CANHAD

Who

Launched in July 2017, Coalition Against Nonprofit Harassment and Discrimination (CANHAD) has no paid staff and we don't solicit or accept donations. We are social justice activists who care about animal, environmental, and human rights.

What

Nonprofit employees and volunteers work tirelessly to promote justice. Sadly, they often face injustice within their organizations, including but not limited to: racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, and heterosexism.

These injustices have become entrenched in some nonprofits: from unreported rape and affairs between leaders and subordinates, to denying promotions to people of color or mocking transgender or differently abled individuals.

Reporting discrimination doesn't hurt the cause.

Allowing it to continue hurts the cause.

Many advocates feel that their social justice cause is more important than “making a fuss” about discrimination and standing up for their own rights. They worry about damaging their organization, but discrimination damages people and organizations.

Nonprofits are damaged when they waste time and money confronting legal challenges from harassment and other forms of discrimination that could have been prevented. High turnover and loss of talented people impede progress. Financial support is lost when donors learn that leadership isn’t addressing discrimination.

Nonprofits can't bring greater justice to the world while perpetuating injustice within. Yet they rarely have the structures or leadership to address harassment and other forms of discrimination. When nonprofits do provide training, it’s not always taken seriously.

CANHAD encourages employees, volunteers, and activists to stand up against these injustices.

How

Our goals are twofold:

• To protect and help victims* of discrimination and harassment.
• To challenge nonprofits to maintain integrity between their advocacy and their practices so that we can all be more effective in changing the the world.

This website offers information, encouragement to seek legal advice, support for victims through testimonials, and the opportunity for individuals to their own story. We are here to support one another.

* Some people prefer survivor or another term rather than victim.

Why

We care deeply about social justice. We have experienced or witnessed discrimination and harassment in social justice nonprofits. We are not willing to stand by and watch people in advocacy–especially those in positions of power–mistreat staff, volunteers, and others, harming both individuals and the integrity of social justice causes.

As long as nonprofit leadership ignores, encourages, or practices harassment or discrimination, nonprofits and their social justice causes are in jeopardy.

Employees, volunteers, and social justice causes deserve better.

The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and not intended to provide legal advice or opinions. You should not rely upon this website for legal advice in any particular circumstance. You should consult with your attorney to assess circumstances and determine appropriate actions. Coalition Against Nonprofit Harassment and Discrimination (“CANHAD”) does not guarantee the accuracy of the contents of this website, including materials and links. CANHAD disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents of this website to the fullest extent permitted by law. The opinions expressed at or through this site may not reflect the opinions of CANHAD or any individual contributor.

Contact

Feel free to contact us if you'd like to submit a correction or additional information. If you'd like a response, include your email address.