(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
The Nonprofit Industrial Complex and its implications — Tirrea Billings unpacks. [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-05-18
In a substantive discussion, Tirrea Billings, a storyteller and narrative strategist, unpacks the realities of the Nonprofit Industrial Complex. She included a bonus discussion on conference burnout.
The Nonprofit Industrial Complex and Its Implications
Watch Politics Done Right T.V. here.
x Embedded Content
Podcasts (Video — Audio)
Summary
In this compelling interview, narrative strategist Tirrea Billings discusses the contradictions of the nonprofit industrial complex, highlighting how many philanthropic institutions uphold systems of oppression while claiming to dismantle them. Based on her experience as a filmmaker and communications professional, she critiques slow, risk-averse responses to crises. She calls for bold, strategic investment in narrative power, grassroots leadership, and proactive justice work. Her insights challenge the nonprofit sector to move beyond performative allyship and toward transformative change.
Tirrea Billings defines the nonprofit industrial complex as a system that often reinforces the status quo under the guise of justice and philanthropy.
as a system that often reinforces the status quo under the guise of justice and philanthropy. She critiques how philanthropy responded too slowly to Trump’s 2016 election and failed to fund urgently needed work until after major crises like the George Floyd protests.
to Trump’s 2016 election and failed to fund urgently needed work until after major crises like the George Floyd protests. Billings stresses the importance of communications infrastructure and storytelling in building movements, calling narrative work foundational—not optional—for justice.
in building movements, calling narrative work foundational—not optional—for justice. She calls out the hoarding of power and resources by funders and consultants disconnected from impacted communities.
by funders and consultants disconnected from impacted communities. She notes that conferences have become redundant and performative, offering little more than recycled content and few actionable solutions.
Tirrea Billings clarifies that if the nonprofit sector wants to live up to its values, it must reject neutrality, abandon risk aversion, and directly fund grassroots-led, narrative-driven change. Her call to center impacted voices and invest in communications and independent media strikes at the heart of a system too often driven by elite comfort over real liberation
The complete article is here on my Substack.
Viewers are encouraged to subscribe and join the conversation for more insightful commentary and to support progressive messages. Together, we can populate the internet with progressive messages that represent the true aspirations of most Americans.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/5/18/2322957/-The-Nonprofit-Industrial-Complex-and-its-implications-Tirrea-Billings-unpacks?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
