After years working across government, corporate impact, and nonprofits, I’ve learned a simple truth: there is no such thing as apolitical philanthropy.
Across my career—in government, corporate social impact, and nonprofit board leadership—I’ve observed a philosophical shift: the long‑held belief that philanthropy can remain “apolitical” has become difficult to defend. Philanthropy isn’t separate from the political process; rather, it’s part of it.
This shift is not about partisanship. It’s about the realities communities face.
When I served in both the IL Department of Human Services and Cook County government, I saw how public systems strain under rising needs and shrinking resources. Even the most committed public servants can only do so much when budgets tighten and policy priorities change. Later, at Civic Consulting Alliance, I worked alongside cross‑sector teams trying to expand the modern public safety net, strengthen workforce pipelines, and improve service delivery. Those projects made one thing clear: philanthropy was already a civic player—funding innovation, filling gaps, and helping government move faster and more equitably.
Through my recent corporate community engagement leadership at Verizon, that reality is even more visible. Corporate social impact teams are being asked to step into spaces once considered “too political”—areas such as digital equity, educational parity, and community resiliency. These aren’t abstract issues. They’re the daily realities of the communities we serve. And when a company expands broadband access, funds robotics programs for youth, or supports public safety technology, it is inevitably engaging with policy, power, and civic infrastructure – the elemental essence of politics.
Scholars have been documenting this evolution as well. A study published in the American Economic Review found that corporate charitable giving in the U.S. often functions as a form of “tax‑exempt lobbying,” with an estimated 6.3% of corporate philanthropy being politically motivated—a level of influence that exceeds annual PAC contributions and represents a substantial share of federal lobbying activity. Authors Marianne Bertrand, Matilde Bombardini, Raymond Fisman, and Francesco Trebbi argue that charitable giving can serve as a strategic tool for shaping public policy while remaining largely invisible to voters and policymakers.
This academic lens reinforces what many practitioners have experienced firsthand: philanthropy is a sometimes unseen yet influential catalyst of public life.
The question, then, isn’t whether philanthropy is political. It’s how we lead responsibly within that reality.
For me, that starts with grounding decisions in community voice. Whether I’m promoting technology for small businesses, advising a startup, supporting an arts organization, or building cross-sector partnerships, the most durable solutions come from listening to the people closest to the challenge. Communities are not passive recipients of generosity—they are essential actors with expertise, agency, and vision.
It also means being transparent about values. In every role I’ve held, clarity is the precursor to impact. When organizations articulate what they stand for—and why—they can act with intentionality and consistency rather than reacting to headlines.
Finally, it means investing in coordinated, multi-disciplinary solutions that can strengthen the foundational fabric of communities. Strong democracies, trusted institutions, and informed residents are at the core of every social impact goal we hope to achieve.
Philanthropy, when harnessed to provide the greatest benefit to those facing the most extreme inequities, can be a powerful force for good in society. This current political reality calls on us to lead with purpose, humility, and a deep respect for the communities and people at the center of this work.
