Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Nonprofit Alliance DEI Vision:
The nonprofit sector reflects the diversity of the communities it serves, values all stakeholders regardless of their background, and provides everyone the same opportunities and support needed to grow.
The Nonprofit Alliance DEI Mission:
Promotes: Advocates for a fully diverse, inclusive, and equitable nonprofit sector through authentic stakeholder engagement and accountability for achieving outcomes.
Protects: Identifies barriers and promotes sustainable solutions.
Strengthens: Provides education and resources needed to foster DEI excellence.
The Nonprofit Alliance believes that the nonprofit sector’s ability to change the world is not possible without diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). At our first Leadership Summit in fall 2019, we began to identify the roles and responsibilities TNPA and its members should adopt to advance diverse and inclusive workplaces, which in turn will enable nonprofits to better serve the broadest span of people, communities, and issues.
For TNPA, that work had to begin from within. We brought in a DEI consultant who guided a more intentional, inclusive board and staff recruitment process. When Covid-19 curtailed our April 2020 conference and public DEI Initiative launch, we seized the opportunity to revisit our focus based on the new opportunities and challenges presented by the changing face of a remote workplace, as well as the health, safety, and employment disparities revealed by the pandemic.
Our announcement of the TNPA DEI Initiative coincided with the massive public conversation about systemic racism in early summer 2020. When the fabric of our society tears, it is the nonprofit community that stands up first to begin the mending. It is both a calling and a responsibility. When the question is asked, “Who can fix this?” our response must be certain and sure. “We will.”
Funding for this initiative is generously provided by AARP Foundation as part of their strategic commitment to diversity.
With input we received at our 2019 Leadership Summit, the Nonprofit Alliance Foundation also started the Leading EDGE Internship Program in partnership with nonprofit organizations, firms that work with nonprofits, and colleges and universities. This program strives to:
- Elevate the visibility of college-age job candidates, and particularly underrepresented student populations, within the employer job market; and
- Enable firsts job placements that can lead to a career path in the social good sector, including roles in marketing & fundraising, finance, policy, data management & analysis, and other operations fields.
The Nonprofit Alliance DEI Accountabilities: As part of our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, TNPA strives to hold ourselves accountable for putting our principles into practice. We apply this same accountability to those who create and/or present content on our behalf:
- Be inclusive. Create content that can resonate with an array of listeners and readers.
- Speak to diversity. Recognize that members of an audience or cohort have various lived experiences.
- Recognize that systemic inequities and discrimination exist. Do your best to acknowledge how we can mitigate against them.
- Be mindful of explicit and implicit bias. Review content through the lens of varied identities.
From 2021: WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Nonprofit Alliance Foundation (TNPAF) announced today it has received $100,000 from AARP Foundation to sponsor a new multi-year iniatitive to create a more diverse and inclusive nonprofit sector. The program will include resources such as virtual educational programs, new accountability measurements and an internship and support program to attract diverse talent to the industry.
“The nonprofit sector plays a vital role in our communities and economy – employing more than 10% of the U.S. workforce and providing critical services to vulnerable people throughout their lifetime. It is essential that nonprofits represent the communities they serve and become examples of diversity and inclusion,” says Shannon McCracken, chief executive officer of The Nonprofit Alliance. Continue reading here.
Thank you to these Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative Sponsors:
The TNPA Sponsor Prospectus for 2025 is now available and opportunities are being claimed quickly. View the Sponsorship Prospectus and reach out to Abby Graf, Vice President Programs, at agraf@tnpa.org with any questions.
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Eidolon Communications | Further | Lautman Maska Neill & Co.
Recommended Resources:
Perspectives & Insights | TNPA Blog posts on DEI
The State of DEIJ in Nonprofits, Nonprofit HR shares the results of their annual survey benchmarking the work being done to advance DEIJ in the nonprofit sector.
Leading by Example, a nonprofit executive discussion about the transformational effect of diversifying an organization’s leadership team and leading with active accountability.
Forward Leading, a frank conversation about systemic racism & how to prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Media Resources:
“AWAKE to WOKE to WORK: Building a Race Equity Culture” developed by Equity in the Center
Systemic Racism: Lay It To Rest
What managers should — and shouldn’t — do to address this moment of racial reckoning
Talking about racial inequality at work is difficult — here are tips to do it thoughtfully
