Where Are YOUR Organization’s Red Lines?

In July 2019, the curtain finally fell on a months-long saga at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, resulting in the resignation of a board vice chairman, staff anger and frustration, alienation of artists and reams of negative press for the prestigious institution.

The controversy centered on Warren Kanders, a longtime Whitney board member and generous donor, who owns a company that manufactures tear gas allegedly used on migrant families seeking to cross the border from Mexico. 

After months of protests and bad publicity, eight artists threatened to withdraw from the museum’s biennial exhibition, and Kanders resigned from the board.

I was fascinated as I followed these events and discussed the situation with artists, philanthropists, fundraisers, board members and passionate museum-goers.

Any non-profit organization, big or small, can find itself in similar crosshairs with little to no warning. The result can be damaging press, disaffected patrons, loss of support, polarized staff and a tarnished reputation.

“Kanders-gate” reminded me that non-profit boards and leaders would do well to think through their “red lines” before such an issue blows up. In the wise words of Ben Franklin, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Where do you draw the line?

• Do you have clear rules about whose money you’ll accept and what businesses and personal practices cross the line?

• Are those rules aligned with your mission, or does your institution use other criteria in your decision-making?

• What kind of due diligence do you perform on donors, trustees, sponsors?

• Are these decisions based on personal likes and dislikes on the part of staff and leadership or are they consistent policies that are clearly articulated in writing?

The answers to these questions are not “one size fits all.” That means that every non-profit should engage its board and staff on these thorny issues…before it becomes a crisis that takes you away from the vital and time-sensitive work of fulfilling your mission.