Friday, November 17
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Workshops – Friday 11am
Schedule
Breaking Down Barriers: Reimagining Equitable Access to Data, Tools, and Funding
Roughly 10% of the nation’s nonprofits are led by individuals from Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, but they only receive about 4% of grant dollars annually. There are many reasons for this, but it is no coincidence that over 90% of foundation CEOs are white, while organizations led by individuals of color face barriers to funding that their white-led counterparts simply do not, resulting in significantly less funding. Many in our sector have explicitly stated intentions to address equity gaps in philanthropy. It’s time to convert those intentions to concrete action. Candid will be joined by two partners — a funder and a nonprofit — to discuss how we are working to advance racial equity in the sector. We will discuss our efforts to identify and remove barriers to Candid’s crucial data and tools and, leading by example, how we might influence the sector broadly to encourage advancement of more equitable practices. The conversation will detail how each panelist’s organization is focusing their efforts to address institutional and interpersonal bias, a lack of social capital, lower visibility among funders and donors, less resources, and gaps in capacity — all of which are oft-cited barriers to funding among BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving organizations .
How and Why Humans Form Groups: A Solution to Us vs. Them
How and why do humans form groups? How does othering and division take hold, and why do people move from us and them to us versus them? Understanding the ways we’re wired for belonging can help us understand these dynamics, as well as pinpoint divisions and opportunities for healthy belonging in our work and our communities. This session will explore these concepts and more through an interactive mixture of personal reflection and small- and large-group exercises and discussion. We will draw on cross-disciplinary research from fields such as social psychology and cognitive neuroscience, as well as the field of international peacebuilding, and we’ll share insights from new research on belonging. Participants will use their own experiences and knowledge to deepen an understanding of these concepts and apply them to their work and contexts.
Inclusion STARTS with Disability
Disability advocate and innovator Michael Thomas talks with us about inclusivity efforts in work, housing, and the community. Specifically, he demonstrates the importance of not only engaging the disability community, but starting with them as a central point to any and all universal design efforts.
Leave No Power on the Table: Connecting Civic Engagement to Mission
Elections have a direct impact on fundamental issues related to quality of life and nonprofits’ ability to pursue our charitable missions. But, according to new research commissioned by Independent Sector, 56% of nonprofits report that policy engagement does not apply to their mission and only 13% engage in nonpartisan voter engagement services. The study found that mission alignment is the single most powerful indicator of whether a nonprofit will step forward and advocate. All of our findings point toward opportunities for even greater impact by nonprofits, particularly in areas such as advocacy and policy reform to address systemic issues and advance public good. During this skills-building workshop, participants will learn how their organization can leverage civic engagement as a tool to ensure policymakers are accountable to nonprofits and the communities we serve, during and after the 2024 election. Together, we will explore how nonpartisan voter engagement and advocacy are integral to every nonprofit mission.
Philanthropy’s Role in Reparations: Building a Culture of Repair
The issue of reparations has recently gained considerable momentum. However, many define reparations narrowly — as cash payments, relegated to the public sector, and only benefitting Black people. Liberation Ventures and The Bridgespan Group think differently. Reparations for slavery and its legacy are not just about money or policy; reparations are comprehensive repair and require shifting narratives and culture. Building a culture of repair across sectors benefits not just Black people, but catalyzes a true multiracial democracy — for all of us. Philanthropy has a critical role to play in advancing this work. Foundations can try to repair their own history of disinvestment, extractive grantmaking, and wealth hoarding. Philanthropy is also uniquely positioned to resource the movement for reparations — so long as they adhere to the principles of trust, equity, and transformation that undergird repair. In this session, we explore new research published by Liberation Ventures and The Bridgespan Group on philanthropy’s role in reparations, and invite participants to explore racial repair at multiple levels: interpersonally, institutionally, and in society writ large.
Racial Equity and Systems Change: Learning from Collective Impact
What does it take to create systems change that centers racial equity in the process, participation, and outcomes of a coalition? This interactive session will share lessons and practical tools created with and inspired by the work of hundreds of coalitions across the U.S. The session will be grounded in a definition and approach to systems change, highlight five concrete strategies for centering racial equity, and engage participants in activities to apply these ideas to their own work. Participants will leave with a better understanding of ongoing racial equity change efforts at peer organization as well as tools and resources that can be applied to their own work.
