Endowed foundations always have to consider two things – time and money.  How much income they’ll have, over what time period, and how their endowment will be maintained to help tackle future needs – assuming they intend to continue to exist indefinitely. The current Covid-19 crisis makes the time factor more urgent.   At this time... Continue Reading →

At the beginning of 2020 I was asked to write a piece about the relationship between foundations and fundraisers - for the Chartered Institute of Fundraising's recruitment guides which aim to support the fundraising profession, and more widely the whole sector, to become a more equal, diverse and inclusive profession. Much has changed in the... Continue Reading →

Most Trusts & Foundations currently formulating their short, medium and longterm responses to Covid-19 will be considering 3 things: their own likely income reduction due to falling investment capital values and returns; a desire to spend as much as they can to support people, communities and organisations suddenly in need right now – while also... Continue Reading →

Written by an autistic fundraiser & a neurotypical funder for Autism Awareness Week – before the recent escalation in the Covid-19/coronavirus crisis – this blogpost isn’t about the immediate response to the pandemic.  But it does suggest things we should consider as we develop our first response (eg equity) as well as suggesting how we... Continue Reading →

I'm interested to know what theoretical framework (or theory of change) is being applied in all of the talk, and the beginnings of action, on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) currently taking place in the charitable sector. What behavioural, social and systems change theory is being applied?  Which experts in these fields are being consulted?... Continue Reading →

As I’ve argued elsewhere (‘Trusts and foundations have a diversity deficit. Is it time for regulation to fix it?’), the charity and not-for profit sector is running out of time to get our own house in order in relation to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) - particularly in relation to the leadership and funding decisions... Continue Reading →

There are 6 main reasons why we should apply Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles in everything we do.  But there are many more reasons – personal, organisational and systemic – why we don’t.  The reasons we should are: Fairness and Engagement: Embracing diversity and practising inclusion is part of our commitment to social justice and... Continue Reading →

I believe the charity and not-for-profit sector's membership and trade bodies have a key role to play in changing the norms and defaults that currently cause our sector to talk a lot about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion without necessarily doing very much to change. As an example of what I think membership bodies can do,... Continue Reading →

In this blogpost I have listed some of the resources I have found useful when thinking about how we might specifically progress issues of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the trust and foundation sector in the UK - with a particular emphasis on race.  Many are from UK sources and those from the US are... Continue Reading →

Deborah Elizabeth Finn (@Deborah909) recently published a reading list on some of the current key issues in philanthropy – eg power, diversity, equity and inclusion: https://deborahelizabethfinn.wordpress.com/2019/11/25/the-ongoing-revolution-in-philanthropy-an-open-ended-reading-list/ Almost all the resources are from the US – which is an indication of how far ahead the US is on most of these issues in comparison to the... Continue Reading →

This is a selection of programmes, initiatives and organisations that are aimed at increasing the number of people from under-represented groups in leadership positions (trustees and directors) in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector - with a particular emphasis on people from black and minority ethnic communities. These organisations can provide ideas and assistance for voluntary... Continue Reading →