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The Art of Association, Wrapped
The posts you engaged with most this year, and why they seemed to matter. Plus, a request for feedback heading into 2026 (967 words / 4-minute read).
Dec 23, 2025
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Daniel Stid
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The Laboratories of Democracy Need New Infrastructure
Why state capacity builders must look beyond Washington (1,915 words / 7.5 minute read)
Dec 12, 2025
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Daniel Stid
48
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Decline Is Not Destiny
A Better Future is Possible for Philanthropy and Civil Society (460 words / 2-minute read)
Nov 24, 2025
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Daniel Stid
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Most Popular
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Community Foundations and Civic Renewal
Oct 2, 2025
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Daniel Stid
41
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An Untapped Opportunity for Impact: Funding Networks of Rising Leaders
Jul 31, 2025
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Daniel Stid
25
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The Laboratories of Democracy Need New Infrastructure
Dec 12, 2025
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Daniel Stid
48
17
11
Top Down Democratic Decline vs. Bottom Up Civic Renewal: Eight Working Hypotheses
Jan 13, 2025
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Daniel Stid
63
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Peter D. Stid, Citizen, Rest in Peace
Apr 21, 2025
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Daniel Stid
46
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Competitive Authoritarianism Comes for Civil Society
Apr 6, 2025
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Daniel Stid
33
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Latest
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Discussions
Nonprofit Leadership as a Vocation
Nonprofit leaders must shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility in our tumultuous age. How can they avoid the pitfalls along their path? (2,075 words …
Nov 13, 2025
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Daniel Stid
27
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Between Order and Chaos: Holding Space for Complexity in Civil Society
We need a better understanding of the swirling patterns of civic life in our turbulent times. (1,600 words / 6 minute read)
Oct 30, 2025
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Daniel Stid
22
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First, Do No Harm! Five Steps All Funders Should Take to Bolster Liberal Democracy
Defending philanthropic freedom is not enough. Philanthropy also needs to do its part in supporting democracy in America. It can start by not messing it…
Oct 16, 2025
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Daniel Stid
12
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Community Foundations and Civic Renewal
National philanthropy cannot pull democracy out of the ditch. Community foundations—with local knowledge, networks, accountability and continuity—are…
Oct 2, 2025
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Daniel Stid
41
4
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Five Ways to Be a Good Elder in Civic Life
If the bottom up civic renewal we are working toward will take decades to achieve, then those of us of a certain age need to get much better at passing…
Sep 18, 2025
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Daniel Stid
21
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Can the People Themselves Still Amend the Constitution?
The American Promise coalition is determined to find out – and, in the process, rein in the big money playing havoc with our politics.
Aug 27, 2025
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Daniel Stid
18
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Civil Society and the Liberal Democratic Project
Defending civil society against attacks is not enough. We also need to cultivate the attributes that will make civil society more defensible – and worth…
Aug 14, 2025
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Daniel Stid
25
10
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An Untapped Opportunity for Impact: Funding Networks of Rising Leaders
Underwriting early stage leaders animated by big ideas does not clearly and predictably realize the pre-set outcomes of a philanthropic strategy. But it…
Jul 31, 2025
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Daniel Stid
25
3
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(Part 2 of 2) Gradually and Then Suddenly: The Sixty-Year Crack-up of Federal Funding for Nonprofits
The Trump Administration has decimated longstanding patterns of federally-funded, nonprofit-delivered services. But the system's many and mounting…
Jul 15, 2025
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Daniel Stid
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The Art of Association
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