On Monday, July 4^th Agitator readers in the U.S. and we editors celebrate America’s 240th Independence Day.

There will be fireworks, barbeques, volunteer fire department parades, the televised public broadcasting special from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and heaven only knows how many political speeches and kissed babies.  Speeches and kisses delivered in ugliest political climate in our lifetime.

Back in 1776 America’s founders managed to think outside the box, declaring that business-as-usual with King George III just didn’t cut it. So they organized their own but bloody “Brexit” by declaring Independence, going to war, and eventually establishing a new order.

So, this year given the snarling, intemperate mood sloshing not only around America, but also in the U.K., other parts of Europe, the Middle East and regions of Asia, it’s probably wise to think about what dangers — and opportunities — calls for independence from the status quo might mean to our sector.

The reality is that our sector is not exempt or immune from what’s already underway, and what’s coming.

There’s no question that change is underway. Change aimed at breaking away from the status quo. Lots of explanations as to ‘why’, but so far little understanding of what change and independence from the status quo really means for the future. And far too little rational insight about what to do about it.

Despite the tension and uncertainty anyone who doesn’t live under a rock has to be feeling about the future, we’re quite encouraged by the increasing amount of questioning and challenging of the business-as-usual practices that have begun to surface in our craft.

At a time when we’re reporting that donor acquisition in most sectors — and in most nations — is on the decline, when donor retention is in the pits, and when serious public doubts about nonprofits lurk behind the “all is well” cosmetic claims of too many nonprofits, we need to celebrate and encourage these independent questions and challenges even more.

Our generation has by and large failed to prepare the sector for a changing future. We have raised a generation of 25-30 year olds who know Xcel spreadsheets and spout tactics, but don’t have the foggiest idea of the history behind the ‘movements’ they work for.

Their digital dexterity impresses and intimidates the generation of bosses above them who have grown too well-paid and complacent to even bother challenging and teaching them.

Adding insult to injury is the almost total neglect of our craft to break down the barriers and silos that separate the dependable, predictable, it-still-brings-us-lots-of-money mindset of the old direct mail regime from the fast-rising new media and the changing expectations of our donors.

The end result? We have by and large turned inward, gazing at our organizations’ navels while ignoring and neglecting The Donor.

Our fear, for what it’s worth, is that this failure to think and act more aggressively in finding alternatives to what has become the conventional approach to our craft will do irreparable future damage to the missions, beneficiaries and donors we are paid to serve.

As we celebrate this Independence Day it’s worth pausing between the barbeque and fireworks to heed the warning signs that are growing increasingly ominous.

Then think and act accordingly.

Happy Independence Day. We’ll see you on July 5th.

Roger & Tom