Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At our Chicago learning session, I was inspired by the approaches of colleagues from the MacArthur, Kellogg, Joyce, Grand Victoria, and California Wellness foundations, alongside friends from BoardSource and the Council on Foundations. Over the course of three days, these brilliant women (yes, they…

After working in the philanthropic field for the past 10 years, the Council on Foundations Career Pathways Program gave me the opportunity—and frankly the time—to seriously consider being an executive leader in the sector. It’s not something I could always see for myself. I am happy to say I can…

Why Career Pathways May marked my second session of the year-long Council on Foundations Career Pathways program. I applied to the program because several of my philanthropy mentors who are program alumni found it valuable, and enthusiastically encouraged me to pursue the opportunity. More than a…

I initially became interested in philanthropy while serving as artistic director of The Harmony Theatre Company, which I cofounded while an undergraduate at Columbia University. Navigating the funding landscape was a nigh-constant challenge, and it was clear that I would need to ascertain quite a…

Women’s foundations and funds have established themselves as a powerful force in philanthropy dedicated to women and girls. Giving from these organizations is substantial, but aside from a 2009 landscape report from the Foundation Center and Women’s Funding Network, our understanding of women’s…

Editor's note: This is part of our blog series featuring current participants in the Career Pathways program. Applications for the 2019 cohort open in September. I believe that it is pretty well understood in the sector that we have an imperative in foundation offices and board rooms to ensure our…

In 2003, when I was a co-recipient of the Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grantmaking, the theme of the Council on Foundations’ conference was collaboration. Instead of giving a speech, one of the co-recipients, Luz Vega-Marquis,* demonstrated the spirit of collaboration when she asked all…

The Council on Foundations has named Ruth LaToison Ifill as its new Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She will lead efforts to develop and implement strategic initiatives, tools, educational programs and opportunities that foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion among…

It's a Wrap! Leading Together 2019 was a gathering of leaders in philanthropy and other influencers in business, government, and academia. For three days, the field came together to connect, learn, and share with one another.  We also used Leading Together 2019 as an opportunity to…

As I reflected on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, I spent some time honing in on the words of a little song by the legendary James Taylor. “Shed A Little Light” is an homage to Dr. King and in it, the lyrics say, “We are bound together by the task that stands before us.” Those…

The Council, in partnership with Atlas Corps and American Express, shared information on the Atlas Corps Fellows Program. Atlas Corps facilitates overseas fellowships for the best of the world's rising leaders. They volunteer for 12-18 months at outstanding organizations (foundations,…

Approximately 50 leaders from higher education, philanthropy, and the private sector recently met at Duke University for an intimate conversation about implicit bias. Organized by the TIAA Institute, Duke University, and the Council on Foundations, “Managing Effectively Across Differences: The…

As the NFL season has officially kicked off, I am reminded of the positive ways that so many athletes are effecting change off the field. Indeed, the area of sports philanthropy is becoming increasingly common. At the Council on Foundations’ recent Leading Together conference, the growing trend…

Building off the Council’s HR Summit, this webinar addresses the topic of bias and its impact on the performance management process. Removing subjectivity from performance management is nearly impossible given the universality of unconscious bias. This raises the question: are there even ways to…

Editor's Note: This was first published on Philanthropy News Digest's PhilanTopic blog. The philanthropic sector has taken steps to address the lack of inclusion of women and people of color in its talent pool. But newly released research from the Council on Foundations reveals that…

Despite concerted efforts by the field to advance more diverse, inclusive, and equitable recruitment and retention practices, the proportions of women and racial/ethnic minorities on foundation staff and at the most senior levels of leadership has changed very little over the past five and 10 years…