January 21, 2008
My name is Robert Egger, and like you, I go to work every day at a nonprofit organization.
Along with a great team and thousands of volunteers, I work at the DC Central Kitchen (www.dccentralkitchen.org), an organization in Washington that collects food donated by area foodservice businesses, which we use to train unemployed men and women for foodservice jobs while we convert donations into 4,500 meals every day of the year.
And every day, like many of you, I am asked to do more, for more, with less. Every day I compete with you, my fellow nonprofits, for money. Every day I struggle to get media to report on the broader issues we address. And, like many of you who have ventured into city halls, state houses and federal buildings to advocate for your issues, I see our causes and concerns falling on semi-deaf ears.
No more.
Today I launch the V3 Campaign, and ask you to join me in building a new nonprofit movement.
I am launching the V3 Campaign with my own money, which I have received from speaking gigs across America. Over the last few years, I’ve traveled far and wide in the nonprofit sector, speaking in countless communities and at town hall meetings in advance of the first Nonprofit Congress, which I helped to convene. I have seen lots of great organizations in action and met thousands of passionate professionals who all struggle with the same issues. We cannot wait any longer for our leaders to lead us, or our elected officials to hear us, or our funders to support us.
We have to make it happen ourselves.
The V3 Campaign is simple: we are going to ask every candidate for higher office—from small town mayoral contenders to presidential nominees—to provide details about their experience with and plans for strengthening the nonprofit sector if they are elected.
We want to impact every election, in every town, in every state.
Today we launch Phase I, which targets the 2008 presidential elections. As our first official act, the V3 Campaign sent the questions to all of the presidential candidates and we await their responses. Sign up to receive updates when the candidates submit statements in writing and/or video. In Phase II we will take the V3 Campaign to elections across the country, giving you—nonprofit employees, volunteers, and contributors—the information you need to make educated decisions about which candidates will best address the causes you support and partner with the organizations where you work and volunteer.
The V3 campaign is totally legal and there are no rules or regulations that prohibit any nonprofit from participating. With the simple click of a button, you can send these questions to the candidates in your city and state. V3 will collect the answers, post the replies and track our accomplishments.
If a candidate proposes a bold new vision, such as having an office or staff person dedicated to working with you, you’ll see it on V3. If they win, you’ll see it on V3. When they make good on their pledge; you’ll see it on V3. When others follow; you’ll see it on V3.
Our goal: awaken America to the power and potential of our sector and the vital role we play.
We employ millions and channel millions more though volunteerism. We stimulate the economy in every town and city. We put millions into tax coffers. Perhaps most importantly, with the right leadership, we can make our great country, greater still.
Learn from the lessons of history. Dr. King asked one basic thing of Americans—stand together. Join us! Stand together with your fellow nonprofit employees and volunteers so that your work, your dreams, your community and this country can be better served.
Robert Egger
President, DC Central Kitchen