I thought maybe bizsplaining ( @ahcarney's term) was over. Dead. I thought we recognized now that nonprofits are diff from biz. But, unbelievably, it lives on, even in this crisis, when diffs on vivid display. So: a plea 2 op ed writers & editors & b-school prognosticators. (1)

If you are considering using the word "bureaucratic" or "bloated" when writing about nonprofits generally, stop and consider the median nonprofit has a budget of under $1M and even at foundation-funded orgs the median is $1.5M. Bloated? Huh? (2)

If you're considering making a sweeping comparison between business & nonprofits, consider this: when bizzes face a decline in revenue it's typically due to a decline in demand for their services; for many nonprofits (esp now) decline in revenue is coupled w INCREASED demand. (3)

This puts nonprofits and nonprofit leaders in a situation in which their challenge is in fact far more difficult than running an equivalent size business. That was true before, as I argued in #GivingDoneRight. But it's even truer now. (4)

Consider carefully this radical idea: before publishing something that is broadly and sweepingly critical of nonprofits, spend time at some community based organizations working with vulnerable populations right now! See if your views really still apply. Listen. Learn. (5)

If you're going to suggest that nonprofits are not "innovative," call me and I will tell you about the many innovations we take for granted in our society that have their roots in nonprofit work -- from vaccines to environmental protection. (6)

If you're thinking about making some kind of sweeping statement about how businesses approach "performance measurement" with "rigor" but nonprofits do not, stop and think about actually how much harder it is to measure effects of nonprofit interventions than to review a P&L. (7)

Continuing on that point I'd add that it takes way more rigor -- and a skill set very different from what they teach in business school -- to evaluate, say, different approaches to countering childhood obesity. I know. I have an MBA. Didn't set me up to do that kind of work. (8)

If you're inclined to say nonprofits are "inefficient" and that the answer is "scale" think about this. Yes, there are orgs that should scale. But there is huge value in small and community based orgs because they're trusted by (and understand deeply) communities they serve. (9)

Small orgs are sometimes in fact the very best positioned to deliver impact effectively to communities -- especially vulnerable ones. Smallness does not equate to ineffectiveness or inefficiency. (10)

If you're going dis nps' responses to COVID crisis, ask yourself -- do you really know anything generalizable about this? Also, actually, how is biz doing? Might it be the case that even very well run orgs in both sectors are struggling mightily? (11)

Since this crisis started, I've tried to stay in touch w front line nonprofit leaders. & I have written about a number of them on the @CEPData blog. We're also fielding a survey that is designed to be representative in a way a lot of surveys I have seen so far have not been. (12)

Here is one of these posts: https://cep.org/supporting-our-unsung-heroes-in-a-moment-of-crisis-part-4/ Tell me again how nonprofit leaders don't know what they're doing? Aren't as agile or adaptive as business leaders? Or any other BS? Actually, don't. Just stop. Stop. Please. (13)

Final point: no one has all the answers. Orgs and contexts vary widely. Of course there are also some woefully ineffective nonprofits just as there are shit businesses. But most of the nonprofits and nonprofit staff I have gotten to know inspire my deep respect and awe. (14)

And that is especially true now. What they need more than anything is not your counsel to be more this or more that but your financial support. So give to the orgs that are doing heroic work amid unimaginable hardship. Give. Volunteer. But don't write that op ed.