Giving Compass' Take:

• Philanthropy News Digest interviews Ruth LaToison Ifill, VP of diversity, equity and inclusion at Council on Foundations. They discuss how she is moving the needle forward in this field and what the future holds for DEI work. 

• Why is diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace important? Why are there whole departments now dedicated to enhancing those initiatives? 

• Read about how diversity and inclusion efforts within nonprofits is being considered more seriously and there is a big push to break down barriers through these efforts. 

Ruth LaToison Ifill was named vice president of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Council on Foundations in May, succeeding Floyd Mills.

PND spoke with LaToison Ifill about the ways in which the council is working with member foundations to promote DEI across the sector and support systems change; the importance of data and intersectionality to that work; and the impact funders can have on the racial leadership gap at nonprofits.

Philanthropy News Digest: How has philanthropy's approach to DEI changed over the last two years? And do you feel there's a greater sense of urgency now given the current political environment?

Ruth LaToison Ifill: I think the biggest change is that there is now a very robust ecosystem of philanthropic organizations and philanthropy-serving organizations that are working to drive diversity in the field in a myriad of ways. The council, specifically, has been partnering with, but also is being held accountable by, its member organizations.

Together, we are demonstrating leadership and developing a diverse talent pipeline in philanthropy through our Career Pathways program, which has already seen great success and graduated sixty-one people of different ethnicities, backgrounds, and beliefs, 87 percent of whom have gone on to take senior and executive appointments at foundations.

PND: What has the council been doing to support foundations' efforts to advance DEI in the field? And what is your number-one priority for that work over the next year or so?

RLI: It's about advancing the work and "inching" our members forward. The philanthropic sector is a big ship with a lot of moving parts and a complicated ecosystem of different types of organizations led by different kinds of people.

Read the full article about diversity and inclusion by  Kyoko Uchida at Philanthropy News Digest