The Art of Association
Subscribe
Sign in
Home
Notes
Other Writing
Archive
About
The Decline of the Republic–and Philanthropy’s Role in It
What Tocqueville warned us about, and why it matters now (2,120 words / 9-minute read).
Feb 17
•
Daniel Stid
22
1
8
An Invitation to a New Civic Future
We’re committed to a new civic future where people feel agency over their lives, where neighbors are connected through relationships of trust, and where…
Published on Connective Tissue
•
Feb 10
An SOS for the Republic
Citizens under strain in Minneapolis (1,375 words / 5-minute read).
Feb 5
•
Daniel Stid
25
10
6
Most Popular
View all
Trump's Voters Are Not a Cult
Jan 20
•
Daniel Stid
136
69
46
Community Foundations and Civic Renewal
Oct 2, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
41
4
17
An Untapped Opportunity for Impact: Funding Networks of Rising Leaders
Jul 31, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
25
3
5
The Laboratories of Democracy Need New Infrastructure
Dec 12, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
51
17
11
Top Down Democratic Decline vs. Bottom Up Civic Renewal: Eight Working Hypotheses
Jan 13, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
64
18
11
Peter D. Stid, Citizen, Rest in Peace
Apr 21, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
46
36
3
Latest
Top
Discussions
Trump's Voters Are Not a Cult
What new data reveals about the coalition behind his second term (1,463 words / 6-minute read).
Jan 20
•
Daniel Stid
136
69
46
The Art of Association, Wrapped
The posts you engaged with most this year, and why they seemed to matter. Plus, a request for feedback heading into 2026 (967 words / 4-minute read).
Dec 23, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
7
1
2
The Laboratories of Democracy Need New Infrastructure
Why state capacity builders must look beyond Washington (1,915 words / 7.5 minute read)
Dec 12, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
51
17
11
Decline Is Not Destiny
A Better Future is Possible for Philanthropy and Civil Society (460 words / 2-minute read)
Nov 24, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
9
1
1
Nonprofit Leadership as a Vocation
Nonprofit leaders must shoulder a heavy burden of responsibility in our tumultuous age. How can they avoid the pitfalls along their path? (2,075 words …
Nov 13, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
27
7
11
Between Order and Chaos: Holding Space for Complexity in Civil Society
We need a better understanding of the swirling patterns of civic life in our turbulent times. (1,600 words / 6 minute read)
Oct 30, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
22
8
2
First, Do No Harm! Five Steps All Funders Should Take to Bolster Liberal Democracy
Defending philanthropic freedom is not enough. Philanthropy also needs to do its part in supporting democracy in America. It can start by not messing it…
Oct 16, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
12
1
4
Community Foundations and Civic Renewal
National philanthropy cannot pull democracy out of the ditch. Community foundations—with local knowledge, networks, accountability and continuity—are…
Oct 2, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
41
4
17
Five Ways to Be a Good Elder in Civic Life
If the bottom up civic renewal we are working toward will take decades to achieve, then those of us of a certain age need to get much better at passing…
Sep 18, 2025
•
Daniel Stid
21
6
7
See all
The Art of Association
A free and fortnightly newsletter on philanthropy, civil society, and democracy in America.
Subscribe
Recommendations
View all 8
Democracy Notes
Gabriel Lerner
The Beacon Project
Daniel Yudkin
Lotus & Phoenix
Dr. Elizabeth Gish
Seeds for A New Consensus
Atharva Sinha
Major Grants
Susan Schaefer
The Art of Association
Subscribe
About
Archive
Recommendations
Sitemap
This site requires JavaScript to run correctly. Please
turn on JavaScript
or unblock scripts
