What’s all this talk about the need for more diversity in philanthropy? Let’s turn the spotlight on recent actions in the foundation world including the Council on Foundations’ creation of a new Director of Diversity position as well as the Kellogg Foundation’s selection of two new black VPs. These philanthropic leaders are presumably pushing forward the need to include more of the kinds of folks who know the issues firsthand that philanthropy tries to address. As in many other areas of American life, the most important voices are too often left out of philanthropy, the very vehicle we look to with hope to help fix that distressed neighborhood, supplement failing schools with good after-school programs, or heal our troubled youth. But folks tend to forget that the recipients of philanthropy are, more often than not, much more diverse than the people handing out the money. Foundations contribute to programs benefiting communities of color, underserved populations such as the LGBT community, immigrants and refugees, women, the disabled, etc. Unfortunately, we already know that charity is not helping the people who need it the most. And how many times have you seen a black lesbian foundation executive in a wheelchair? Wait, let me guess. Never. I’m only slightly exaggerating, to be sure, but this is an issue that prevails in the one place you would hope diversity isn’t an issue. So clearly I agree with the folks at COF and everyone else before them that have already figured this out, but there need to be clear outcomes for this new “push for diversity”. As the Nonprofiteer points out, we need real inclusion, not just token positions as program officers. Let’s hope that COF, Kellogg, and other philanthropic leaders take this commitment seriously and put power in the hands of those who know where best to apply it, knowing that changing the status quo will help philanthropy (and the entire nonprofit sector) achieve its true mission of charity more effectively.
…This now brings me to my happy recent discovery of the National Center for Black Philanthropy:
The mission of the National Center is to promote giving and volunteerism among African Americans, foster full participation by African Americans in all aspects of philanthropy, educate the public about the contributions of Black philanthropy, strengthen people and institutions engaged in Black philanthropy, and research the benefits of Black philanthropy to all Americans.
Check out their 6th Annual Conference: Philanthropy & the Covenant with Black America, June 27-29 in Washington, DC.
Logo image courtesy National Center for Black Philanthropy
Cozality on 
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