Trusts and foundations have a diversity deficit. Is it time for regulation to fix it?

As a member of the Association of Charitable Foundation’s working group on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (part of ACF’s Stronger Foundations programme[1]) I was invited by ACF to write a “provocation” on the topic. This is it: As recent reports show[2], most trusts and foundations have a diversity deficit – which is an individual and […]

“Talent is everywhere: Opportunity isn’t.”

Diversity isn’t just about who you employ or who sits round your board table. It’s also about how you invest your endowment, who does and doesn’t get your grants, where you choose to locate your office, which suppliers you use. Amongst many reports and toolkits on promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, perhaps two are key […]

Magic Wand Not Required

To increase diversity in the governance and management of trusts and foundations there are many actions that we as individuals, organisations and networks can take. Some of them require significant investment of time and/or money – but most of them just require the will of individuals to invest their own time – and share or […]

What’s the point of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion?

In my view there are 4 primary reasons for – and benefits from – making Diversity, Equity and Inclusion real in the governance, operations, investment and grantmaking of trusts and foundations: It creates an improved understanding of needs within, and the capabilities of, target communities – particularly if people with lived experience are included (KNOWLEDGE); […]

Mistaking the Word for the Deed

I wrote the following article for the July 2018 edition of the Association of Charitable Foundations’ magazine – Trust and Foundation News. It’s a follow-up article to the piece on Diversity that I wrote for the July 2016 edition which can be found here https://newreciprocity.com/2018/04/08/postcard-from-the-comfort-zone/ This new article reflects on what has – and has […]

#NotAnotherBloodyToolkit

There is now talk of voluntary sector leaders, membership associations and infrastructure bodies coming together to tackle the diversity deficit in the voluntary sector. That’s a good start. Here are some questions for them: (1) What is your collective definition of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion? (2) What’s your collective “theory of change” that takes account […]

Identity is not the cause

There is currently some criticism of the politics of identity – particularly the allegation that the urban/metropolitan political elite (and also aspects of the media) is obsessed with it – and this is contributing to a turning away from mainstream parties and politics by “ordinary” people. For some, the focus should instead be on commonality […]