Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) resources

Despite many examples of excellent practice, it is widely recognised that the foundation sector needs to make further progress on diversity, equity and inclusion. Foundations each have different starting points and may not be able to achieve all aspects of stronger practice overnight. What matters most is to start, and to strive to do more. These resources can help.

 

DEI: the pillars of stronger foundation practice

Download our report, which sets out nine pillars of stronger DEI practice that all foundations can work towards.

Download

Diversifying your board and team

Our new guide for ACF members (login required) explores how foundations can develop the diversity of their trustee boards and staff teams, in terms of both demographics and experience.   

DEI case studies

Members can read case studies exploring some of the ways foundations are putting the DEI pillars into practice (login required):

Assess your foundation's DEI practice

Members can access our Stronger Foundations self-assessment tools, including a dedicated DEI tool (login required).

This can help you reflect on your current DEI practice and prioritise areas where you might make further progress. 

Other DEI resources

DEI Coalition

The DEI Coalition was a group of funders who formed a learning and action community to embed diversity, equity and inclusion throughout their work. The learning and resources they developed are now available for others to use.

DEI Data Standard

The DEI Data Standard is a shared framework for funders to capture data on funding for groups who experience structural inequity.

"Linguistic expectations": Putting the right words into practice

ACF hosted a workshop (below) exploring practical and inclusive solutions to language barriers facing grant applicants. The session followed on from a blog by Dana Kohava Segal, with helpful suggestions for funders to help turn DEI intentions into actions.

Equality Impact Investment Project (EIIP)

The Equality Impact Investment Project (EIIP) aims to harness social impact investing to advance Sustainable Development Goal 10 – reducing inequality – in the UK and beyond. It brings together the fields of social impact investing with equality and human rights to build a new one: Equality Impact Investing. Find out more about this field and work underway in the Equality Impact toolkit, knowledge hub and UK Taskforce.

Race resources

Foundations, covid-19 and racial disparity: A time for urgent action

ACF hosted a webinar (below) in June 2020 with an expert panel sharing their take on foundation responses to the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on ethnically minoritised people.

Grant-making with a racial justice lens: a practical guide

(Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity, 2019)

This guide offers practical tools for foundations to implement a racial justice lens to their work. Developed in the US, it was recently revised to incorporate the progress made and challenges faced by foundations in pursuing these aims.

Resourcing Racial Justice

Resourcing Racial Justice raised and distributed £1.1m to 58 racial justice groups, collectives, organisations and individuals across the UK, and published a guide based on their learning.

Funders for Race Equality Alliance

Funders for Race Equality Alliance is a diverse group of funding organisations working together to achieve race equality in the UK. Their work includes supporting funders to complete an annual racial justice audit of their grants.

Home Truths 2: anti-racism and race equity resources

Home Truths 2 is a programme of work from ACEVO and Voice4Change England designed to challenge and support UK civil society organisations (including foundations) to take serious practical action on anti-racism and race equity.

Charity So White

Charity So White is a campaign group, led by people of colour, dedicated to tackling institutional racism within the charity sector. 

Future Foundations UK

Future Foundations UK is a supportive network of People of Colour working in the UK philanthropic sector to connect, create and lead change. 

Why are funders still failing ethnically minoritised charities?

An article by Fadi Itani, from the Muslim Charities Forum, makes recommendations for funders on improving their engagement with Muslim groups, as one example of a community who are currently underfunded. 

Recruiting Black and Asian trustees

Action for Trustee Racial Diversity has published a practical guide for recruiting Black and Asian charity trustees as a step to increasing the racial diversity of their boards. They also maintain a database of Black and Asian network organisations.

Baobab Foundation

Baobab Foundation is a community-led foundation set up to significantly scale resourcing to Black and Global Majority communities in the UK, contributing to wealth redistribution, equitable access, solidarity and sustainability.

The Ubele Initiative

The Ubele Initiative is an African diaspora infrastructure organisation that works with community leaders, groups, and organisations in the UK and beyond to strengthen their sustainability, resilience, and voice. They have published a range of research with recommendations on improving funding for Black communities.