” I have allowed the media to tell me what types of spending were “appropriate.” And I was embarrassed because I should have known better.

So, after seeing the film, I'm not only encouraging others to do so (including the members of a board that I sit on and foundations with whom I have relationships). I'm also committing to push back when nonprofits are attacked for violating uninformed attitudes toward overhead. Rather than join in the angry condemnation, I will join what I hope is a growing chorus of voices calling for a focus on impact, not budget percentages.

Ashley Richardson, Senior Development Associate, Mamatoto Village

I had a couple of “aha” and “amen” moments; getting a visual representation of how big corporations dominate the advertising space (and revenue) and how difficult it truly is for the nonprofit sector to compete. It is especially challenging if they are smaller/local organizations and not on a national level. Also how media can be used to weaponize how a nonprofit organization operates and influences public opinion, while big time corporations are not questioned or scrutinized in the same way.

I did leave feeling energized and hopeful, especially because of the theme of thinking outside the box. I spread the word already about this film to my team. The film also challenged me to think about innovative ways to approach fundraising and advocating!

Spotlight on Our Spool: Reflections on “UnCharitable”

Members of the Thread Spool share their “aha” and “Amen” responses to UnCharitable