COMMENTARY: What made America strong didn’t come from Washington

COMMENTARY: What made America strong didn’t come from Washington By Phil Bell InsideSources.com July 18, 2026 - 9:00 pm As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, it is worth remembering that the foundations of American strength were not laid in Washington. They were built by ordinary citizens who gathered in churches, charities, civic groups, schools, hospitals and philanthropic organizations, identified local needs, mobilized neighbors and created institutions that often survived successive governments. Those efforts did not merely complement federal action; they became one of the country’s foremost competitive advantages. Today, however, Congress debates tax policy with scant attention to how those decisions affect the very nonprofits, churches and charities that have sustained communities for generations. Public discourse does not merely determine what government can do; it also shapes whether those organizations have the resources to continue their long‑standing work. If lawmakers want proof that this model works, they need look no further than George Washington’s estate. By the mid‑1800s Mount Vernon was deteriorating, the property of the nation’s first president falling into ruin with no guarantee it would endure. Congress did not create a preservation program, and the federal government offered no rescue plan. Instead, a determined group of women concluded that the responsibility belonged to the American people. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association launched one of the country’s earliest nationwide fundraising drives, collected private donations, purchased the land and restored the mansion. More than 165 years later the association still stewards Mount Vernon—not because the state assumed the duty but because successive generations of Americans have continued to invest in its mission. This is not merely an inspirational anecdote from history; it illustrates what has made America exceptional. Nearly two centuries ago Alexis de Tocqueville noted that Americans possessed an extraordinary habit of forming voluntary associations to achieve goals that neither individuals nor government could attain alone. Citizens built schools, hospitals, churches, museums, universities and civic organizations because they believed the well‑being of a free society depended on more than governmental action. That tendency became a defining national strength. Now, however, the default impulse is often to turn to Washington. Whether the issue is preserving history, strengthening communities, expanding education, supporting veterans, responding to disasters or confronting addiction, the first question tends to be what Congress or a federal agency should do next. That approach misses the point. Government has an essential role, but it was never intended to replace the institutions that bind communities together. Strong nonprofits do more than deliver services; they safeguard history, mobilize volunteers, cultivate civic engagement and inspire Americans to contribute their time, talent and treasure to causes larger than themselves. They frequently respond faster, innovate more freely and earn deeper trust than government programs operating in isolation. Those institutions deserve more than admiration; they merit public policies that enable them to thrive. That means protecting charitable giving, preserving incentives for philanthropy, reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens on nonprofit organizations and recognizing that private generosity is not a peripheral benefit but a pillar that has sustained the nation since its founding. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association grasped this principle long before any treatise on nonprofit leadership appeared. For more than 165 years it has remained steadfastly focused on a single mission: preserving Washington’s home and educating Americans about the principles that shaped the republic. It has not chased every trend or reinvented itself with each generation. It has earned trust by staying true to its purpose, and donors have rewarded that consistency for more than a century and a half. Congress would do well to take note. As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we should not only honor the ideals of the founding; we must sustain the distinctly American practice of citizens freely giving their time, talent and treasure to build institutions that outlast politics. George Washington’s home still stands because Americans chose to steward it. If lawmakers wish the nation to remain as strong 250 years from now, they should protect the policies that make such civic engagement and private generosity possible. Phil Bell is the CEO of Tower K Group, a national affairs firm. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.