Lessons-Learned in Addressing Racial Equity in Foundations (May 2009)

Marga Incorporated announces the May 2009 launch of its newest publication: Lessons Learned in Addressing Racial Equity in Foundations – a report that emerges out of a partnership between the Diversity in Philanthropy Project and the Race and Equity in Philanthropy Group (REPG). The report reflects the learning of REPG members on effectively incorporating racial equity into a foundation’s priorities and systems, and addresses the various ways in which approaches to racial equity relate to other aspects of diversity and philanthropy in general.

There are five key elements that practitioners have highlighted as lessons learned:

  1. Enhancing racial equity in philanthropy requires hard work and a long term commitment;
  2. Connected change agents inside of foundations are essential to bringing about systemic improvements;
  3. Successes along the way should be acknowledged and celebrated;
  4. The right tools and environment are required to actualize theories and ideas about philanthropic approaches to racial equity;
  5. The case for the centrality of racial equity to all forms of inequality must be made internally across all program areas.

Practitioners disclose that race conversations are often difficult and next steps/solutions are not always known, making commitment to the end goal essential. Due to these challenges, individuals need spaces like the forum provided by REPG to connect with others who are similarly positioned. As the nature of this work is typically requires long-term commitment that can be both frustrating and tiresome at times, acknowledging progress (however small) can help sustain forward momentum.

The report notes that, when it comes to racial equity, even when people want to help, they do not always have the tools to do it or are not in an environment where they feel they can make an impact. REPG members understand the value of diversity on the whole, noting that they must help others understand the significance of the impact of race within (or even compared to) other social categories.

More specifically, in the areas of racial equity and diversity, the report denotes the following:

Findings show that, although the perception of race relations has improved, systems and policies reinforce disparities in well-being across program areas and demographics. Given that people of color are the most disadvantaged (more often living in poverty), reducing racial inequity in systems and policies would create significant progress towards achieving and celebrating diversity.

As noted in the report, addressing diversity can be challenging. With the historical significance of race, it is often easier to catalyze conversations about other aspects of diversity by starting with race. Additionally, by seeing foundation programs in relation to racial equity, the depth of analysis on root causes is strengthened, and this rigor improves the overall problem-solving capacities of foundations.

Overall, practitioners indicate that the work of the REPG has generated valuable lessons that can assist all foundations in their efforts to make racial equity a core operating value. More generally, experiences in constructing racial equity approaches can be instructive to addressing other aspects of diversity and philanthropic methods.

The full report, along with a snapshot, can be viewed by clicking on the links below:


Lessons Learned in Addressing Racial Equity in Foundations
Snapshot: Lessons Learned in Addressing Racial Equity in Foundations.

For more information, please contact repg@margainc.com

Note: This research was funded by the Diversity in Philanthropy Project and the Race and Equity in Philanthropy Group, which is supported by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, The San Francisco Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The findings and conclusions presented in this report are those of the author(s) alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of these foundations.