What Nonprofits Can Do to Address Diversity and Inclusion

In the months since George Floyd’s killing in May, there has been a radical shift in our awareness of racial injustice in the United States. Emanating from issues like police brutality and criminal justice reform, the conversation has grown to encompass an array of industries and institutions. The nonprofit sector is one such area, as many of the people the nonprofit sector helps are people of color in underserved communities. 

And so, for many nonprofits founded by people of color, this conversation is long overdue. 

While organizations attempt to address the entrenched inequalities in communities across the country, the nonprofit sector needs to address the very same problems within its own ranks. Nonprofits with people of color at the helm face unique challenges that other organizations don't have to deal with.

Given Resilia’s unique perspective in this environment, Founder and CEO Sevetri Wilson recently addressed these challenges in an article for Forbes. In the piece, she identifies the areas within the nonprofit sector that warrant particular scrutiny. Here are the key takeaways: 

Systemic disparities in the nonprofit sector

According to a 2017 survey, only 6% of nonprofit executive directors are African American, 4% are Hispanic and 3% are Asian. There isn't just a lack of BIPOC representation in nonprofits — there are also rooted inequities that determine which organizations receive funding and the level of support they can expect over time. According to a 2020 report, Black-led nonprofits receive 24% less revenue and 76% less access to unrestricted net assets — resources that can be deployed without having to seek clearance from grantors. 

Challenging the status quo

The nonprofit sector and communities around the country are hastening the advance toward equality. Following Floyd’s death in Minnesota, foundations and nonprofits have been collaborating to push for police reform, rebuild communities affected by the recent unrest and provide assistance to BIPOC-run businesses and nonprofits. In July, Open Society Foundations announced a $220 million investment in "emerging organizations and leaders building power in Black communities across the country." Grantors around the country should pay attention to these efforts to help the nonprofit sector live up to the same ideal of equality that drives many organizations to work in underserved communities in the first place. 

Building a more diverse and inclusive nonprofit sector

Two of the most important explanations for BIPOC-led organizations' BIPOC-led nonprofits’ difficulty of securing funds is lack of access and outmoded forms of nonprofit assessment. This is why technology can serve as a powerful equalizer. Data sharing platforms give all nonprofits — no matter who they're founded or led by — an opportunity to demonstrate that they're capable of executing their mission, managing their operations efficiently and scaling impact in a sustainable way. 

To get the rest of Sevetri’s insights and advice, read the full article here.