In this episode of The Nonprofit SnapCast, host Mickey Desai visits with Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association (AHA). Fish shares his journey into humanism, his vision for the movement, and the role nonprofits play in safeguarding democracy, empathy, and human dignity in a rapidly shifting cultural and political landscape.
They discuss what humanism means today, the threats posed by rising authoritarianism, the importance of protecting religious freedom, and how nonprofits can step into advocacy without overstepping legal boundaries. Fish also emphasizes the vital role of empathy in civic life and why fostering meaning, purpose, and community is essential for both individuals and the nonprofit sector.
Key Takeaways
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What Humanism Is: Humanism centers on inherent human worth, potential, and responsibility—valuing progress over tradition and people over dogma.
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Shifts in the Political Landscape: Stark reflects on entering his role before the 2024 election, expecting one trajectory, and now leading the AHA in defending pluralism and constitutional freedoms in a far more hostile climate.
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Nonprofits Under Pressure: From skepticism about NGOs to open attacks on institutions like Sesame Street, Fish explains why nonprofits must resist narratives designed to erode trust in community-based institutions.
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The “War on Empathy”: Efforts to discredit empathy as weakness are not supported by research. In fact, empathy strengthens resilience, emotional regulation, and pro-social behavior—qualities vital for healthy societies.
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Advocacy Within the Law: Nonprofits can (and should) speak out against harmful policies. While 501(c)(3) organizations cannot endorse candidates, they have the right to criticize government actions and advocate for their missions.
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Seeds of Change: Cultural shifts don’t happen overnight. Planting seeds—through storytelling, conversations, and creating community—builds the long-term foundation for transformation.
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Meaning & Leadership in Nonprofits: Stark urges nonprofit leaders to focus on helping people connect their work, giving, and participation to a deeper sense of purpose, especially in a world where loneliness and disconnection fuel extremism.
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