Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
United Philanthropy Forum’s key strategic priorities include a focus on advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion in philanthropy. The Forum envisions a courageous philanthropic sector that catalyzes a just and equitable society where all can participate and prosper. It is not possible for us to achieve this vision without addressing racial equity.
About
The Forum views our racial equity work in a specific way: we strive to be a leading connector, convener and collaborative partner for all regional and national philanthropy-serving organizations (PSOs) on racial equity, diversity and inclusion. Our network includes more than 90 PSO members—including regional philanthropy associations and national affinity groups, networks and associations of funders. We are working to help PSOs bring a racial equity lens to all aspects of their work, including their internal operations, external programming, and leadership work in the field, and to catalyze and guide greater PSO collaboration in this work.
Assessment
This report represents the latest in an effort by Philanthropy-Serving Organizations (PSOs) to advance philanthropic practice and impact by centering racial equity. Written by some members of United Philanthropy Forum’s Racial Equity Committee together with Community Centered Evaluation & Research, the report is based on findings of the Forum’s inaugural Racial Equity Capacity Assessment for PSOs. Nearly three-quarters of Forum members completed the assessment, which provides a baseline to examine PSOs’ internal efforts and external programming in advancing racial equity. The Forum also completed the assessment, and is using the results to inform the Forum’s internal racial equity work.
Key Learnings from the Assessment
- PSOs internal efforts to advance racial equity are in the initial stages of development.
- It is imperative that PSOs focus on their internal growth and development.
- PSOs most commonly referred members to external sources of information to support their understanding and advancement of racial equity efforts.
- Use peer community listserv to discuss and uplift public policy best practices.
- Alignment between PSOs’ internal racial equity efforts and their external programming was reported as a work in progress.
- PSOs concentrated their resources on building either their external programming or developing their internal structures, policies, and practices – nearly none worksimped on both simultaneously.
The Forum supports efforts to address equity in all areas of society. But if you look at just about any issue that philanthropy cares about, from education to health care to the environment, some of the greatest disparities are along racial and ethnic lines. These racial disparities have persisted for decades, and in many cases the gaps are widening. It is impossible to make significant progress on any of these issues without focusing on how to narrow these gaps.
The Forum’s work is guided by our Racial Equity Committee, which is comprised of representatives of regional and national PSOs that are further along in their racial equity work. The group is co-chaired by Susan Taylor Batten, President & CEO of the ABFE- A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities.
Member Links
Forum members who are engaged in deep work on racial equity that is core to their mission:
- ABFE
- Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy
- CHANGE Philanthropy
- Hispanics in Pilanthropy
- Native Americans in Pilanthropy
- Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity
Events
April 13-15
Harambee 2023: Let’s All Pull Together
Thu, Apr 13, 2023 to Sat, Apr 15, 2023
Raleigh, NC
April 13
Understanding and Advancing Funder Partnership with Parents
3:00pm to 4:00pm EDT
Virtual
Featured Resources
Awake to Woke to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture
Equity in the Center's report provides insights, tactics, and practices social sector organizations can and have used to measurably shift organizational culture, operationalize equity, and move from a dominant organizational culture to a Race Equity Culture.
PSFG Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Resources
A living list, updated occasionally by Peace and Security Funders Group, its members, and its partners. The original list was compiled by Maegan Scott of Wayfinding Partners, with whom PSFG worked to develop its DEI work plan.
Racial Equity Tools
Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large.
Forum Members Respond to Latest Calls for Racial Justice
The Forum and our members are responding to the latest murders of unarmed people of color by police and protests worldwide calling for racial justice, justice reform and police reform.
Racial Equity Listserv
Join our new Racial Equity Listserv created to support an open exchange of equity-focused learnings, ideas, practices and tools among Forum members.
Video Series
In a three-part video series, we share our members and colleagues perspectives on different aspects of racial equity. Our goal with these videos is to spark continued thinking and conversations that will lead to action in our field to reduce inequities based on race and ethnicity.
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Racial Equity Is...
A look at how our members, along with some of our colleagues and friends, define racial equity.
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Racial Equity and Forum Members’ Work
Our members share some of the strategies, struggles and successes of their ongoing racial equity work.
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Personal Stories of Racial Equity Work
Our members and colleagues share some deeply moving stories of the role that racial equity plays in their personal lives.