Money follows Action

Recently while working in Portugal with environmental legend and friend, Mark Massara on a cycle of conferences with local NGO Salvem O Surf (SOS), we had the chance to discuss many of the starts, processes and finishs of non-profit movements and initiatives in California. To be able to listen and appreciate Mark's experience with the non-profit world from the Sierra Club to Surfrider Foundation, Surfers Environmental Alliance and many other organizations that sprouted around campaigns and fights for the coast was really a fantastic learning experience for all present... one of the things that stuck with me, as we covered areas from ability of non-profits to financially sustain themselves to creative forms of demanding action from politicians when financial and resource weight of litigation and legal action against environmental offenders is too big to keeping the cause alive... a clear message from California's experience was passed: beyond legislation and even the enforcement of legislation is the ability for communities to rally around action to defend and preserve their natural resources... still as Environmental Lawyer, himself, Mark is the first to recognize that without the right laws in place, even the best intended actions can easily be crushed by the offenders, but if no community action is in place and this is the case in most western states then offenses and environmental crimes will keep occurring...
So intimately connected to a non-profit's financial sustainability and survival is its ability to consistently re-invent itself in the field of activism and that is where the powerful mantra of "Money follows Action" originated. If specific action, with victory and defeat is not taking place, why would the public support the organization? If clear action is in place and the right people - that truely support the cause - are in leadership roles, money will follow and support those movements.