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<\/p>\nBy Molly Penn<\/p>\n
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Grantmaking has a built-in power imbalance. Foundations have money, and nonprofit agencies want it.<\/p>\n
Today there are increasing discussions around these power dynamics in fundraising, accelerated by the social justice movement of 2020. This article will explore how approaching grantmaking through a lens of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) helps to dismantle traditional power imbalances.<\/p>\n
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The concepts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access mean a lot of different things to different people in various contexts. The goal of DEIA in grantmaking is to pay particular attention to people who historically have been underrepresented and systematically oppressed throughout society.<\/p>\n
Consider people\u2019s identities and lived experiences throughout the grantmaking cycle.<\/p>\n
Seek just outcomes for all \u00a0<\/span>people in a grantmaking relationship and particularly for those from marginalized backgrounds and communities.<\/p>\n Ensure you are reaching out to welcome and include marginalized communities in your grantmaking practices. Build strong relationships with your community.<\/p>\n Provide access supports to ensure those who need accommodations have equal access to your resources.<\/p>\n Grantmakers must acknowledge that they hold a position of privilege in the grantmaking relationship. And with such privilege comes the responsibility to ensure DEIA drives each step of the process.<\/p>\n Open Society Foundations created a guide for institutions that are concerned about DEI<\/a> in their grantmaking practices.<\/p>\n Funder Guidance for Engaging Grantees on DEI<\/a> is another helpful resource for grantmakers. This document by Ford Foundation describes best practices throughout the grantmaking lifecycle. It also shares helpful tips for responding to accusations of discrimination, harassment, or other misconduct.<\/p>\n We\u2019re also offering some tips based on work we\u2019ve done recently with public arts funders: the five NYC borough arts councils and the Massachusetts Cultural Council:<\/p>\n For public events (such as information sessions about your grantmaking), ensure there are supports available to meet people\u2019s accommodation needs (live transcription, ASL interpretation, website accessibility, etc.)<\/p>\n Guidelines, application and reporting forms, etc. \u2013 to ensure they are not overly complex or restrictive and that they are written in easy to understand ways. If you can, provide your materials in multiple languages commonly spoken in your community. Ensure there is a clear offline option for those from lower income backgrounds who may not have access to the internet or a computer.<\/p>\n Is your websites inviting and accessible (with assistive technology)? Does it convey images of diverse people? Is it easy to navigate?<\/p>\n What are you doing to build relationships in your community and conduct outreach to ensure a wide pool of applicants? What are you doing to ensure you are holding programs (like information sessions) at a day and time when various people can attend?\u00a0 What supports are you providing to unsuccessful applicants to help them improve (capacity building services)?\u00a0 How accessible is your staff to answer questions and support prospective applicants in the process?<\/p>\n Not just your grantees. Ask your applicants what would be fair to them in terms of how you approach giving out grants.\u00a0 The very act of asking applicants shows respect for their experience and feedback. If you are in a position to, offer small honoraria to applicants for participating in a focus group. If you can\u2019t do focus groups, survey your applicants and build the survey so you can disaggregate the data by race, ability status or other areas of interest.<\/p>\n Definitions of terms like BIPOC can be important in communicating your intensions to center historically marginalized organizations, but take care that you are not creating metrics like a list to be checked off, that could exclude organizations that really belong in that pool. Increasingly, for example, indigenous communities feel overlooked in that acronym given the particular recent focus on racial diversity.<\/p>\n Review your language for white supremacy ideas like \u201cexcellence\u201d and \u201cmerit\u201d \u2013 seek alternative definitions to describe what you are trying to fund.<\/p>\n Grantees often feel that they are at the mercy of the grantmaker. Traditionally the grantmaker holds all the power, and the grantee jumps through whatever hoops are necessary to get funding for their programs.<\/p>\n For example, some funders give what they call \u201crestricted\u201d funding, allowing an agency to use money only for certain defined purposes. Nonprofits then have to acquire other resources to support basic operations and staffing needs. Lack of appreciation for these issues makes it challenging to develop authenticity in the grantmaking relationship.<\/p>\n Grantees are not immune to responsibility, however; they too can work on cultivating trust with funders. Here are some resources for grantees who are committed to DEI&A in the grantmaking relationship.<\/p>\nInclusion<\/strong><\/h6>\n
Access<\/strong><\/h6>\n
Guidelines for Grantmakers<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Provide supports<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Check your materials<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Audit your website<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Analyze your practices\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Speak to your applicants<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Take care with definitions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Watch your language <\/strong><\/h3>\n
Resources for Grantees\u00a0 <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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