Diversity in Philanthropy
Diversity Activity after California AB 624
In late June 2008, a negotiated resolution to the issues raised
by AB 624 was reached and the legislation is effectively
“dead.”
Since March of 2007, SCG, Northern California Grantmakers and San Diego
Grantmakers and their members have been working to find
non-legislative ways to address the important issues raised. As
originally written, AB 624 would have required private foundations
with assets over $250,000,000 to collect specified ethnic and gender
data pertaining to governance and grantmaking.
Since the legislation was pulled from consideration, a coalition of
the 10 largest foundations in California have announced a plan to
increase support for minority-led organizations. The coalition will also
invest heavily in strengthening the ability of emerging organizations
serving people of color to meet their community needs. The announcement
has spurred much coverage and discussion. Use the links below to learn
more.
DIALOGUE ABOUT THE ISSUES:
Board and Employee Diversity in the
Philanthropic Sector: A Landscape Analysis by Leticia
John from onPhilanthropy.com, August 13, 2008
Foundation Agreement to help Minority-Led
Charities from the Philanthropy News Digest, via Ventura County Star, August 8, 2008.
Irvine
Foundation, Letter from the President, James E.
Canales, President and CEO, Summer 2008.
AB 624: Death for a Noble Cause by Robert
K. Ross, M.D. on Bob's Blog July 7, 2008.
Highlighted Resource
Embracing Diversity: Foundation Giving
Benefiting California’s Communities of
Color (PDF 1.93 MB)
Published: June 2008
This Foundation Center report examines grantmaking in
California to organizations and
projects that serve ethnically diverse communities or population groups.
The report looks beyond grants that are directed specifically at ethnic
populations by taking into account grants made to low-income
communities, which economic indicators show include a high proportion of
ethnic minorities. Based on standard statistical modeling, the report
conservatively estimates that 39% of all grants in California
benefit ethnic communities. The researchers conclude that many other
grants, which benefit a wide variety of Californians, also provide
support to ethnic communities but are difficult to assess given current
reporting methods. The report was commissioned by Northern California
Grantmakers on behalf of San Diego Grantmakers and Southern California
Grantmakers.
Reports on Diversity in Philanthropy
Foundations and Diversity: Chronicle of
Philanthropy’s Live Discussion Series
Published: May 2008
This transcript of a live discussion includes answers from Dr. Robert
Ross of The California Endowment and Mark Rosenman from Caring to Change
from Chronicle readers about the issue of diversity and
inclusiveness.
Read, view or print the document.
Philanthropy in a Changing Society: Achieving
Effectiveness through Diversity
(PDF 2MB)
Published: April 2008
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has released the
first in a series of three reports that examine the state of diversity
in philanthropy. The first report, Philanthropy in a Changing
Society: Achieving Effectiveness through Diversity, is the most
comprehensive examination to date of the major approaches to foundation
diversity over the past 25 years. The report’s writers analyzed
grant data collected by the Foundation Center and staffing and board
composition trends from the Council on Foundations. The team tapped the
advice of more than 50 philanthropy professionals and reviewed relevant
literature to collect, describe and assess diversity programs and
resources, and solicit comment on successes and challenges.
Read, view or print the full publication.
Measuring What We Value
Published: April 2008
This report from the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity reframes
the debate around diversity and inclusiveness toward meaningful and
long-term strategies to increase philanthropic support for racial and
social justice. Seven writers – each with deep knowledge and long
track records in racial and social justice issues – share their
perspectives on the legislation and provide thoughts on the questions
grantmakers and nonprofits should be addressing.
Read, view or print the full publication.
Grant Making with a Racial Equity Lens
Published: 2008
This guide is a joint production from GrantCraft and the
Philanthropic
Initiative for Racial Equity. A focus on racial equity can increase
your effectiveness at every stage of the grant making process. Blending
experience and candid advice from grantmakers, this guide explores how a
racial equity lens can help you scan your field or community, cultivate
new leaders, encourage creative approaches, get people talking, and
nourish change inside your own foundation. Read, view or print the full
publication by visiting the GrantCraft website – you will be asked to
register before accessing the report.
Growing Opportunities: Will Funding Follow the Rise in
Foundation Assets and Growth of AAPI Populations?
Published: June 2007
Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) produced this
report, which shows the giving trends of the top U.S.
foundations to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities
have not kept pace with the growth of these communities or of
foundation. The report looks at the country’s top 20 national
foundations’ grantmaking between 1990 and 2002 and finds
significant funding disparities to AAPI communities in several areas.
The report concludes with a call to action to the philanthropy field to
reduce these gaps.
Read, view or print the full publication.
Building on a Better Foundation: A Toolkit for Creating
an Inclusive Grantmaking Organization
Published: July 2001
This toolkit from the Minnesota Council on Foundations offers
straightforward guidance to help funders practice diversity both within
their organizations and in their grantmaking work.
Read, view or print the full publication.
Also, read their Diversity Framework and related information.
The Diversity in Philanthropy Project
Leading philanthropy executives are expanding diversity and inclusion
in foundation decision-making as an essential strategy to improve
effectiveness and impact. Building on best traditions and experiences,
the Diversity in Philanthropy Project is a collaborative effort to
increase sector-wide effectiveness.
Learn more about the project.
Read a report from the first year of the
project.
Sources for More Information
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The Foundation Center provides Diversity in
Philanthropy: A Comprehensive Bibliography of Resources Related to
Diversity Within the Philanthropic and Nonprofit Sectors. Read, view or print the bibliography PDF.
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The Chronicle of Philanthropy presented a resource guide on diversity in its October 18, 2007
issue. (A subscription to the Chronicle website is required to view this
content.)
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