Challenging the Narrative: Intersectionality in the Workplace

Group Interview by Anh Vo, Meg Schroeder and Thandi Cai (9 minute read)

Team members Anh Vo, Meg Schroeder and Thandi Cai share their experiences of navigating the intersectionality of their identities in the nonprofit space. They explore honest partnerships and equity-centered practices by discussing their personal experiences and envisioning what a truly inclusive work environment looks like.

Continue reading “Challenging the Narrative: Intersectionality in the Workplace”

Section 3: What Keeps You Up at Night?

Section 3: What Keeps You Up at Night?

Is there a more specific topic on your mind? These resources are categorized by a handful of topics you may find relevant to your company’s DEI work. Applying an equity lens to our work allows us to take a step back and examine our actions from another perspective, highlighting areas for improvement. That’s why it’s essential to observe the ways in which the following topics and more appear in our everyday work in the philanthropic sector.

Table of Contents

“I don’t know where to start”

 

From Alford Group: Culture of Equity Assessment

 

Awake to Work to Work: Building a Race Equity Culture

 

How to Begin Equity Work in Your Organization with Little or No Money – Resource Collection and Webinar Series

 

Communication Guidelines for a Brave Space

 

What if I say or do the wrong thing?

 

A Therapist On The Right Way To Apologize When You Say Something Racist

 

Afraid to Talk About Sensitive Topics at Work? Read this Guide First

 

You’ve Been Called Out for a Microaggression. What Do You Do?

 

What Not To Say To Someone Who Has Experienced Racial Trauma

 

What If I Say the Wrong Thing? 10 Tips for Culturally Effective People

 

Embedding DEI into your strategic plan

 

Addressing Diversity and Inclusion: Going Beyond the Benchmark

 

DEI Strategic Planning Toolkit

 

Actualizing a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Strategy

 

Getting your board “on board”

 

From Alford Group: Culture of Equity Assessment

 

From Alford Group: Board Toolkit

 

From Alford Group: Board Members and Nonprofit Leaders: It’s Time.

 

Your boardroom sets the tone

 

AFP ICON 2021: Creating an Equity-Forward Board Culture

 

Beyond the Board Statement: How Can Boards Join the Movement for Racial Justice? (Part One)

 

 

Engaging donors of color

Diversity and Donors. First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)

 

Engaging Donors of Color. First Day Podcast from The Fund Raising School (Lilly Family School of Philanthropy)

 

The sgENGAGE Podcast Episode 201: Building Cultural Competency to Understand Your Donors

 

npExperts: The Great Reset – Equity chapters

 

From Alford Group: Demographic Donor Scan

 

DEI in the workplace: For employers

 

From Alford Group: Find Your Path to a More Inclusive Workplace Culture

 

The Bias of ‘Professionalism’ Standards

 

Our Authentic Selves and Doing Diversity Right

 

Personnel Strategies in the Face of Impossible Choices

 

19 Questions for Leaders Who Are Serious About Racial Equity

 

What Has — and Hasn’t — Changed Since “Dear White Boss…”

 

DEI in the workplace: For employees

Why and How to Prioritize DEI at Your Organization

 

How to Start an Affinity Group at Work, According to Real People Who Did It

 

How to Hold Your Company Accountable to its Promise of Racial Justice

 

How Coworkers Can Help

 

Racial Equity in Philanthropy: Using White Privilege for Good

 

Holding yourself and others accountable

 

Equity in Development: Be Radically Intentional to Change the Lived Experiences of Diverse Fundraisers

 

Talk the Talk: Strengthening Your Organization’s Diversity Statement

 

A Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgement

 

From Alford Group: Simple Commitment Slide

 


 

Section 1: What Everyone Needs to Know

 

 

Section 2: Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Five Practical Steps to Diversify your Board of Directors

By JoAnn Yoshimoto, Senior Consultant

Before we plunge into the practical “how-to” ideas, let’s consider a few often-ignored questions: Why are we even having this conversation? Why does board diversity matter? Continue reading “Five Practical Steps to Diversify your Board of Directors”

Equity-Centered Philanthropy: Honoring the Past While Celebrating the Future

By Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group

On the heels of Black History Month and at the beginning of Women’s History Month, it is not lost on me that we need to celebrate diversity now more than ever. And it is important that we do not relegate our recognition of the contribution of Blacks and women to just one month.

sankofa image
Sankofa means “go back and fetch it.” We must look back to the past so that we may understand how we became what we are, and move forward to a better future.

Sankofa is an African word from the Akan tribe in Ghana. The symbol, based on the mythical bird with its feet firmly planted forward with its head turned backwards, serves as a reminder that the past serves as a guide for planning the future. It is the wisdom of looking back to look forward.

Diversity has been a core value of Alford Group for our 41-year history and we recently renewed our commitment to fostering and creating adaptive cultures that are more inclusive and equitable in our work as a firm, with our clients and in the entire social sector. We are elevating equity-centered philanthropy as intentional action toward changing the structures, roles, processes, representation and practices that perpetuate inequities in how organizations communicate, engage and build relationships to support philanthropic endeavors.

Continue reading “Equity-Centered Philanthropy: Honoring the Past While Celebrating the Future”

Celebrating Black Philanthropy

By Brenda B. Asare, President and CEO, Alford Group

Featuring:

Liz Thompson, President and Office Director, Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education (The CAFE)

Don Thompson, CEO and Founder, Cleveland Avenue, LLC

 

The world is learning how to overcome the discomfort of talking about race and organizations everywhere are having some real courageous conversations on how we can move forward together to create lasting change for people of color. This change will create a ripple effect where others who have been marginalized will benefit and increase their ability to thrive as well – no one is left behind.

Continue reading “Celebrating Black Philanthropy”

The Long Road to Equity is Paved with Data, Innovation and Optimism

At Alford Group, diversity is one of our core values and we are proud to have been the diversity partner with AFP and the AFP Foundation for the past 17 years. We hosted this year’s AFP Diversity Session, “Foundations Empowering Change: Not Business As Usual,” which featured a facilitator and panelists who are committing funds, insights, counsel, social capital, time and other resources toward building diversity, equity, and inclusion in their own organizations and the organizations with which they partner. They are:

  • Linetta Gilbert, Managing Partner, Gilbert & Associates (Facilitator)
  • Miki Akimoto, U.S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management
  • HeHershe Busuego, The Boston Foundation
  • Beth Smith, The Hyams Foundation

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Let’s start at the very beginning…a very good place to start…

Remember that song from The Sound of Music? Just like Do-Re-Mi, we must understand and use a shared set of building blocks if we want to sing together. Linetta Gilbert provided us with a primer and reminder of the key terms and concepts we all need to use to share and advance our ongoing conversation. Continue reading “The Long Road to Equity is Paved with Data, Innovation and Optimism”