When Doing Good Becomes The Cult

The cult of the non profit

Many people are startled to learn that a destructive cult-like framework is not a phenomenon reserved solely for religious entities, but one that actively manifests within nonprofit and advocacy circles. In fact, these organizations tend to be susceptible to unhealthy, cultish behavior.

These groups, centered around a mission, can and do slide down to the authoritarian end of the continuum, become harmful to their members, and exhibit the exact same qualities as religious cults.

By this, I mean that they stifle dissent, discourage autonomy, rally around an all-powerful leader or structure, and create phobias in their members. These groups can also facilitate an “us-versus-them” mentality and force a cult identity to manifest.

To illustrate this point, we may consider a nonprofit advocacy group that advocates for at-risk tenants. The members of this organization have indeed watched real families put on the street, are opposed by well-funded interests, and are, ultimately, part of what can be characterized as a noble mission.

The hostility they face is not imagined; their opponents do surveil them, misquote them, and plant defamatory, insulting stories about them. The result is that when strict protocols are defined, they are often defensible.

One day, a volunteer, Sara, flags a potential issue and asks to present her concern that a planned action will alienate their client base – those whom the organization has a mandate to serve.