By Esther Saehyun Lee & Maria Rio
Young fundraisers of color join organizations because they know the harms the sector causes and want to make a difference. When they first arrive, they are optimistic and pour their energy into the mission they believe in. However, often, they find out that the greatest challenges to ethical practices are not external but internal.
We spend a lot of time, energy, and resources to meet the needs of our community and take care of the patrons in our circle, whether they be donors, stakeholders, or other members of the community we are working with. But we should also be taking care of the folks inside the organization as well.
When they told us there were no qualified Black job candidates, senior management really meant, “There are no Black candidates with the right education and connections, and we’re not willing to invest in an excellent Black candidate with potential.”
By Xochi Flores, Cinthya Martinez, Heather Masterson, and April Walker
Because we know our work is far from done, we want to share our journey with others. We hope our transparency inspires and catalyzes, and we look forward to learning from our extended CCF family along the way.
…the real reason nonprofits continue to fail at staff retention and equity initiatives is that they refuse to address their oppression.
As we re-imagine ways to create equitable spaces — including workspaces — it’s important to remember that just as everyone comes in with productivity and project learning curves, they also come with relational learning curves.
There’s something about these organizations grounded in equity, driven by justice, and shifting power to community-rooted solutions. Does the work of dismantling oppressive systems inherently prioritize staff? In my experience, yes — and a bias for action, learning, and adaptability attract this inclination for intra-organizational alignment.
So how can we quantify allyship and truly hold ourselves accountable in and outside the workplace? One way is to set quantifiable weekly, monthly, and annual Tangible Action Goals (TAGs).
By Monique Curry-Mims and Valerie Johnson
In this episode, Monique and Valerie discuss the various aspects of Fundraising, how to move the practice forward, how to be more community-centric in your efforts, and how to educate donors throughout the process.
I was for the first time consciously observing how the city and many parts that I frequented were beginning to physically change and reflecting on what that meant to me. I do not want it to read as a sense of hopelessness, because I see it as an awakening of sorts; it gave me the chance to really reflect on what was happening in my community and learn to better advocate against inequitable development.
White and cisgender folks in white- and cis-led organizations: your marginalized colleagues are already navigating an organization that was not made with them in mind. They don’t need to be navigating your hurt feelings or anxieties as well. Do your own internal work.
Whether our collaborations take the form of corporate sponsorships, speaking engagements at annual events, or a vendor-partnership, we must shift our outlook on collaborations to be inclusive, equitable, ethical, and respectful for both parties involved.