The nonprofit sector is at a critical crossroads—bullied and pressured into silence. Organizations supporting those excluded from economic security face scrutiny, doubt, and hostility while striving to meet rising needs with limited resources. The effects are not just institutional; they extend into the lives of real people: the single parent seeking essential services, the community organizer building local resilience, and the nonprofit staff dedicated to creating positive change. These are the people and communities that depend on us for support. We give voice to the voiceless. We give visibility to the invisible. Now is not the time to be silent. They need to see us fighting for them. Our teams must know that their leaders will not back down.
When so much of the current Administration’s actions are characterized by disregarding how they’re upending people’s lives, I believe the antidote is paying steadfast attention to people and the rhythms of their lives. That’s probably not a surprise, given that I lead an organization that uses behavioral science to solve social problems. So, I thought I’d share some concrete things we do in our work that help people maintain agency over their lives during a tumultuous time. I hope it will be helpful for you and your teams, too.
Focus on evidence, testing, and real impact.
Science is under attack. Our response is not to diminish how science informs our approach but to double and triple down on testable approaches to problems. In an era of disinformation, when it’s hard to know what to trust, it’s important to remember one of the key lessons of behavioral science: Predictions of how people act are very often wrong. Instead, we must ask them how a program has impacted their lives.
Behavioral science provides a framework for exploring these questions, a framework that helps us overcome our biases and preconceptions. This is why person-centered approaches transcend political ideologies. Our designs succeed when othersexpress that they are closer to leading lives of their choosing rather than when we impose our vision of their lives upon them.
In the coming months, ideas42 will deepen our partnerships with other organizations to bring this person-centered work and technical assistance as impact multipliers to different communities. The political and social context and solutions are changing, but our approach to determining which solutions people want remains the same.
Contextualize the current moment to inform our response.
The present crisis may feel unprecedented. And many things about it are indeed new. However, behavioral science can offer some solace by reminding us that bad days have happened before but didn’t last forever.
People are equipped with a fading affect bias, the root of our persistent belief that “the good old days” were better and that society is in perpetual decline. In some ways, this explains why we are where we are in the United States. Each generation has its challenges, and psychologists have shown how much more resilient we can be when we understand that our problems are not something to hold in isolation but shared human experiences that connect us.
Even when times are tough, remembering our ancestors’ work to improve the world can remind us that good work today will not be wasted. We cannot give up. Let’s breathe, dust ourselves off, and get to work.
Create ripple effects through individual acts of moral courage.
When one person stands up for their values, it creates a catalyst effect—evidence that others can do the same. This isn’t just theory—we’ve seen how a single dissenting voice can disrupt harmful group dynamics and empower others to speak up. Consider Rosa Parks. Malala Yousafzai. Cesar Chavez and Delores Huerta. Greta Thurnberg. Bishop Mariann Budde. Nelson Mandela.
Evan Mawarire, a Zimbabwean pastor who sparked a national movement that toppled a dictator, wrote about how everyday courage can become contagious: “People in societies that need change are often looking for a way to start, an example of how to speak up. If they can just find someone or something to get behind and grow their own courage, they’ll do it.”
During President Biden’s inauguration, I was captivated by Amanda Gorman, a 22-year-old and the first National Youth Poet Laureate and the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. In a single moment and through her beautiful poem “The Hill We Climb,” she left us proud, emotional, united, and vigilant. I’m reminded that voices of solidarity, courage, hope, dreams, idealism, and progress can emerge from the least expected, even when things seem bleak.
Research on moral elevation shows that witnessing acts of moral courage inspires others to take similar stands. Every organization that continues to champion evidence-based approaches and human dignity helps create space for others to do the same. This is why we must support each other now more than ever.
Despite the current challenges, ideas42’s commitment remains unwavering. We will continue to be impact multipliers and improve people’s lives by supporting individuals and communities in need. We will stand as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that human-centered approaches can prevail even in the face of adversity.
