The intersection between diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) exists to ensure nonprofit organizations value different perspectives and backgrounds, provide every employee with equitable access to opportunity and learning, and create spaces where all voices are heard. An organization must prioritize all three issues, otherwise, they risk completely missing the mark. Enacting intentional D.E.I. strategies in the nonprofit workplace is essential to maintaining the organization's mission, cultivating high performance from staff, and creating sustainable funding and programming.

Other benefits of intentional D.E.I. work include:

• Expanding the organization's reach.
• Fostering a healthier work culture.
• Mirroring the community it serves.

Organizations that deliberately implement D.E.I. policies attract more creative and innovative employees who combine their unique knowledge, skills, and experiences to create a welcoming work environment and improve the organization's impact. Failure to prioritize diversity in the workplace may lead to segregated groups, communication strains, and…

One of the most underutilized and misunderstood donor bases for nonprofit organizations is their board of directors. A board of directors is extremely important to a nonprofit organization’s governance, ethics, decision making, financial oversight, mission, and policy. As part of their financial oversight, financial giving should be at the top of their priority list.

There are many reasons why individuals are inspired to serve on a nonprofit board, getting to what that motivation is and cultivating financial support is extremely essential to a fiscally healthy nonprofit. Without the board of directors being financial stakeholders in the nonprofit organization, there is a group of individuals who are dedicated to the work that the nonprofit does without showing so financially. There are three ways that nonprofit boards can lead nonprofits to financial success.

Board member buy-in

Board member buy-in is essentially the way in which they can show they are true stakeholders in the organization. If they do not believe financially in the nonprofit, why should others who are not serving the nonprofit? By showing good faith in the organization and how it performs financially through a personal gift, the board member shows that the mission is worthwhile to the community. If a board member publicly gives to the nonprofit it…

Nonprofit organizations face extraordinary challenges in a constantly evolving business world. Prioritizing planning for financial resiliency is needed now more than ever to ensure continuation of service delivery. Planning will help ease concerns of uncertainties for the future. So, how can leaders support financial resiliency through planning?

 
Why should you plan?

Planning for financial resiliency is the act of thinking ahead to reach a desired financial goal. It will produce stability and adaptability during times of change or crisis while also preparing the nonprofit for periods of recovery. Planning is an active engagement of adapting and learning while supporting the mission of the nonprofit, which leadership can use to help guide decisions in the future. Developing a plan and clearly communicating how that plan supports the vision of the organization is necessary for nonprofit leadership to build resiliency.

Where to start?

Nonprofit leaders should focus on building financial reserves as well as implement strategic and contingency planning, while clearly defining how these strategies support their organization’s mission. Communication is key to developing and implementing these tools for financial resiliency. Start by analyzing the specific needs of the nonprofit, what are the goals, values, and intentions? How can implementing a strategic plan support the mission of the nonprofit and build financial…

Women in America have a centuries-long history of supporting charitable causes – even in a world shaped by gender inequality. Understanding the role of gender in historical philanthropic behaviors can help women reach their full potential as leaders and givers today.

The history of female philanthropists here started in parochial institutions during the colonial era, where nuns, deaconesses and women of all faiths provided charitable services to marginalized communities, according to the Gale’s Women’s Studies Archive. These early efforts to aid the poor and sick inspired the creation of contemporary religious groups like the Hospital Sisters Health System, Sisters of Mercy and Sisters of Charity.  

Women were pioneer givers of food, shelter, clothing, health care and education because they immediately responded to social needs. 

An example is when Ann Radcliffe financially supported the first scholarship fund at Harvard University in the 1600s.

In 1809, Black female members of the African Union Society created the African Female Benevolent society in Rhode Island to provide clothing and education to Black children, as governmental resources were controlled by white…