Iron Man or Atomic Blonde? What Your Narrative Posture Says in a Crisis

Earlier this week, our colleague Matthew Charles Davis reflected on Harvard’s response to a recent Trump administration letter. The statement was bold, clear, and values-forward: “No government should dictate what private universities can teach.” That line wasn’t just a legal position. It was a narrative posture. It signaled who they are, what they’re willing to risk, and projected the confidence of an institution with resources to back it up.

Every foundation, nonprofit, and mission-driven organization is making the same kind of choice right now—whether they realize it or not.

At D.O.N.E., we often use metaphors to make complex dynamics tangible. Here’s one that resonates: Are you Iron Man or Atomic Blonde?

• Iron Man is the Harvard route. Loud, unmistakable, and values in neon. This posture trusts that clarity will attract allies, even if it also draws fire.

• Atomic Blonde is quieter, more surgical. The values are firm, but the visibility and messaging are calibrated to protect staff, partners, and mission.

Neither approach is inherently right or wrong. What’s risky is drifting between them without intention—or allowing ambiguity to read as uncertainty. In this climate, uncertainty erodes trust.

We see many organizations trying to avoid the choice altogether, hoping the storm will pass. But silence is also a posture. Staff, boards, funders, grantees, and communities are paying attention—even when no public statement is made.

The important thing is alignment. If you take an Iron Man stance, have you thought through downstream impacts for partners and staff who may face blowback? If you lean Atomic Blonde, how are you ensuring it isn’t misread as retreat?

From our work across sectors, the organizations that endure aren’t always the loudest or the most discreet. They move with intention, stay aligned with their values, and make posture decisions deliberately.

Next week we’ll be discussing this further in a Grantmakers in the Arts webinar. But the urgency extends far beyond one event. Across the field, organizations tell us they feel stuck—waiting for clarity, consensus, or a safer time to act. Understandable, but “deer in the headlights” is not a plan.

This is a moment for deliberate, level-headed choices. A clear, consistent narrative posture doesn’t just help you survive. It gives your people and your purpose a fighting chance to thrive.

The truth is, every organization already has a posture. The question is whether it’s serving the people and work that matter most.

If your team is wrestling with these choices, we’d be glad to talk. Reach out to us!