Prioritizing Equity In Philanthropy: Reflections From Boston’s Nonprofit Leaders 

Created By: Amy Gingle
September 27, 2024

In today’s political and legal climate, diversity is a top priority for many, particularly within the nonprofit sector. Nonprofits play a critical role in advancing equity and ensuring marginalized voices are heard and supported.  

To explore this further, Orr Group recently gathered an influential group of Boston-area philanthropic leaders for a thought-provoking conversation on equity in philanthropy. Led by my colleague Craig Shelley, CFRE, the event featured valuable insights from Cheryl Katon of Fenway Health and Diego Aviles of UNCF. Our discussion was dynamic, weaving through topics such as equity in leadership, funding, and the lived experiences of fundraisers of color. Despite its fluid nature, several key themes and insights emerged as central to driving equity in the sector. 

Attending organizations included BAYADA Home Health Care, CodePath, Ellis Early Learning, Fenway Health, Food Bank of Greater Boston, UNCF, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Vinfen.

The discussion highlighted the dual challenge of raising money for nonprofits serving marginalized populations while engaging donors who reflect these communities.  

Despite the significant influx of capital in 2020, many organizations now face difficulties renewing those gifts as funders’ priorities have shifted. Nonprofits must make bold asks, as funders rarely initiate without prompting. For example, one leader effectively asked, “Don’t you think everyone deserves opportunity?”—a powerful and hard-to-refuse question. 

💡 Takeaway: Nonprofits should continually reassess their approach to attracting potential funders, ensuring they are proactive in their engagement and do not wait for funders to approach them. Craft bold, mission-driven asks that are hard to ignore, especially when tied to universal values. 

Leaders are also finding it challenging to diversify their funder pool beyond traditional philanthropists.

While it may be easy to approach the same donors, doing so repeatedly overlooks other potential supporters, specifically donors of color who are often willing to give more if asked. Diversifying your funder pool doesn’t mean generating less revenue; it opens new opportunities for growth and sustainability. By intentionally engaging funders who reflect the communities they serve, nonprofits can tap into previously overlooked resources and build partnerships that align with their mission. 

💡 Takeaway: Develop a fundraising plan that includes research on prospective diverse donors, personalized outreach, and opportunities for engagement. Focus on mission alignment and long-term relationship building. 

There is a need to educate the sector on how diverse boards and leadership teams can enhance an organization.

A common misconception is that diverse board members contribute less financially, but all board members can offer valuable strengths. The key is leveraging those strengths.  

💡 Takeaway: Diversify your board by identifying candidates with skills that align with your organizational goals, not just financial contribution. Offer training on equity and inclusion to help board members and executives understand the value of diverse leadership. 

Burnout among development professionals, especially people of color, is a real issue and is exacerbated by the pressure of engaging powerful white donors.

Many leaders observed that program staff and junior employees tend to be more diverse than development staff and leaders, presenting an opportunity to engage these staff in development roles.  

💡 Takeaway: Encourage mentoring programs to help younger, diverse staff members transition into development roles and provide support to mitigate burnout, especially among people of color in high-pressure positions. 

Our final takeaway was that, while there is no single path to achieving equity, continuous conversations like these are crucial for progress. Diversity can manifest in many ways—whether through diversifying boards and donors, securing funding, or building a diverse workforce—and all efforts will drive a nonprofit’s mission forward. Each approach is both valid and necessary. Engaging in these sometimes challenging discussions will ultimately propel the sector toward a more inclusive and equitable future. 

Whether your organization is looking to diversify its fundraising or its team, Orr Group can provide the support you need. Get in touch to learn how we can help your nonprofit increase its impact.

Amy Gingle is a Senior Director at Orr Group. Amy has spent her career strategically crafting and building prospect research, prospect management, and analytics functions within large, complex nonprofit organizations.