Dealing with Diversity:Building Skill Sets in Institutionsand Communities to Manage Demographic Change

Suk RheeVP, Planning & OperationsNorthwest Health Foundation

October 11, 2012Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families

nwhf.org/resourceshttp://www.coalitioncommunitiescolor.org/index.html

“Existing data that informs decision making in Multnomah County inadequately captures the lived experiences of communities of color. Rarely do existing reports include dimensions of race and ethnicity.

Much research has been undertaken without the involvement of those most affected by the decisions guided by the research. The impact is that communities of color are rarely visible at the level of policy.

Data has been used to obscure and oppress rather than to empower communities and eliminate disparities. This is not acceptable, and leads to inequitable policy and devastating outcomes for people of color.”

A summary of the variance between Multnomah county and King county, located only 170 miles to our north:

Average “worse” 33.2%

Child poverty 54.7%

worse

Rent burden 21.8%

worse

Individual incomes 30.8%

worse

Better occupations 31.3%

worse

University degrees 27.6%

worse

Who are you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?

People of Color in Oregon, 2008

Many of the most important issues that foundations are working on disproportionately affect people of color and other historically marginalized populations—issues like poverty, homelessness, unemployment, environmental degradation, education and health care disparities, access to arts and cultural opportunities, and more.

When envisioning Oregon a generation from now, what role will grantmakers play?

This report...is intended to be a catalyst for collective learning through the establishment of baseline data to guide ongoing conversations, rather than a definitive assessment of funding patterns.

Key Findings: Grantmaking to Communities of Color

Funder Category Estimated Percent of (# of) Grants Reaching Comm. of Color

Private and Community Foundations with Giving of $1M+

9.9%

Private and Community Foundations with Giving Under $1M

9.0%

Tribal Funders 13.2%Large and Small Foundations

Combined 9.6%

Estimated giving

Giving is significantly disproportionate to actual populations

Key Findings: Grantmaking to Communities of Color

Dollar Values of Grants

% Value

% Oregon Population*

All other grant dollars 215,369,760 94.40General (unspecified minority group)

5,067,108 2.2

Asian and Pacific Islander 85,000 0.0004

4%

Black and African American 1,467,320 0.6 1.8%Latino and Hispanic 3,575,245 1.6 11.7%Native American 2,692,466 1.2 1.3%

Like communities of color in Oregon, foundations are diverse… …there are a variety of pressures and limitations that characterize the philanthropic sector…We know that the sector does not make decisions as a sector.

…each foundation is in a unique place with a distinct capacity to participate in discussions about the nature and impact of grantmaking and community needs.

Our intention is to meet foundations where they are and propose recommendations to stimulate dialogue that will lead to opportunities for improved mutual understanding and for more effective grantmaking to communities of color.

The 20 recommendations fall within four categories:

• Commit to racial equity and the elimination of racial disparities

• Engage in philanthropy-community partnerships to identify strategic investment opportunities

• Ensure funding structures and opportunities are responsive to communities of color and targeted to produce the greatest impact

• Adopt standardized culturally-sensitive data and research practices to ensure data practices can assess impacts of investment

1. How is this related to our missions, current work and future goals?

2. If this continues without change, what kind of future are we creating?

3. How can we work toward a more equitable and inclusive future?

So what? Three questions: