Investing in Diversity, Inclusion, and Effective Philanthropy is critical to the success and profitability of your organization. If you make this your top goal, you will be able to capitalize on chances to form partnerships, hire excellent personnel, and optimize your investment in your firm.
The study proposes three concrete actions to foster racial diversity at all company levels using research, focus groups, and interviews with practitioners. These include modernizing operations, recruiting a more diverse workforce, and cultivating an inclusive culture.
The report also reveals the most successful methods for driving change and making a genuine difference. The cycle's "Awake" and "Work" phases are as follows. The "Awake" stage creates an organizational culture that values diversity and inclusion, while the "Work" stage focuses on incorporating the racial equity lens into day-to-day operations.
The "Awake" part of the research involves employing varied employees, and the "Work" step involves hiring numerous board members. A few more practical strategies are also included in the study.
AWAKE to WOKE to WORK: Combating Narratives that Divide Communities and Societies is a comprehensive handbook for companies seeking to foster a more inclusive culture. It includes a glossary and a complete list of resources and explains a set of measures firms may take to progress toward a more fair workplace. It also gives a framework for fostering a culture of racial equality.
During the Black Lives Matter movement, the phrase "keep awake" became a rallying cry, especially following the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Throughout the demonstrations, the hashtag #StayWoke acted as a spiritual, information, and communal hub for Black individuals. It also served to bring together Black residents who had been working for change for many years.
The word "awake" has also been used for the left's political attitude. Despite its Black vernacular beginnings, "wokeness" has become a political lightning rod in the West's cultural wars.
Bringing diversity into your philanthropic work is crucial whether you are beginning a new organization or just looking for ways to strengthen current charitable practices. Without a broad set of voices at your table, you may perpetuate societal evils or pass on enormous possibilities.
The Center for Effective Philanthropy has polled charity executives regarding diversity and equality. They discovered that most organizations were having continuous conversations about diversity and inclusion. The charitable community was also polled on how to evaluate and improve its procedures.
Diversity in charity requires study, self-evaluation, and constant learning. There are also several resources accessible to assist you with this.
The Race Equity Report is one source that has a lot to offer. This study is an easy-to-read compilation of research and best practices for increasing diversity in philanthropy. It includes valuable concepts, foundation leadership recommendations, and practical counsel for charitable personnel.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion have been more essential in the charity sector during the last decade. Many companies have gone beyond a policy statement or a diversity strategy to be more explicit about creating a fair playing field for all organizations and addressing socioeconomic injustices.
Some foundations have developed diversity programs, while others have integrated a race and equity lens into their work. Some people have even created "diversity principles." Despite these reservations, there is an expanding literature on this topic.
For example, the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE) started as an all-volunteer group in 1971 and has developed into a robust network. ABFE recently dropped its description in favor of a more straightforward moniker. It is currently one of the nonprofit's most influential racial equality networks.
Putting Racism on the table is a multi-part learning course for top philanthropy executives. Each session includes a national expert and a moderated discussion between the presenter and the audience.
The Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers initiated the learning series. Each session addresses a specific aspect of Racism, such as implicit prejudice, structural Racism, and white privilege. The learning series seeks to strengthen the efficacy of generosity by promoting awareness of Racism in our communities.
In addition to the learning series, the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers launched a project to address structural Racism and unconscious prejudice. They've also launched a website devoted to bridging the racial leadership gap in charity.
Dr. Gail Christopher, the senior adviser to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, talked about Racism and the role of philanthropy in tackling it as part of the Putting Racism on the Table learning series. A discussion guide was also provided as part of the presentation.
