Neutrality

1 min read · October 25, 2024
New Power Labs

Neutrality in philanthropy, while often seen as promoting impartiality and maximizing impact, can inadvertently become a tool for perpetuating injustice and maintaining the status quo. This stance risks reinforcing existing inequalities and power structures, including in how capital flows within the sector.

Neutrality is also often weaponized. Desmond Tutu's powerful quote highlights the moral dilemma of neutrality in situations of injustice: "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality."

While neutrality may be viewed as maintaining professional integrity and objectivity, it can also lead to avoiding accountability for systemic problems and limit philanthropy's potential to create meaningful societal change. This raises important questions about the sector's moral obligations and its effectiveness in tackling critical challenges.

By examining the role of neutrality, the philanthropic sector can grapple with how to evolve its practices to more effectively address societal inequities.

Narinder
New Power Labs

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