D5 news
D5’s “State of the Work” Report Features Efforts by Foundations to Increase Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Chicago, Illinois — The face of America is changing. Between 2000 and 2010, the population of the American South grew by 14%—and the Latino population in the South grew by 57%. One in five Americans have a disability. Fifty-seven percent of college graduates are women. Same-sex couples live in 93% of counties in the US.
How can the philanthropic field increase its diversity, advance equity, and improve its inclusiveness to keep up with these trends? D5—a five-year effort to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in philanthropy—examines this question in its annual “State of the Work” report, released today.
Featuring lessons learned from executives of the American Express Foundation, the Baltimore Community Foundation, Access Strategies Fund, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Capek Consulting, Russell Family Foundation, and FSG, the report draws on the successes and challenges of philanthropic leaders to create a more diverse sector in 2012.
Tags: D5 Newsletter
D5 at the Midpoint: A Letter from the Director
D5 was launched just over two years ago with a set of concrete, if profoundly ambitious, goals. It was a daunting agenda. Some people might even say it was impossible. Yet it seemed clear to me then, as it does now, that the momentum for being successful at this work was on our side.
At the midpoint of D5, I am hopeful because I see signs of progress and transformation. Now when I talk about this work, people understand the issue. They may not always be ready to take it on; they may address it superficially; they may be weary of the issue’s persistence. Yet, all of these perspectives are part of the conversation. And they are conversations you as allies and leaders must continue to have wherever and whenever possible if we are to deepen and extend the change we know will strengthen our field.
Tags: CoF Conference : communities : communities of color : social justice
D5’s session at COF’s Annual Conference in Chicago, Engaging the Heart and Mind of Philanthropy, was a call for change. A change in how philanthropy thinks about risk. A change in how philanthropy assumes change happens. And a change in the rules that govern how philanthropy does its work.
The opening COF panel of mayors focused on the challenges of gun violence; the D5 conversation highlighted the work being done in communities to address this issue and strategies for how philanthropy can play a role. A distinguished panel of leaders shared stories that were both clear and stark.
Tags: diversity : equity : inclusion
By Mary Ellen Capek | Mar. 28, 2013
Sheryl Sandberg’s new book, Lean In, has sparked a national conversation on how women can make real and lasting progress toward professional equality. Citing a wealth of essential research on gender and gender roles, Sandberg advocates effectively that women take charge of what they can change themselves and more aggressively advance their own—and other women’s—opportunities in the workplace.
The same holds for the philanthropic community: Sandberg’s ideas can inspire individuals to push organizations and foundations toward a “deeper” diversity. However, as Sandberg herself acknowledges, to achieve that goal, organizations themselves must “lean in” and confront the various means by which their collective cultures get in the way. More »
Tags: CoF Conference
D5 and its colleagues will be participating in the Council on Foundations’ Annual Conference in Chicago from April 7-9, 2013. We’ll be hosting an interactive strategy discussion and our partners—such as ABFE, AAPiP and EPiP—will be offering programs before and throughout the conference. Several of D5’s Leadership Team members have also been serving on the Annual Conference Task Force—including Carly Hare of Native Americans in Philanthropy, Mae Hong of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Ericka Plater-Turner of Council on Foundations, and Sylvia Zaldivar-Sykes of The Lake County Community Foundation.
We encourage you to take a look at the agenda and review the many sessions available that speak to diversity, equity and inclusion and hope to see you there!
