Diversity within nonprofits needs to move beyond “box checking and quotas” in favor of recognizing each individual’s identities and characteristics, according authors of a Philanthropy Roundtable report. To this end, the Washington, D.C.-based think tank, which advises conservative philanthropists, has released a Statement of Principles in support of its “True Diversity” effort.
“In recent years, Americans again turned to charitable organizations at a time of heightened desire to address injustice and discrimination,” the statement’s authors wrote in an introduction. “Many organizations increasingly adopted policies and approaches that offered the promise of addressing these challenges in a better way. Unfortunately, the policies and approaches they adopted often focused intensely on immutable, physical characteristics to the exclusion of the many other important aspects of diversity.”
Increasing numbers of charitable organizations, over time, “found their efforts had unintentionally shifted to checking the right boxes rather than working on the right solutions,” the statement’s authors continued. “As a result, more and more organizations have come to view these approaches as inflexible, outdated and counterproductive—at times, even discriminatory. Some now worry they may be spending more time making assumptions about people than helping them.”
The Philanthropy Roundtable’s “Five Principles” are:
- Value each individual. Each person is a unique individual worthy of dignity and respect. It is only by taking the time to know and understand them, their challenges and their circumstances, rather than simply making assumptions based on how they look, that we can best support them.
- Advance the mission. Excellent results are best achieved by bringing together people with diverse skill sets, backgrounds and perspectives to further a common mission. Each organization is in the best position to know what types of diversity in leadership and staffing will best support its mission — and thus strengthen the communities it serves.
- Seek diverse perspectives. Good ideas can come from anywhere, and there are many ways to address social challenges. Bringing together people with diverse views is the key to encouraging a robust competition of ideas, experimentation with different approaches and ultimately better answers and outcomes.
- Embrace conversation. Discussion and debate open the door to progress. Direct, honest and respectful conversation may take courage, but it is the antidote to division, resentment and stagnation.
- Cultivate empowerment. The best way to uplift individuals and strengthen communities is to foster the sense of agency that only comes when everyone is empowered to reach their full potential.
The statement’s authors further asserted they are “committed to this more thoughtful and holistic approach to diversity: one that recognizes the value and dignity of each person and allows donors and nonprofits the freedom and flexibility to pursue the best strategies for achieving their goals and missions. That is why we endorse the above principles, and why we have started this conversation now.”
Additional information about the Philanthropy Roundtable’s “True Diversity” initiative is available here: https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/true-diversity/
