12 Lessons We Learned From the 2012 Susan G. Komen Debacle

Posted by Leann | Posted on 07-02-2012

Category : American Politics, Women's Health

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Susan G. Komen for a Cure, one of the nation’s leading fundraising organizations has taught us a few things about non-profit organizations and women’s access to health care. Here are 12 important lesson’s we’ve learned from Komen’s recent mistakes.

  1. Don’t hire someone whose political agenda could hurt the people your mission is designed to help.
  2. A non-profit organization that is not political or religious in nature should not become political or religious at a later time. It’s against the law. Putting a different spin on it does not change culpability.
  3. A non-profit organization who develops ties to a specific political party does so with the expectation of losing many – possibly more than half – of it’s supporters, including not only those who donate financially, but also those who organize and participate to raise money to help further the agenda of the organization. People are willing to participate and sacrifice for a cause that has touched their hearts. When there appears to be a shift in that agenda, supporters feel betrayed that the reason why they were there in the first place has become secondary to the new agenda.
  4. When a non-profit organization takes aim at a partner who has been steadfast, supporters will believe it necessary to choose sides, often with the partner who just got dumped. Contributions to the finger-pointing organization will immediately decline, while contributions to the other organization will increase.
  5. When a non-profit organization discontinues a long-term good relationship with a partner for political reasons, they immediately come under public scrutiny which will likely result in a very public audit. 
  6. Public trust for an organization whose mission becomes clouded with a political agenda will be greatly affected. Trust may never full return, no matter how sorry the leaders are. 
  7. Non-profit organizations who share a common goal should stay committed to that goal, regardless of the political persuasions of all involved.
  8. Politics have no business in women’s health.
  9. Women need to stop letting the issue of abortion divide us to the point where we hurt each other by refusing to provide important health care services because legal abortion is provided within the same organization. We need to stand together so that our rights are never diminished or taken away.
  10. There are much better ways of addressing the needs of women than by removing health care from those women who can’t otherwise afford it.
  11. People who come together under a common cause must be reminded of what will happen to those it servers should that organization no longer exist.
  12. The mission should always always always be at the forefront of everything a non-profit organization does. Never lose sight of the mission. Staying focused on the mission is the number one most important thing a non-profit organization will ever have in the relationship it has with its supporters.

Karen Handel Resigns from Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Posted by Leann | Posted on 07-02-2012

Category : American Politics, Women's Health

Tags: , , , , , ,

The much anticipated resignation from Karen Handel just arrived. Here’s a copy of her resignation letter:

February 7, 2012

The Honorable Nancy Brinker

CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure VIA EMAIL

5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250

Dallas, Texas 75244

Dear Ambassador Brinker:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been the recognized leader for more 30 years in the fight against breast cancer here in the US – and increasingly around the world.

As you know, I have always kept Komen’s mission and the women we serve as my highest priority – as they have been for the entire organization, the Komen Affiliates, our many supporters and donors, and the entire community of breast cancer survivors. I have carried out my responsibilities faithfully and in line with the Board’s objectives and the direction provided by you and Liz.

We can all agree that this is a challenging and deeply unsettling situation for all involved in the fight against breast cancer. However, Komen’s decision to change its granting strategy and exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and its grants was fully vetted by every appropriate level within the organization. At the November Board meeting, the Board received a detailed review of the new model and related criteria. As you will recall, the Board specifically discussed various issues, including the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization’s real or perceived challenges. No objections were made to moving forward.

I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve. However, the decision to update our granting model was made before I joined Komen, and the controversy related to Planned Parenthood has long been a concern to the organization. Neither the decision nor the changes themselves were based on anyone’s political beliefs or ideology. Rather, both were based on Komen’s mission and how to better serve women, as well as a realization of the need to distance Komen from controversy. I believe that Komen, like any other nonprofit organization, has the right and the responsibility to set criteria and highest standards for how and to whom it grants.

What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision – one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact – has unfortunately been turned into something about politics. This is entirely untrue. This development should sadden us all greatly.

Just as Komen’s best interests and the fight against breast cancer have always been foremost in every aspect of my work, so too are these my priorities in coming to the decision to resign effective immediately. While I appreciate your raising a possible severance package, I respectfully decline. It is my most sincere hope that Komen is allowed to now refocus its attention and energies on its mission.

Sincerely,