The Revolution Will Not Be Funded

            Andrea Smith, in her article, “The Revolution Will Not Be Funded,” denies the common wisdom that the more funding a non-profit organization has, the better the chances that the organizations can grow. Smith talks from experience with her non-profit organization INCITE.  This organization has managed to collect money for itself through, putting a limit on private funding help. Smith also expresses her believe that the help of corporations for non-profits is commonly self-served and not sincere. Corporations look at non-profit organization as “tax shelters” rather than heartfelt charitable destinations.

            If we step aside and look at this issue from a more broad prospective, the contradiction of a funded non-profit organization or a social movement is clear.  As I have learned through out my social movement course, a social movement emerges from the need to address a social issue, whatever the issue might be. Often times, the periphery side of a society rebels against the more powerful side, through social movements. Non-profit organizations are often created to offer help for the periphery side of society. How is it possible then, for a social movement, or organization, to be funded by the same people who are oppressing them? What makes us think that they want to help? The title of Smith’s article is the most simple and clear way of explaining the reasons why founding does nothing but hurt the dream of a utopian society; “The Revolution Will Not Be Funded,” we have to do it ourselves. 

M.A.