{"id":26985,"date":"2022-02-15T11:53:52","date_gmt":"2022-02-15T15:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/?p=26985"},"modified":"2025-09-18T10:58:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:58:42","slug":"the-future-of-inclusive-nonprofits-where-do-you-stand-with-nonprofit-dei-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.donorperfect.com\/nonprofit-technology-blog\/social-fundraising\/the-future-of-inclusive-nonprofits-where-do-you-stand-with-nonprofit-dei-work\/","title":{"rendered":"The Future of Inclusive Nonprofits: Where do you stand with nonprofit DEI work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\"The\n
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In the nonprofit sector, DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) work refers to initiatives that promote safety, advocacy, and belonging for nonprofit employees and donors of color, especially in professional and educational settings. Recent studies show that many organizations fall short in this fight, lacking an understanding of the level of inclusivity necessary to properly represent the communities they serve.<\/p>\n

In other words, how can you effectively serve your community if you look nothing like them, or haven\u2019t fully grasped what they go through? Let\u2019s take this time to learn from nonprofit professionals of color who are leading the conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion in fundraising.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n

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Lesson 1: What is needed & expected of today\u2019s nonprofit organizations?<\/h2>\n

Tycely Williams, CFRE<\/h3>\n

Chief Development Officer<\/a>, The Bipartisan Policy Center
2021 DonorPerfect CommUNITY Conference speaker<\/i><\/p>\n

A few months into one of her previous nonprofit roles, Williams realized that the job would be \u201can emotionally and psychologically draining experience,\u201d explaining that \u201cmany of the tactics that were in place worked for white people. The culture was shaped by white people. The measures of success were defined by white people.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the only Black woman in a leadership position at a large organization, no matter which approach she took, she felt it was difficult to get support from her team, she recalls. When she tried to lead from the front, she was \u201ctoo aggressive\u201d and \u201cwasn\u2019t bringing people along.\u201d When she tried to lead from the side, she was told, \u201cYou\u2019re not showing enough leadership; your team needs more from you.\u201d When she tried to lead from behind, she heard, \u201cYou\u2019re not showing that you\u2019re capable and competent or prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n

To her point, making people of color feel included and appreciated cannot and will not happen overnight. And it\u2019s important that the nonprofit sector understands that simply hiring a more diverse nonprofit staff will not make this happen.<\/p>\n

Strategies for Engaging Racially + Culturally Diverse Donors >><\/a><\/p>\n

Angelique S. C. Grant, PhD.<\/h3>\n

Vice President of the Aspen Leadership Group
Certified diversity recruiter<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cYou can attract a diverse group of professionals all day and night, but that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean that they\u2019re going to feel welcome when they arrive,\u201d says Grant. \u201cIf no one really wants to be inclusive, what does it really matter if it\u2019s diverse at that point?\u201d<\/p>\n

To deepen their understanding, experts say nonprofit professionals and employees need to look beyond base-level diversity and awareness to learn more about the flawed systems that created this deficit in the first place.<\/p>\n