Diversity Report Released
In collaboration with the other California Regional Associations of Grantmakers
(Southern California Grantmakers
and San Diego Grantmakers) and the
Foundation Center in New York, NCG is pleased to pleased to announce the release of Embracing Diversity: Foundation Giving Benefiting California's Communities of Color.
 The report provides findings from a comprehensive new analysis commissioned from the Foundation Center to assess the extent to which communities of color are being served by foundation giving in California.
We commissioned the study to help enhance our knowledge of a key issue that has been raised in our sector-- with a goal to provide solid data that can support meaningful discussions, collective learning and movement to solutions.
Key Findings
Comprising analysis of grantmaking by 50 of the state's largest independent foundations, the report represents a series of studies on the diversity of California's philanthropy, with study findings demonstrating clear progress in grants benefiting populations of color throughout the state. Among the highlights of the report's findings:
- Of the 50 state foundations included in the study, at least 39 percent of California-focused grants and 33 percent of California-focused grant dollars primarily benefited populations of color (a conservative estimate that researchers believe may be even higher). In addition, researchers note that of the remaining percentage of California-focused grants, as many of the grants targeted the general public, which may ultimately benefit Californians of all backgrounds.
- An estimated 75 percent of grants targeting low-income populations also benefited communities of color.
- Grants explicitly targeting populations of color overwhelmingly concentrated in the health area, reflecting the grantmaking priorities of large foundations such as The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation.
- Ten-year trends show giving that benefited populations of color grew nearly twice as fast as overall giving between 1996 and 2005. In 2005 alone, the California-based foundations studied awarded a minimum of 2,700 grants totaling nearly $300 million in support of health, education, social services and other programs serving ethnically or racially diverse populations.
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Background
In collaboration with the other California Regional Associations of Grantmakers (Southern California Grantmakers and San Diego Grantmakers) and the Foundation Center in New York, NCG initiated an important research project in mid-2007 to assess how California foundations are addressing issues of diversity in California.
As communities become more diverse, foundations face a growing need to assess the continuing relevance of their programmatic objectives. How are foundations identifying and addressing the emerging challenges associated with increasing diversity? While the focus of the research is California, this effort is viewed as a pilot project of a larger national initiative on this topic.
The question of how foundations are addressing issues of diversity is one of national significance and NCG is deeply committed to moving the field forward in this area.
We believe that a carefully
planned and executed program of research, dissemination and discourse on this topic in California will position the field well for examining this topic
at the national level.
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Task Force
To promote the work of the Diversity in Philanthropy initiative, NCG has facilitated the convening of the Diversity Advisory Committee, a body of respected community leaders representative of the nonprofit sector and communities of color. This group will provide feedback
on the analysis of the findings, and recommendations to the philanthropic community to strengthen grantmaking practice.
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Resources for Grantmakers
NCG has compiled an online clearinghouse of information about diversity in philanthropy, including case studies and articles on increasing diversity within foundations and links to organizations and projects devoted specifically to this issue.
If your grantmaking institution would like to share its work or if you see information that needs
to be updated, please contact Dion Ward, NCG Program Associate at 415.777.4111 ext 23 or at dward at ncg dot org.
learn more >>
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Educational Opportunities
As with all NCG activities and initiatives, member learning is a key component of the
Diversity in Philanthropy Initiative.
learn more >>
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